Aims  

Our school aims to:

• Have clear and transparent processes for the use and allocation of 16 to 19 bursary funds
• Make clear to parents and students the type of support which is available and the means of applying for it
• Make clear to parents and students the attendance and behaviour conditions for receiving the funds

How we use the bursary fund

Financial support is available to eligible students from the 16 to 19 bursary fund. See section 6 below for details of our eligibility criteria.

The fund is intended to support students aged 16 to 19 in overcoming specific financial barriers to participation so they can remain in education.

There are 2 types of 16 to 19 bursaries:

• Bursaries for defined vulnerable groups; and
• Discretionary bursaries

We use the fund to provide students with support to fund:

Add to/amend this list as necessary:

• Transport
• Books
• Equipment
• Field trips and other course-related costs
• The costs of attending university interviews and open days

Eligibility Criteria

1. Age

To be eligible for either bursary in the 2025 to 2026 academic year, students must be at least 16 years old but under 19 years old on 31 August 2026.

Students aged 19 or over are eligible only for a discretionary bursary if they:

• Are continuing a study Programme or course which they began when they were aged 16 to 18 years old, or
• Have an education, health and care (EHC) plan

Students aged 19 or over are not eligible for bursaries for defined vulnerable groups.

In exceptional circumstances, where students under 16 years old are on a funded 16 to 19 study programme at our school, we may use our discretion to pay bursaries to these younger students. However, if these students are enrolled at another institution that receives public funding for them, they will not be eligible for bursary funding.

2 Eligible education provision

Students must be participating in provision that is subject to inspection by a public body that assures quality (e.g. Ofsted). The provision must also fall into one of these groups:

• Be funded directly by the ESFA or by the ESFA via a local authority;
• Be funded or co-financed by the European Social Fund;
• Be otherwise publicly funded and lead to a qualification (up to and including level 3) that is accredited by Ofqual or is on the ESFA’s list of qualifications approved for funding 14 to 19; or
• Be a 16 to 19 traineeship programme

Non-employed students aged 16 to 19 who are participating in a Prince’s Trust Team Programme are also eligible to receive a bursary in the same way as any other student participating in an eligible, publicly funded course.

Students are not eligible if:

• They are on an apprenticeship programme; or
• Are on any waged training

Students who are studying via distance learning are eligible for either 16 to 19 bursary but are likely to require financial help on a more infrequent basis (e.g. travel to exams). If this is the case, we will provide support in-kind, such as a travel pass, details of which shall be decided on a case-by-case basis.

3 Residency

Students must meet the residency criteria in the ESFA funding regulations for post-16 provision.

4 Asylum seekers

Accompanied asylum seekers under 18 with an adult relative or partner and asylum seekers aged 18 and above are entitled to education but are not entitled to public funds. If necessary, they can apply to the Home Office for suitable housing and cash for essentials.

We will provide in-kind support such as books, equipment and a travel pass to asylum seekers who have not had asylum refused.

Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children:

• Are the responsibility of the local authority;
• Are to be treated as ‘looked after’ children; and
• Are eligible for a bursary for vulnerable groups, where they have a financial need

When these students reach 18 years old, we will consider their immigration status. They will still be eligible for a bursary as a student from a defined vulnerable group if the asylum claim is in their favour and will be treated as a ‘care leaver’ until they reach the upper age limit.

5 Bursaries for young people in defined vulnerable groups

Students with a financial need, who meet one of the following 4 criteria below, in addition to the criteria outlined in sections 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 above, can apply for a bursary for vulnerable groups.

The defined vulnerable groups are students who are:

In care (NB: those who are privately fostered are not classed as looked after);

• Care leavers;
• Receiving Income Support (IS) or Universal Credit (UC) because they are financially supporting themselves, or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them such as a child or partner; or
• Receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) in their own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or UC in their own right

UC has now replaced IS, as well as other benefits above, for current and future young people aged 16 to 18. However, students aged 19 to 25 and funded from the 16 to 19 budget (19+ continuers and students with an EHC plan) may still receive the legacy benefits listed above.

Students who meet the criteria for a bursary for vulnerable groups are not automatically entitled to a bursary. Students will not receive the bursary if they do not have any actual financial need (for example, because their financial needs are met from other sources and/or because they have no relevant costs).

Where a bursary is provided, the funds will generally be up to £1,200 per year for study programmes lasting 30 weeks or more. When calculating the amount, cases will be looked at individually and base the outcome based on a particular student’s needs. Students will only receive the amount they actually need to participate and will not automatically receive £1,200 if they do not need the full amount.

We can use our discretion, on a case-by-case basis, and provide more than £1,200 per year if such would be necessary in all the circumstances for the student to remain in education. Any such additional payment will be paid either from our discretionary bursary allocation or our own funds.

If a student’s study programme lasts for less than 30 weeks, they will be paid a pro-rata amount. We will also consider the number of hours involved in a student’s study programme when deciding whether a pro-rata payment is more appropriate.

We will review the student’s eligibility position each academic year. Students will only continue to receive a bursary for vulnerable groups if they continue to satisfy the criteria.

We will provide this support for students from the bursary fund by making payments in kind where possible. It will not be provided it as regular payments for living costs.

6 Discretionary bursaries

In addition to the criteria outlined in sections 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3 above, students can apply for a discretionary bursary if they satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

• Eligible for Free School Meals

Students who do not satisfy any of the criteria listed in this section, but who are able to demonstrate financial hardship arising from other reasons, may apply for a discretionary bursary.

In assessing any application for a discretionary bursary, we will consider:

• Level of household income
• Distance to travel between the student’s home and the institution, or a location for a placement.
• The number of dependent children in the student’s household
• The requirements of their study programme
• Whether the student has additional responsibilities that may mean they need extra help

There is no set limit for the amount of discretionary bursary that can be awarded to students. We will base all decisions around which students receive a discretionary bursary, and how much bursary they receive, on each student’s individual circumstances and their actual financial need.

We will review the student’s eligibility position each academic year. Students will only continue to receive a discretionary bursary if they continue to satisfy the criteria.

7 Evidence

All applications for 16 to 19 bursaries must be supported by appropriate evidence. Examples of acceptable evidence we may request are:

• A copy of the UC or IS award notice, in the student’s name
• Documents such as a tenancy agreement in the student’s name, a child benefit receipt, birth certificate or utility bills
• Written confirmation of the student’s current or previous looked-after status from the relevant local authority
• A copy of the UC claim from Department of Work and Pensions

Application form

Applications on the website should ideally be submitted by Tuesday 5th September 2025 to allow enough time for our school to assess the overall level of demand and make discretionary awards on a fair basis. This date will be clearly stated on the application form. 

However, we acknowledge that students’ circumstances may change and therefore the application process will remain open for the whole school year. 

Applicants will be notified in writing (either via email or via letter) whether their application has been successful, together with the amount of funding awarded. If a student wishes to appeal the outcome of their application for a bursary, they must follow the school’s complaints procedure. 

Allocation

The decision is made by the Head of Sixth Form regarding which students receive a discretionary bursary and how much they receive, following an analysis of each student’s individual circumstances and their documented financial need. This will vary from student to student depending on, for example, household income, number of dependent children in the household, distance travelled to college and requirements of individual study programmes.

Appeals

Students have the right to appeal a decision. Students, or their parent/carer, will be required to put an appeal in writing within 21 days of receiving confirmation of an award or a rejection.

• The letter should set out the reasons for the appeal, which must prove that the student has been wrongly assessed as falling outside the eligibility criteria, plus any further evidence to support the Appeal. It should be sent to the Sixth Form
• The decision of the Appeals Panel is final and will be given in writing within 14 days of the
• The Appeals Panel will consist of:
  1. Headteacher – Mr Lloyd
  2. Deputy Headteacher – Mr Robinson

The Appeals Panel meeting will be clerked by a member of the college’s administrative/finance team.

Payments

We will not directly pay bursary money into students bank accounts as we will be providing the items that are needed e.g. bus pass, stationery etc.

• Students to apply online, with details of the educational item that is needed.
• Head of Sixth Form then approves and creates a purchase order.

Monitoring and review

This policy will be reviewed by Paige Jones every year in the summer term. At every review, the policy will be approved by the Headteacher.