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Bursaries

What are the 16-19 Bursaries?

The Government allocates schools a Bursary Fund to provide financial support for Sixth Form students from vulnerable groups and low-income backgrounds to enable them to participate in post 16 education and overcome financial barriers which might limit participation.

Who is eligible to apply for 16-19 Bursary Funding?

Students following government funded full time or part-time courses, who are 16 years and over, and satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

  • Students aged at least 16 and under 19 years of age on 31/08/2022 who are in care, are leaving care, are in direct receipt of Income Support or are disabled and in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance (or Personal Independence Payments). Young people who receive a Universal Credit payment in their own name.

  • Students who are economically or socially disadvantaged and at risk of not taking up or continuing in their education. This group includes students with physical or other disabilities, medical conditions and/or learning difficulties.

  • Students who have been in care, on probation, are young parents or are otherwise considered at risk.

  • Students who are asylum seekers (only unaccompanied child asylum seekers).

  • Students who are Refugees (who will have access to 16-19 Bursary Funding if they are in receipt of supportive evidence from DWP)

  • Students who are lone parents.

Proof of income

Proof of income evidence will be required to support this application and could include:

  • Certified letter from the Local Authority regarding Free School Meals

  • Certified letter from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)

  • P60

  • Self-Employment Income evidence

How will Onslow St Audrey’s School assess applications and allocate 16-19 Bursary funding?

The 16-19 Bursary Fund is a limited fund and the school will prioritise allocation. There are three priority groups:

High Priority Students: Students who are classified as High Priority learners should inform the Head of Sixth Form as soon as possible. The funding for this group of learners is held centrally by the Learner Support Service and can be drawn down by the school on demand if the eligibility criteria are met.

Medium Priority Students: Part of the discretionary funds which come into school will be allocated to Medium Priority students before remaining funds are released for low priority students.

Low Priority Students: When funds have been allocated to Medium Priority Students, a portion of the remaining funds will be allocated to Low Priority students.

The Head of Sixth Form and the Assistant Headteacher responsible for Key Stage 5, will review the applications for Medium and Low Priority. 

All appications must be made using:

Bursary 16+ 

Students who are deemed eligible should be aware that to continue to receive bursary funding:

  • There must be no unauthorised absences during the school day and students must maintain an attendance level above 95%.
  • Students must maintain acceptable levels of behaviour and effort i.e. not be raised as an issue in the data collection points for reporting.

As funds are limited, students will be granted payments according to their priority and then the date of the application on a first-come-first served basis. Any appeals against decisions can be made to the Headteacher.

Financial support for 6th Form Students for 2023 - 2024 Definitions

High priority group (Vulnerable students)

Some students will be entitled to a grant or bursary. You could get this if you are in one of the following categories:

  • Young person is in care (the local authority providing the care for the young person will confirm this).
  • Young person is a care leaver (the local authority that looked after the young person will confirm this).
  • Young person (not their parents) is in receipt of income support or Universal Credit (evidenced by letter/document from the benefits office).
  • Young person (not their parents) is in receipt of both Disability Living Allowance (or Personal Independence Payment) and Employment Support Allowance.

If you think you are eligible for this bursary, please see the Head of Sixth Form.

Medium priority group

In keeping with current practice for financial support for school activities, Onslow St Audrey’s School may provide discretionary 16-19 bursaries to support students whose parents are entitled to any of the following state benefits:

  • Income support
  • Income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Child Tax Credit with a taxable income of no more than £16,190 and not in receipt of Working Tax Credit
  • Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit)
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
  • Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately after employment finishes or after you start to work less than 16 hours per week.
  • Universal Credit

Parents who are in receipt of any of the above benefits must register for Free School Meals in order that the student can qualify for the bursary - see link below.

free school meals

Low priority group

In keeping with current practice for financial support for school activities, Onslow St Audrey’s School may provide a 16-19 bursary if your gross annual household income is below £30,000. Proof of entitlement could include a P60.

Those in the Low priority group will be considered for funding based on the school’s allocation and are subject to available funding after those in the Medium priority groups have been awarded.

Awarding of funds

Students who are awarded discretionary bursary funding (medium or low priority) will receive guidance regarding their allocation of funds. Block, blanket or flat rate payments are no longer permitted, as the Education and Standards Funding Agency demands that the bursary award should reflect the actual costs the student has, using a clear evidence-based system.

Once a student has been notified that they have a bursary award, they can use their Bursary16+ login to apply for funding for specific items or to upload receipts for specific costs. Each request is subject to separate approval from authorising staff within the school. Individual requests or receipts for items such as educational equipment or text books, or contributions to transport costs or school trips for students holding a bursary award would usually be approved, subject to reaching the individual student award limit.

This policy will be reviewed annually following the guidance published by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

16 - 19 Bursary Policy