16-19 Bursary

THE 16-19 BURSARY FUND STATEMENT 2023/2024

The 16-19 Bursary Fund is made available to The de Ferrers Academy through the government funding body, the Education and Skills Funding Agency. It is designed to help and support any students who face financial barriers to full participation in sixth form education.

There are two types of 16-19 Bursary:

• A vulnerable bursary of up to £1,200 per year for students in one of the defined vulnerable groups
• A discretionary bursary that institutions award to meet individual needs e.g. transport, books, uniform, iPads, exam resits, equipment etc.

Vulnerable Bursary 

Eligible groups: -

• you’re in or you recently left local authority care
• you get Income Support or Universal Credit because you’re financially supporting yourself
• you get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in your name and either Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit
• you get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in your name and either ESA or Universal Credit

Please note that to qualify as eligible for a vulnerable student payment the student does not have to live independently of their parents; they can claim ESA or UC in their own right. Please note that students in this group will still need to make an application and provide the required evidence before any payments can be made.

DISCRETIONARY BURSARY

The Academy is required to use its discretion to make awards to young people in ways that best fit the needs and circumstances of their students. Bursary awards are to be targeted towards students facing financial barriers to participation in sixth form education and can be used for such things as transport, meals, books, specialist equipment (e.g. iPads), uniforms, fieldwork/educational trips and exam resits.  Applications can be submitted from students with a household income of less than £30,000.  Included in the total household income will be all permanent resident(s) over the age of 18 years. 

Support will be allocated depending on the volume of applications and the funding the Academy receives from the Education and Skills Funding Agency.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The initial window for applications is from September - Sunday, 31st October 2023 after which all applications will be reviewed and any missing information highlighted.  Applications received after this date will be considered on an individual basis. 

Students wishing to apply for any bursary award will need to complete the Application Form below. In order to apply students should be aged 16 to 18 on 31st August 2023.

Information about the bursary fund

All applications must be submitted with the required evidence, which needs to taken to the Sixth Form Support and Guidance office on the Sixth Form Campus part of the application process. 

Please note that we are unable to process an application if the required evidence has not provided.  If the required supporting documentation is provided late this will delay the application process.

SPECIAL CASES

The Academy may exercise professional judgement and award a one-off payment to support a special case based on financial need, instead of household income. 

Special cases should be discussed with the Head of Year or Assistant Head of Year in the first instance.

PAYMENT

The Academy aims to make payments in kind for any equipment required, payments for any expenses are made directly to the student’s bank account three times in the academic year, provided receipts etc. have been received. 

Bursary applications will be assessed each term in line with the applications received and student attendance. Therefore, just because a payment has been made in one term there is no guarantee that this will continue for the rest of the year. 

GUIDANCE NOTES FOR APPLICANTS – 16 -19 BURSARY

• Prior to completing the application form please read through the 16-19 Bursary Policy to ensure that you have all the information that you will need to complete the application form.  The application should take about 10 - 15 minutes to complete.
• Application Form must be completed in full with the required supporting documentation and taken to the Sixth Form Support and Guidance Office on the Sixth Form Campus. If the required supporting documentation is not provided at the time the application is made this will delay the application process.
• Applications to be made in the student’s name and students must have a National Insurance Number.