Witham Sixth Form enrolment closes on Friday 31st January 2025

16-19 Bursary Fund Policy 2023/24

What is the 16-19 Bursary Fund:

The fund is made available from the government through its funding body - Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA) for 16-18 year olds - to provide assistance to students whose access to, or completion of, education is inhibited by financial constraints or barriers.

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

Students following government (YPLA or SFA) 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 31/08/23 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

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.

Asylum seekers

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

Lone parents

Who is not eligible for 16-19 Bursary Funding?

Students under 16 years of age or over 19 years of age on 31/08/23.

Students who do not meet the residency qualifications

How does the Academy assess applications and allocate 16-19 Bursary funding?

The 16-19 Bursary Fund is a limited fund and the Academy will prioritise allocation. There will be 3 priority groups, categorised as high, medium and low.

High priority group:

Students aged under 19 on 31/08/23 and who fall into one of the following categories:

Are currently in care (as defined by social services)
Are leaving or have recently left care
Are in receipt of Income Support in their own name.
Are disabled and in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance

Eligible students will be guaranteed a £1200 bursary plus support for other costs such as transport, equipment etc.

PAYMENT PROCEDURES:

Payment is not automatic. The government expects schools and colleges to make receipt of bursary funding conditional on students meeting the education provider’s expected standards, for example, attendance, behaviour, standard of work and commitment to study.

APPEAL PROCEDURES:

If a student has received a letter stating he/she is not receiving the payment as they have not met our criteria the student may appeal, in writing, to Miss T Howard Pastoral Manager for Sixth Form thoward@newrickstonesacademy.org

Medium priority group:

Students who fall into any the following category:

Have a gross annual household income of below £20,000.

Eligible students in this group, if they apply to the 16–19 Bursary Fund by 23 September 2023, may be eligible for a contribution towards:

The cost of transport, essential course equipment, trips, uniforms, materials, etc.
Financial support towards childcare costs and exam resit fees if aged 19 or under on 31/08/21

Low priority group:

Have a gross annual household income of between £20,000 and £25,000

Those in the low priority group will be considered for funding based on the Academy allocation and subject to available funding after those in the high and medium priority groups have been awarded. In some cases awards may not be made until after 31 December 2020. Students in this group may get a contribution towards the cost of essential course equipment, uniforms and transport costs (they may also receive a cash bursary if aged under 19 on 31/08/22, if funds permit).

Extreme Circumstances

In extreme circumstances students who are eligible may apply for emergency funding but the decision to award will be based on need and available funds.

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