School News

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. The new Bursary Scheme for 16 – 18 year olds has been put in place as a partial replacement for Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), though it will receive substantially less funding than EMA.

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 31/08/11 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

• Students who are 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

 Who is not eligible for 16-19 Bursary Funding?

• Students under 16 years of age or over 19 years of age on 31/08/11.

• Students who do not meet the residency qualifications

• Students who do not fulfil any of the criteria described above

 Residency qualifications

 Please refer to paragraphs 31 to 42 of the YPLA funding guidance regulations.

 Proof of income

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

• Certified letter from the LA regarding Free School Meals

• Certified letter from the DWP

• P60 (additional evidence will also be required)

• Self Employment Income evidence

• Other means tested certification

How will Therfield assess applications and allocate 16-19 Bursary funding?

The 16-19 Bursary Fund is a limited fund and the school will prioritise allocation. There will be 3 priority groups, categorised as high, medium and low. Students who are eligible for any level of funding should complete an application form and hand it to the Finance Office as soon as possible, after admission to the Sixth Form, in September. A Bursary Fund Committee will meet to consider applications at all levels. Students who are deemed eligible should be aware that to continue to receive a bursary/funding:

• There must be no unauthorised absences during the school day

• They must maintain acceptable levels of behaviour and effort

The Bursary Fund Committee

The Bursary Fund Committee will normally meet three times per year (September, January and May to consider and review applications). Emergency meetings may need to be called and will be arranged as appropriate. Initial applications should be made as soon as possible after enrolment.

The Bursary Fund Committee will be made up of the Business Manager, Assistant Headteacher responsible for 6^th Form and a Teacher Governor.

The Head or Assistant Head of Sixth Form do not make decisions about applications but they may offer information to the Committee about a student’s circumstances, well-being, behaviour, progress and attendance

Students and their parents/carers should understand that the available fund is limited. Any appeals against decisions can be made to the Chair of Governors, via the Clerk to the Governors who will follow the school’s complaints procedure.

EMA update

The following information applies to students aged 16 to 18 on 31st August 2011 taking a full-time further education course in 2011/12.

If you received EMA in 2010/11 and will be on a full-time course in 2011/12, you may continue to receive it until the end of the 2011/12 academic year.

If you first received EMA in 2009/10, you will continue to receive EMA at the same rate as now (£10, £20 or £30 per week).

If you first received EMA in 2010/11 and were getting the highest rate of £30 per week, you will continue to get EMA next year but your weekly payments will be reduced to £20.

If you first received EMA in 2010/11 but were getting the lower weekly rates of £20 or £10, you will not get EMA in 2011/12. However, you may still be able to get financial help through the 16-19 Bursary Fund (details below)

If you think you qualify to continue to get EMA, you do not need to take any action; the national EMA administration will write to you with further information.

Financial support for 6th Form Students in 2011/12

The following information applies to students aged 16 to 18 on 31^st August 2011 taking a full-time further education course in 2011/12.

We will be operating three levels of bursary funding: High, Medium and Low priority groups.

(High priority group) £1200 Bursary

The government has announced that some students will be entitled to a grant or bursary of £1200 next year.

You could get this if you are in one of the following categories:

• You are living in care, or have recently left living in care

• You, the student, are receiving income support

• You, the student, are disabled and receiving both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance

Payments will be made on a termly basis (i.e. 3 times a year) - £600 in term 1, £300 in terms 2 and £300 in term 3. Payments will be subject to review by the Bursary Fund Committee. If you think you are eligible for this £1200 bursary, please complete the main application form and appendix 1.

*If you are eligible for this and the continuing EMA scheme, you will receive this bursary instead of the EMA - you will not be able to claim both.

Medium priority group

You could receive this level of funding if:

• You have a gross annual household income of below £20,000

OR

• You are in receipt of Free School Meals

OR

• Your household is in receipt of other income based means tested benefits.

If you think you are eligible for up to £800 per annum support, please complete the main application form and appendix 2  as you may be eligible for a contribution towards the following specific educational purposes (receipts will be required):

• The cost of transport, essential course equipment, meals in school, course related trips, UCAS fee, travel to open days, course related sporting activities, or other school resources
• Financial support towards childcare costs and exam re-sit fees if aged 19 or under on 31/08/11

Payments will be made on a termly basis (i.e. 3 times per year). Maximum of £400 in term 1, maximum of £200 in term 2 and maximum of £200 in term 3. Payments will subject to review by the Bursary Fund Committee.

Low priority group

You could receive this level of funding if:

• You have a gross annual household income of between £20,000 and £25,000

OR

• You have an identifiable financial need and do not fall into high and medium priority groups

If you think you are eligible for up to £200 per annum support, please complete the main application form and appendix 3 as you may be eligible for a contribution towards the following specific educational purposes (receipts will be required):

• The cost of transport, essential course equipment, meals in school, course related trips, UCAS fee, travel to open days, course related sporting activities, or other school resources

Those in the Low priority group will be considered for funding based on the school’s allocation and subject to available funding after those in the High and Medium priority groups have been awarded. Payments may not be made until after 31^st December 2011.  

Payments will be made on an as needed basis after consideration by the Bursary Fund Committee.

This information is subject to final government decision and the details may change.

Fact Sheet

Click here to view the Government factsheet about the 16-19 Bursary Fund. (pdf, 100kb)

Application Form