16-19 Bursary Fund
The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund is money the government has given to local authorities, schools, colleges and other education and training providers to give to students who need financial help to stay in education. Funding is limited and is based on funds allocated by the ESFA (Education & Skills Funding Agency).
To be eligible to receive a 16-19 Bursary in the 2019/20 academic year, the young person must be aged 16 or over and under 19 on 31 August 2019.
There are 2 types of bursaries:
- A vulnerable bursary of up to £1,200 a year for young people in one of the defined vulnerable groups listed below:
- Discretionary bursaries that institutions award to meet individual needs. For example, for transport, meals, books and equipment. These are items the student would otherwise need to pay for in order to participate.
1) Bursaries for Vulnerable Young People
The defined vulnerable groups are students who are:
- in care
- care leavers
- receiving Income Support, or Universal Credit 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
- receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in their own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right
2) Discretionary bursaries
In keeping with the current practice of financial support for school activities, Presdales School may provide bursaries to support students’ costs for those whose parents are entitled to any of the following state benefits:
- Free school meals or have had them in the past six years
- Income Support/Universal Credit
- Income based jobseekers allowance
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, provided the parent is not entitled to Working Tax Credit
Parents will need to provide proof of entitlement to the benefits prior to payment.
Entitlement expectations
Students will be expected to sign a 16-19 Bursary Agreement which outlines the expectations Presdales School has with regard to attendance and standards of behaviour. Students eligible for the 16-19 Bursary must meet the criterion of 100% attendance, unless absence is authorised. If this criterion is not met, payment will be forfeited for the week affected.
Applications
Parents and students should complete the application form and send it to Mrs M Stanley (Finance Manager) with supporting evidence.
The process of application and payments will remain confidential.
