16-19 Bursary Fund Policy
What is the 16-19 Bursary Fund?
The fund is made available from the government through its funding body – Educational Funding Agency (EFA) – for 16-19 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 and how does the school assess applications and allocate it?
The 16-19 Bursary Fund is a limited fund and the school will prioritise allocation. There are 2 priority groups, categorised as Priority 1 and Priority 2.
Priority 1 group:
Students aged at least 16 and less than 19 at the start of the relevant academic year and who fall into one of the following categories:
- Are currently in, or have recently left care (as defined by social services).
- Are disabled and received Income Support in their own name.
- Are disabled and in receipt of both Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and either Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in their own name.
- Are disabled and in receipt of Universal Credit in place of Income Support or ESA in their own name.
Eligible students will be guaranteed £1200 for the academic year. Payments will be made by cheque payable to the student in six, half-termly instalments and are subject to 100% attendance.
Priority 2 group:
Students aged at least 16 and less than 19 at the start of the relevant academic year and who fall into the following category:
- Students who are eligible for free school meals and who have applied for financial assistance on the Cardinal Langley Bursary Fund Application form.
- Students who can be identified by the school as being carers; each application will be considered on the evidence.
- Students aged 19 and over if they qualify as above and have an ECHP.
The maximum allowed payment is currently £40 per week. However, in any given academic year the value of weekly payments will be dependent on numbers eligible and funding available, and the weekly value will be notified to students when confirmed. Payments will be made by BACs payment or cheque payable to the student in six, half-termly instalments and are subject to 100% attendance. If you have not already done so please apply for free school meals (ask at the school office for details of how to apply and do so as soon as possible. Payments cannot be back-dated and will only commence from the date of proven eligibility for free school meals).
If you fall into either the Priority 1 or Priority 2 category please complete the application form. Please note that we need evidence of original documents to support your application.
Hardship Fund
The Hardship Fund is targeted towards those young people who face the greatest financial barriers to participation; such as the costs of transport to curriculum related events, books and equipment. Each application will be considered on its merits and in accordance with the available funding, which is limited.
Further details for students regarding the Hardship Fund and applications for awards are available via the Sixth Form Ambassador.
Hardship applications will be assessed at a meeting of at least two of: the Sixth Form Ambassador/Head of Sixth Form/ member of SLT and the Director of Finance and Resources. Awards should not exceed £100 without the agreement of the Head Teacher. Awards may be paid directly to the student or by purchase of tickets, equipment, etc. as appropriate.
It is accepted that eligibility for regular Priority 2 Bursary Fund payments may be dependent upon parental income and consent. Eligibility for Hardship Fund payments is therefore not necessarily restricted to those receiving regular Bursary payments, but is assessed individually with due consideration of the student’s circumstances.