A key priority for the Government is to close the gap in attainment between those from less well-off and more affluent backgrounds, and to ensure every young person participates in and benefits from a place in 16-19 education or training.
The 16-19 Bursary Fund targets support towards the most financially disadvantaged 16 to 19 year olds - those who most need help with the costs of staying on.
Bishop Ramsey School will determine the eligibility criteria for discretionary bursaries, and the frequency of and conditions for payments for all awards. The 16-19 Bursary will only be awarded to a student that is eligible and facing genuine financial barriers to participating. To apply please speak to the Sixth Form Staff Team.
To be eligible to receive a 16-19 Bursary in the 2023-2024 academic year, the student must be aged 16 or over and under 19 on 31st August 2023.
Students must also satisfy the residency criteria set out in the *EFA Funding Guidance. (A person on 1 September who is settled in the UK, and has been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for the three years preceding the 1 September.) If you are in any doubt, please speak with the Sixth Form Staff team or see here for further information.
Type A - Students in the following defined vulnerable groups will be eligible for a bursary of £1,200 a year: Young people who are in care; young care leavers, young people in receipt of Income Support or Universal Credit in their own right; and young people in receipt of both Disability Living Allowance (or Personal Independence Payments) and Employment Support Allowance (ESA) in their own right.
This would be paid in monthly instalments from the start of each term by BACS transfer directly into the student's account.
Type B - Students who are in receipt of free school meals or have a total household income of £20,000 or less can apply for a monthly bursary. Household income can be evidenced by receipt of benefit and/or P60, Tax Credit Award Notice or evidence of self-employment income. The size of the allowance will be established upon agreement by the school. All evidence of household income will be held in strict confidence.
Payments will be transferred monthly to the students’ bank account via BACS upon authorisation from the school that the student has satisfied all the attendance and behaviour requirements (see paragraph detailing expectations). These payments will be made in arrears. There may be delays in some cases if there is any query regarding attendance.
Students will be informed of any non-payment. However students should check their payments regularly and in the case of non-payment they should contact the Sixth Form Staff Team for clarification.
Students who successfully apply for any of the above levels will also be able to access a small emergency fund for exceptional circumstances if they can show an identifiable financial need. Please make a written request addressed to the Deputy Headteacher. All requests will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.
Each application with supporting documentation will be assessed in the strictest confidence. Any student who believes they are eligible for any level of funding from the 16-19 Bursary Fund should complete an application form and hand it in to the Sixth Form Office. A student in receipt of any level of bursary must inform their Year Director of any changes to family circumstances that may affect the support during the academic year. Students who become eligible during the academic year should contact the Deputy Headteacher and make an application. If in doubt please apply.
To receive any funds once the school has acknowledged eligibility, participating students must adhere to the following criteria.
To receive the monthly allowance students should have 100% attendance at all timetabled lessons and registrations unless they have prior permission from the Sixth Form Team for authorised absence. Holidays will not be authorised. We will allow for one period of absence due to ill health (maximum of 3 consecutive days) each half term without loss of funds for that week. Approved Study Leave for exams, participation on approved educational trips, or approved representative activities will be counted as an attendance.
If students are unacceptably late to lesson or registration, then these will count as an absence and therefore the payment will not be made for that month. Students must abide by the standards of behaviour and effort as agreed at the start of their learning programme. If poor behaviour or effort is reported and supported by documentary evidence, the student will not be paid for that month.