16 – 19 Bursary Fund Information 2024/25

The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund provides financial support to help students overcome the specific financial barriers to participation they face, so they can remain in education.

There are 2 types of 16 to 19 bursaries:

• Bursaries for defined vulnerable groups – see below
• Discretionary bursaries if household income is below £17,005.

What is the bursary to be used for?

The bursary payment is awarded to meet individual needs to allow participation in education. It will cover costs of transport (journeys in excess of 3 miles only), books and equipment, field trips and other related costs, stationery and calculators. Support may also be available to contribute to the costs of attending industry placements, university interviews and open days.

Who is eligible?

A student must be aged 16 or over but under 19 at 31^st August 2024 to be eligible for help from the bursary fund in the 2024 to 2025 academic year.

Vulnerable Student Bursary

To be eligible for the vulnerable bursary, students must be in one of the defined vulnerable groups:

• In care
• Care leavers
• In receipt of Income Support, or Universal Credit in place of Income Support, in their own right
• In receipt of 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.

Discretionary Bursary

Some students will be eligible for the discretionary bursary and this will be dependent on a number of factors based on a student’s individual circumstances and their actual financial need.

This will vary from student to student, depending on, for example, their household income, the distance they need to travel to the school and the requirements of their study programme.  
 

We will take into consideration the number of dependent children within the household as well as the distance to travel to school and the actual participation needs of the student.

Household income will be assessed on:

• Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £17,005 as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
• Income Support
• Income –based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income –related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after someone stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit

If you meet either or both of the above criteria and are a new applicant you will need to complete a 16-19 Bursary Fund Application form (available at the foot of this page)

There may be exceptional circumstances which makes you eligible for a bursary even if you do not meet the criteria.  If you think this is the case, then we will need an application form completing and you will need to speak to a member of the sixth form team.

What evidence will be required?

To support your application form, we will need to see evidence of your home address (bank statement dated within last 3 months or passport). Family income evidence will be required, such as:

• Last 3 months statements from Universal Credit.
• Letter from DW&P confirming benefits
• P60
• Tax Credit Award Notice
• Evidence of annual income if self employed

 As well as the above, in order to be accepted and maintain the bursary, students are expected to:

• Have 95% attendance or above
• Have an acceptable behaviour record
• Meet course requirements
   

Production of receipts – When making a claim for travel, including bus passes, receipts must be produced at the outset and then at regular periods throughout the claim. Receipts may also be requested for other expenditure funded by the bursary. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the sixth form team: sixthform@meadowhead.sheffield.sch.uk 

Tel:  0114 2372723 ext 716

 

Further details and guidance is available at the government website (which also includes links to other financial support available):

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/16-to-19-education-financial-support-for-students#to-19-bursary-fund-1

Already in receipt of a bursary?

If you are already in receipt of the 16-19 Bursary and simply wish to renew your application for a new school academic year you need to complete a renewal form - contact the Sixth Form office.