16-19 Bursary Fund
The fund is made available from the government through its funding body, the Bursary Fund, to provide assistance to students who are 16-19 years old whose access to, or completion of, education is inhibited by financial constraints or barriers.
The fund is a fixed and finite sum and allocations may therefore not exceed the total sum available to the school.
Who is eligible to apply for financial support?
Students following government-funded full-time or part-time courses (this describes all courses on offer at our Sixth Form), who satisfy one or more of the following criteria:
Aged at least 16 and under 19 on 31/08/23 who are in care, are leaving care, are in direct receipt of Income Support, Universal Credit or have an Education, Health and Care Plan(EHCP).
Students facing financial barriers to participation in post-16 education.
meet the residency requirements – TBSHS will check this.
How does the School assess applications and allocate 16-19 Bursary funding?
The Bursary Fund is a limited fund and the School only has a small amount of money to distribute. Students must fall into one of the following categories and students and their parents must be prepared to show evidence of genuine hardship. Financial support is also dependent on meeting agreed attendance and behaviour criteria, failure to do so will result in the bursary being withheld.
Students in eligible groups or unexpected financial difficulty are encouraged to apply for bursary funding using the form below. Please contact Mrs Lisa Butwell, Deputy Head of Sixth Form as the first point of reference using the email bursary@tbshs.org. Mr Munro, Head of Sixth Form and Mrs Miles, Assistant Headteacher, are also able to give advice.
There will be 3 priority groups categorised as high, medium and low and the criteria for these are detailed below.
All applications must be received by 30th September to qualify, TBSHS does not pay students directly but purchases books and equipment on their behalf. TBSHS is able to assist with transport costs if this does not negate the Local Authorities owns transport policies, and can help with partial payments towards curricular trips and assistance towards the cost of attending university open days or other post-18 related activities.
If your circumstances change throughout the year you may also apply for assistance at that time.
High priority group
Students who fall into one or more of the following categories:
you are in or recently left local authority care
you get Income Support or Universal Credit because you’re financially supporting yourself
you get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in your name and either Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit
you get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in your name and either ESA or Universal Credit
Eligible students will be guaranteed a £1200 bursary to support them with costs such as transport, equipment etc. Application and proof needs to be submitted via the school and TBSHS will then apply to the Student Bursary Support Service.
Discretionary Bursaries
Medium priority group
Students who fall into one or more of the following categories:
Age 16 to 18:
Eligible for a free school meal
Living in a household where the parent(s)/guardian(s)are in receipt of income support or universal credits
Age 19:
You can apply to a discretionary bursary if you are over 19 and either:
continuing on a course you started aged 16 to 18 (known as being a ‘19+ continuer’) and have previously been in receipt of bursary funding
have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
Eligible students in this group may apply to the Bursary Fund for a contribution towards the cost of transport, essential course equipment, trips, uniform, assistance with associated university open day costs, etc.
There is no direct payment available, funds are only available to enable transport costs or other expenses related to education. Payments will be subject to the availability of funds and to provide assistance to students whose access to, or completion of, education is inhibited by financial constraints or barriers.
Low priority group
Students who fall into one or more of the following categories:
Age 16 to 18:
Are living in a household where the gross annual household income is less than £25,000
Age 19:
continuing on a course you started aged 16 to 18 (known as being a ‘19+ continuer’) and have previously been in receipt of bursary funding
Students in this group may get a contribution towards the cost of essential course equipment, transport costs or other expenses related to education. TBSHS Bursary Fund provides assistance to students whose access to, or completion of, education is inhibited by financial constraints or barriers.
Payments will be subject to the availability of funds and purchases will be made through the Finance Department, there is no cash equivalent.
Please note: TBSHS may decide that although a young person may be eligible for a bursary because they are in one or more of the defined vulnerable groups, they do not have any actual financial need. This might be because their financial needs are already met and/or because they have no relevant costs. TBSHS can refuse a student’s application on this basis.