Bursary

Policy Overview

All post 16 institutions have been granted individual allocations (16-19 learner bursary) to support their most financially needy students in their courses of study. Schools and Academies are expected to set their own criteria and expectations for administration of this scheme. In doing so they must have a clear policy covering these arrangements as well as the application and appeals process agreed by the appropriate governing committee. The following constitutes how Didcot Sixth Form (DSF) intends to deliver its bursary allocation to appropriate learners.

 Eligible Students for Bursary Fund

Students aged 16 to 19 who are most in need (students in or recently left local authority care, students claiming Income Support or Universal Credit, disabled young people who receive Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and either Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will be eligible to receive a Bursary of up to £1,200 a year, paid at regular intervals. The student must have their own bank account into which the Bursary or financial payment will be made. In order for the student to receive financial support they must meet the basic expectations of DSF in terms of attendance, punctuality and progress.

Eligible Students for Discretionary Learner Support Funds

In addition, DSF will be able to award a discretionary bursary to other students aged 16 to 19 who face genuine financial difficulties. This is at the discretion of DSF and within set eligibility criteria. The support provided for students could be financial or provision of items in kind and it is at the DSF’s discretion to decide on the amount and type of support that is awarded to the student.

Support will generally be provided for:

Course and Equipment costs

  • Books, materials and stationery, etc
  • Transport
  • Exam/Registration Fees
  • Other course related costs

Criteria for support from the Discretionary Learner Support Fund

The Criteria for the award is as follows:

Eligible for Free School Meals

  • In receipt of Tax Credit, Income Support, Disability Living Allowance or other welfare payments
  • Students who have a total household income of £16190 or less
  • Students who have a total household income of £16190 - £25000 may apply for support for specific educational purposes (including educational equipment)

Parents need to complete an application form and provide the necessary evidence in order for us to assess whether the student is eligible.

Applications for additional financial support may be made at any time during the school year.

Applications for Bursary

The Bursary Fund will be advertised on the Didcot Sixth Form website, through the sixth form bulletin and through Tutors and Heads of Year. In addition, those students known to have met the criteria pre-Sixth Form will be approached directly.

Students will be required to obtain a 16-19 bursary Application Form from the Sixth Form administrator, Head of Year, or from the Sixth Form website (forms attached to policy). These will be available at the beginning of each academic year. Students will also have clear guidance accompanying the application form giving full details of how to complete the application. It will also give details of what evidence is required, the timescale for applications, the appeals process and the arrangements for payment and how to collect any awards made.

The Director of Sixth Form and Heads of Year will form the Bursary Panel and will meet at the start of each academic year to consider all initial applications and make funding decisions based on evidence provided in relation to the specific eligibility criteria. They will then meet on a termly basis to review the status of the fund and its distribution and to consider any improvement actions. A small contingency of the main fund will be retained in order to make late application awards and/or one off payments.

Appeals Procedure

The Bursary Panel will make every effort to deal with applications fairly. If however, circumstances have altered significantly since completing an application form or students are unhappy with the amount awarded, they can appeal, providing new or additional evidence. Appeals will be in writing and sent to the Sixth Form administrator. The Director of Sixth Form will reconsider such cases. If it is felt that it is not possible to increase any award that has been made, they will pass the appeal to the Headteacher of St Birinus School (Boys) or Didcot Girls’ School (Girls). Their decision will be final and you will be informed in writing.

Administration of 16-19 Bursary

Bursaries will be paid on a regular basis at the start of Term 2, 3, 4 and 5.

5% will be taken from the overall bursary allocation to fund the administration and running of the scheme (as per YPLA guidance). This will be used to ensure the Bursary administrator can check attendance and punctuality on a weekly basis. Students will be informed of any issues affecting receipt of their bursary by means of a weekly appeals letter.

Unsuccessful appeals by students will result in a pro-rata deduction from their termly bursary payment. The Heads of Sixth Form will monitor each student’s academic process to ensure 16-19 bursary students are making satisfactory progress on their chosen course of study. Exceptionally, where a student’s academic performance is affected by their not meeting the explicit terms of the 16-19 bursary award, a termly payment may be withheld.

 

Name Date File Size  
Bursary Application Form - September 201... 21st September 2018372 KB Download