16-19 Bursary Fund Application 2025-2026

16-19 BURSARY FUND

POLICY and APPLICATION FORM 2025-2026

 

1. The Government provides a 16-19 Bursary Fund.  The aim of the Scheme is to help students overcome specific financial barriers to participation so they can remain in education.
2.  
2. There are 2 types of 16 to 19 bursaries:

 

1. Those in most need (defined vulnerable group) will be eligible for a bursary of £1,200 per year.  This includes students in care, care leavers, students who themselves receive Income Support/Universal Credit and students in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance/Universal Credit and Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payments.

 

2. Other students who need financial support to say in education may wish to apply for a discretionary bursary to help with costs of books, transport, food, equipment or other course-related costs.  We may decide to pay this as a cash payment or ‘in kind support.

 

3. If you wish to apply for a bursary you will need to complete an application form and provide documentation confirming the financial circumstances of the household.

Documentation for Defined Vulnerable Group – Guaranteed £1200 Bursary

• For students who are in care or a care leaver, written confirmation of their current or previous looked-after status from the relevant local authority - this is the local authority that looks after them or provides their leaving care services. The evidence could be a letter or an email but must be clearly from the local authority
• For students in receipt of Income Support or Universal Credit, a copy of their Income Support or Universal Credit award notice. This must clearly state that the claim is in the student’s name/confirm they are entitled to the benefits in their own right. The evidence must not state any conditions that prevent them from participating in further education or training. For students in receipt of Universal Credit, institutions must also see a tenancy agreement in the student’s name, a child benefit receipt, children’s birth certificates, utility bills etc.
• For students receiving UC/ESA and Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payments, a copy of their UC claim from DWP (UC claimants should be able to print off details of their award from their online account). Evidence of receipt of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment, must also be provided

All documentation will obviously be dealt with in as sensitive and confidential a manner as we can.

Documentation for Discretionary Bursary

• Documentation required that total household income (including benefits) is low (threshold will be decided upon once all applications have been taken) or that a parent/carer is in receipt of one of the following benefits (a letter dated within the last 6 months confirming this will be accepted):
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit)
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for the four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• Universal Credit

Once we are in receipt of your documentation decisions will be made based on the need of the full range of applicants. All documentations will obviously be dealt with in as sensitive and confidential a manner as we can.

 

4. Bursary payments will be made monthly by bank transfer to student’s bank account and will only be made if students meet agreed conditions regarding attendance, behaviour and standard work. Bursary money will only reimburse monthly expenditure on travel, stationary and text books once receipts have been submitted. The bursary will also cover a free school meal daily.

 

Please apply in the first instance to Ms Conlon mconlon@southgate.enfield.sch.uk

 

For further detailed information about the Bursary Scheme, please go to:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/16-to-19-bursary-fund-guidance/16-to-19-bursary-fund-guide-2025-to-2026

 

Please note Bursary payments will be withheld for the following reasons

• Attendance below 96%
• Not completing work to the best of their ability
• Not behaving in line with the school behaviour policy
• Unauthorised absence

 

For more information please refer to the 6^th Form Student Handbook

 

SOUTHGATE SCHOOL

16-19 BURSARY FUND
APPLICATION FORM

NAME:	DATE OF BIRTH:   CONTACT NUMBERS:   Student Mobile:   Home:   Parent Mobile:
ADDRESS:

 

COURSE STUDIED

 

1. GUARANTEED BURSARY

 

	Tick	Tick Copy of Evidence attached
I AM IN CARE (STUDENT)
I AM A CARE LEAVER (STUDENT)
I AM IN RECEIPT OF INCOME SUPPORT OR UNIVERSAL CREDIT (STUDENT)
I AM IN RECEIPT OF BOTH EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT ALLOWANCE AND DISABILITY LIVING ALLOWANCE (STUDENT)

 

EVIDENCE REQUIRED:  Copy of Disability Living Allowance, Letter from Local Authority, Employers Support Allowance and Statement from HMRC

_____________________________________

 

 

A bursary for books and other equipment may be available for students in the following discretionary group:-

2. DISCRETIONARY BURSARY

Documentation required that total household income (including benefits) is less than £16,190 per annum or that a parent/carer is in receipt of one of the following benefits (a letter dated within the last 6 months confirming this will be accepted):

 

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit) provided your annual gross household income (including benefits) is no more than £16,190).  Please note: Working Tax credit is a disqualifying benefit regardless of your household income – this means that you would not be entitled to the discretionary 16-19 bursary whilst in receipt of Working Tax Credit.
• Working Tax Credit run on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• If parent/carer are not in receipt of any of the above benefits nor Working Tax Credit, but have annual gross household earnings less than £16,190,  a P60 showing proof of earnings for 2021/22 can be accepted

 

FOR STUDENTS IN THE DISCRETIONARY CATEGORIES, PLEASE ALSO COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

 

Purpose for which Bursary is required:

 

Cost of item/items

 

If your application is successful please provide bank account details for the weekly payments. Payments must be made direct to the student.

 

Name of Bank/Building Society:___________________________________________________

 

Account Name:________________________________________________________________

 

Account Number:______________________________________________________________

 

Sort Code:____________________________________________________________________

I CONFIRM that I was under the age of 19 years on 31^st August in the year preceding my current programme of study and that my home has been in the UK for 3 years.

 

I CONFIRM that the details contained within my application are complete and accurate; that I know I must provide evidence of eligibility; that any award is subject to condition regarding attendance, behaviour and standards of work.

 

Signed ………………………………………………………Date ………………………………………………….

 

 NB.  We cannot process your application unless suitable evidence