16-19 Bursary Fund 2012/13
INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS
1. What is the 16-19 Bursary Fund
The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) closed to new applicants on 1st January 2011. The EMA has been partially replaced by a limited 16-19 Bursary Fund and the School has been allocated a proportion of this for the purpose of supporting financially disadvantaged young people taking up or continuing in their education or training post-16.
2. What is it for?
The 16-19 Bursary is a limited fund made available for supporting eligible young people with the costs of transport, food, books, educational visits or other course materials or equipment essential to successfully completing their programme of study.
3. Who is it for?
The 16-19 Bursary is targeted towards those young people considered most in need of financial support. The Government has identified a priority group of young people and have asked that Schools give priority to this group first and offer them a Guaranteed Bursary.
After this group has been considered, the School expect to have a small amount of funding available for other young people in need of financial support. The School has set eligibility criteria to ensure the remaining funds go to those who are seen to need it most. Any young person who meets these eligibility criteria can apply for a Discretionary Bursary (Tier 1) or an additional Discretionary bursary (Tier 2) to help with costs of studying.
4. What are the eligibility criteria?
You can apply for a Bursary if you are aged 16,17 or 18 at 31st August 2012, meet the national residency requirements and at least one of the criteria listed below.
You can apply for a Guaranteed Bursary if you are:
Or you can apply for a Discretionary Bursary Tier 1 if either:
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your gross annual household income does not exceed £16,190 and/or;
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you or a brother/sister, qualifies for Free School Meals (FSM), and/or;
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your parent/guardian/carer(s) receive a certain type of income based benefit
Or you can apply for a Discretionary Bursary (Tier2) if either:
5. Can I still apply if I don’t meet the eligibility criteria?
Yes, providing you meet the age and residency eligibility criteria. The School is keeping back some of the available 16-19 Bursary Fund for exceptional circumstances for one-off payments or additional support.
6. How do I know if I am eligible?
You will need to discuss this with your parent/carer(s). If you need help to do this, or are not sure what to ask, you can talk in confidence to Mrs Harrison. There is also an Information for Parent/Guardian/Carer(s) document you can take home, which may help.
7. How and when do I apply?
To apply, you must complete the 16-19 Bursary Fund Application Form and submit this to Mrs Harrison with the correct supporting evidence by 19th October 2012.
You can apply for a Bursary at any point in the year but those applying before the date above will be given priority. Bursaries can only be made after this date if sufficient funds are available. The Bursary scheme will close when the funds allocated have been used.
8. How much is the Bursary?
The Guaranteed Bursary is £1,200 and the Discretionary Bursary (Tier1) is up to £400 the additional Discretionary Bursary (Tier 2) is up to £200. The exact amount is dependent on individual circumstances and funds available.
9. How and when does it get paid?
If you apply and are successful, you will need a Bank Account for the Bursary to be paid directly into. It will be paid in three instalments: November 2012 (50%), January 2013 (25%) and April 2013 (25%) subject to you meeting attendance, punctuality and satisfactory behaviour conditions.
10. How do I find out more?
See the 16-19 Bursary Fund Policy which provides further information, including details on eligibility criteria and evidence needed, or you can talk in confidence to Mrs Harrison if you have specific questions or need help or assistance in making an application.