16 to 19 Bursary Fund

Guidance Notes

The Brunts Academy 16-19 Bursary Fund is designed to help students overcome individual barriers in order to participate in education and training. Any financial support/award is intended to help with the cost of essential equipment, books, food and transport (including attending interviews/open days). The scheme is divided into two parts:

Vulnerable Bursary

You can apply for a vulnerable bursary of up to £1,200 if you fall into one of the areas below:

• You (the student) are in care
• You (the student) are a care leaver
• You (the student) are receiving Income Support or Universal Credit because you are financially supporting yourself and anyone who is dependent on you and living with you, such as a child or partner.
• You (the student) are receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in your own right as well asEmployment Support Allowance or Universal Credit in your own right.

Payment and conditions

You could receive up to £1,200, paid over the academic year but you will need to provide proof of your eligibility. This could be a letter from your local authority showing you are in care/a care leaver or a letter from the Department of Work and Pensions showing the types of benefits you receive. Any benefits must be in your own name. If you are not receiving benefits in your own name you will not be eligible for a vulnerable bursary but could still apply for a discretionary bursary. Students who meet the criteria for bursaries for vulnerable groups are not automatically entitled to a bursary if they do not have financial needs or their financial needs are covered from other sources.

Discretionary Bursary

This bursary is available to students (who are not eligible for the Vulnerable Bursary) who live in a household whose family income is £17,000 per annum or less or whose parents/guardians are in receipt of any of the following:

• Income Support
• Income-based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
• 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
• Child Tax Credit, (with no Working Tax Credit) with an annual gross income (as assessed by HMRC) that does not exceed £16,190.
• Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after the person stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit (provided annual net earned income is no more than £7,400, as assessed by earning from up to 3 of the most recent assessment periods).

If false or incomplete information is given in order to secure a bursary, the matter may be referred to the Department for Education or to the police. As a result, you and/or your parents/carers could face prosecution and payments could be recovered.

Additional Help

Under exceptional circumstances, students who are not automatically eligible for an award can also apply for help with one-off course related expenses (proof of income or hardship will be asked for). Applications for additional help will be considered on an individual basis and is dependent upon available funds.

Payment & Conditions

• The level of support which the Academy can offer is dependent upon the total funding received from the Education Funding Agency (EFA) and the number of applications it receives. The level of funding may vary during the academic year.
• All bursary awards will be directly linked to attendance, behaviour and commitment to studies.
• Any bursary payments will be paid directly into the eligible student’s bank account, on a half-termly basis.
• Eligible students must be aged over 16, but under 19, on 31 August 2020 and enrolled as a full-time student at the school.

Apply for the Bursary 

To request an application form contact The Sixth Form co-ordinator using the details below:

The Brunts Academy,
The Park,
Mansfield,
Nottinghamshire,
NG18 2AT 

6​thformadmin@bruntsacademy.org

01623 623149 ext 316