What is the 16-19 Bursary Fund?

The 16-19 Bursary Fund is made available from the government through its funding body, Education

and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), for 16-19 year olds to provide assistance to students whose access to education or completion of education is inhibited by financial constraints or barriers.

Who is eligible to apply for 16-19 Bursary Funding?

Students following government funded full time or part-time courses, who are 16 years and over, and satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

• Students aged at least 16 and under 19 years of age on 31/08/2023 who are in care, are leaving care, are in direct receipt of Income Support or are disabled and in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance (or Personal Independence Payments). Young people who receive a Universal Credit payment in their own name.
• Students who are economically or socially disadvantaged and at risk of not taking up or continuing in their education. This group includes students with physical or other disabilities, medical conditions and/or learning difficulties.
• Students who have been in care, on probation, are young parents or are otherwise considered at risk.
• Students who are asylum seekers (only unaccompanied child asylum seekers).
• Students who are Refugees (who will have access to 16-19 Bursary Funding if they are in receipt of supportive evidence from DWP)
• Students who are lone parents.

How will Croxley Danes School assess applications and allocate 16-19 Bursary funding?

The 16-19 Bursary Fund is a limited fund and the school will prioritise allocation. There are three priority groups:

• High Priority Students: Students who are classified as High Priority learners should inform the Director of Sixth Form Studies ASAP. The funding for this group of learners is held centrally by the Learner Support Service and can be drawn down by the school on demand if the eligibility criteria are met.
• Medium Priority Students: Part of the discretionary funds which come into school will be allocated to Medium Priority students before remaining funds are released for low priority students.
• Low Priority Students: When funds have been allocated to Medium Priority Students, portion of the remaining funds will be allocated to Low Priority students.

All students applying for the Medium and Low priority funding need to complete an application form for both the learner and the parent/carer accompanied by the appropriate documentation by 30^th September. Applications and any subsequent allocation of funds are run through the Bursary 16+ software package available at: https://cdsbursary.applicaa.com/1

The Director of Sixth Form Studies and the Senior and Lead Finance Officer will review the applications for Medium and Low Priority. Students who are deemed eligible should be aware that to continue to receive bursary funding:

• There must be no unauthorised absences during the school day and students must maintain an attendance level above 95%.
• Students must maintain acceptable levels of behaviour and effort i.e. not be raised as an issue in the data collection points for reporting.

As funds are limited, students will be granted payments according to their Priority and then the date of the application on a first-come-first served basis. Any appeals against decisions can be made to the Headteacher.

 

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For further information please download and read the documents included below.