The 16-19 Bursary Fund 2026-2027
Purpose
The 16-19 Bursary Fund exists to help students continue with and complete their courses where they would otherwise be prohibited from doing so on financial grounds.
The fund is intended to help with the hardship needs of individual students. Its intent is to “enable” a learner to continue with his or her education and should not be viewed as an incentive to attract young people into learning. Generally, awards from the fund will be used towards essential course related costs such as books, equipment, exam resit fees, travel to school/higher education institutions, meals and compulsory trips.
Statement of Aims
Fulford School will seek to ensure that the funds available are:
- Distributed fairly through a process which is transparent and easily understood
- Assessed and allocated to each individual’s needs, taking into account the financial circumstances of the applicant and the intended use of the award
- Used to widen access to, and participation in, Sixth Form education
16-19 Bursary Funding and the guidance concerning the administrative arrangements, priority groups for support and monitoring arrangements is issued by the Education Funding Agency (EFA). This gives a broad overview of the Fund on the whole and instructs schools on the appropriate use of the funding.
Please note, there is a limited amount of funding which means that it may not be possible to support every application and priority will be given to those students from the families with the lowest household income and/or highest demonstrated need.
Eligibility
The 16-19 Bursary Fund has two elements:
1. Guaranteed Award
The following students will be eligible to receive a bursary of upto £1,200 per year, if agreed standards of behaviour and attendance are met:
- young people who are looked after children in the care of the Local Authority or foster parents
- care leavers
- those young people who receive Income Support or Universal Credit in their own right
- disabled young people in receipt of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments as well as Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit in their own right
These students may also apply for further support during the year. Attendance and behaviour standards can be found in the student handbook available from the Sixth Form Office and align with those expected of all students attending Fulford School.
2. Discretionary Award
These awards will be targeted towards other young people facing financial barriers to participation in Sixth Form studies. Priority will be given to those young people from households with low incomes.
Agreed standards of behaviour and attendance should also be met. The priority groupings in order are defined as:-
- Priority 1 – Students qualifying as most vulnerable and entitled to up to £1,200 bursaries
- Priority 2 – Students with household income below £26,000
Application Process for Discretionary Awards
Step 1: Completed financial assessment forms, together with the documentation required, should be returned to the Sixth Form office for confirmation of eligibility.
Submission application deadline – 30th October 2026.
Applications received after 30th October will be assessed in the second application submission in January 2027.
Step 2: Confirmation of a successful application will be confirmed to the student via email.
Step 3: Claim forms are available from the Sixth Form office. Forms should be completed by the student and returned to the Sixth Form office with supporting evidence attached, such as receipts. Please note that claims for travel/books/equipment and other purchased items will not be processed unless a receipt is provided.
Step 4: Applicants will be notified of the outcome of each individual claim.
Unsuccessful applicants will have the right of appeal. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Please note all students must apply in Year 12 and in Year 13, submitting new financial documentation. If a student’s or household’s financial circumstances change during the year, the student MUST inform the Sixth Form immediately.
Expectations of Students
Attendance and behaviour requirements align with the attendance and behaviour standards expected of all students at Fulford Sixth Form and can be found in the Student Agreement and Attendance Policy. Where the learner does not meet the agreed attendance or behaviour standards, which will be monitored on a regular basis, the school will make every effort to advise the learner and help resolve any issues but retains the right to rescind or suspend Discretionary payment(s).
In summary, the following is expected from students making a claim:
- Attendance – high attendance (95%) in line with Sixth Form policy with no unauthorised absences
- Punctuality – Not late on any more than two occasions during any single week
- Discipline – No behaviour and disciplinary record
Claims may be refused if students do not meet the above criteria. However, each claim will be looked at on an individual basis.
Awards Process
Awards are made for specified course related costs and/or other costs viewed as presenting a barrier to the individual learner’s participation in education. The amount of each award will be allocated on a case-by-case basis. In extenuating circumstances, the Sixth Form reserves the right to make awards to individual students who do not necessarily meet the listed criteria.
The Sixth Form may offer bursaries in the form of non-cash “in kind” payments where appropriate, such as contributions to travel passes or meal credits, payments for course related school trips etc. Any equipment purchased by the school for use by an individual learner remains the property of the school and must be returned upon completion of or withdrawal from the course.
The funding available is limited and, with the exception of the Guaranteed Award, will not be guaranteed.
Appeals Process
Should learners disagree with the outcome of either their application for a bursary award or the withholding of a payment due to attendance/behaviour, they should write formally to the Director of Sixth Form.
All appeals will be considered by the Director of Sixth Form. Your letter of appeal should include your name and form and the reasons for your appeal. Any additional information you wish to provide that you feel is relevant to your application can be attached. Written confirmation of the outcome of the appeal will be sent out within ten days of the appeal being considered.
Data Protection
Please note that all financial records will be kept securely on school premises for seven years for audit purposes.
Review of Policy
This policy will be reviewed on an annual basis, taking into account the views of the school, young people and their parents and guidance from the Department for Education and the Young People’s Learning Agency.
How do I find out more?
Request an application form from the Sixth Form Office, or download a copy below, to apply directly to school for a bursary award.
For advice speak to a member of the Sixth Form Leadership team.
You can reach the Sixth Form Office by phone, 01904 666406, or by email to sixthform@fulford.york.sch.uk.