Each year, The Ursuline Academy Ilford administers the 16-19 bursary for those students studying in the sixth form.  Whilst there are different types of bursary, the overall aim of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to students from low income backgrounds in order to help them attend school and access the post 16 curriculum that they are studying towards.  This document sets out how the 16-19 bursary will be administered by the school in order to achieve this aim.

Who is eligible?

There are two types of bursary with their own eligibility criteria.  These are as follows:

Level 1 Bursary

This is for students defined as being ‘vulnerable’ and includes:

• Student who are currently in local authority care
• Students who have recently left local authority care
• Students who are in receipt of income support or universal credit in their own right
• Students in receipt of employment and support allowance or Universal credit and disability living or personal independence payments in their own right.

Level 2 Bursary

This is mainly for students who are entitled to receive Free School Meals although other students who are in financial hardship will be considered.  If students are not currently receiving Free School Meals, or went to school outside of Redbridge, they should apply for these as soon as possible through the Redbridge website.  Guidance of who may be eligible is as follows:

• Parents receive income support
• Parents receive income-based jobseeker’s allowance
• Parents receive income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Parents receive support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Parents receive the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
• Parents receive Child Tax Credit (Providing you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Parents receive Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Parents receive Universal Credit
• If a child receives any of these benefits personally, then they may also be entitled.

What is the Bursary?

Level 1 Bursary: 

This is £1200 for the academic year and will be paid based on an assessment of student financial needs.  This may be in the form of payments to the student (e.g. to pay for fares); payment in kind (e.g. buying equipment for the student to use) or putting money in the student’s school account (e.g. for the purchase of food in the canteen).  The school is only permitted to award the bursary to meet student need and the amount paid may, therefore, be less than £1200. 

Level 2 Bursary: 

The monetary value of this bursary differs from year to year as it depends on the number of students who apply and are eligible.  Once a student has been awarded a bursary, they will need to complete a form to allow the school to assess the financial assistance that will best support them.  This support may be in the form of payments to the student (e.g. to pay for fares); payment in kind (e.g. buying equipment for the student to use) or putting money in the student’s school account (e.g. for the purchase of food in the canteen).  As payments are based on financial need, not all students receiving the bursary will receive the same amount. 

Administration 

Application 

Students will be made aware of the bursary through assemblies and information at the start of term.  All who think they are entitled will be encouraged to apply.  Students should complete the school application form and submit to the sixth form administrator as soon as possible.  For level 1 bursary applications, students will need to provide appropriate evidence for how they meet the criteria.  For level 2 bursary applications, students should include on the form whether they currently receive Free School Meals or whether they would like to be considered for any other reason (students should provide supporting evidence e.g. statement of benefits or other similar documentation that allows an assessment of household income).  Students should also apply through the Redbridge website as soon as possible for FSM if they are eligible. 

Assessment 

The bursary awards panel will review all applications during the first half term.  Once this has taken place, all students will be informed whether their application was successful or not.  For those whose applications are successful, they will then complete further paperwork to assess their financial needs so that appropriate support can be provided. 

Payments 

Where students receive money as part of the bursary support, this will be done via bank transfer into the student’s bank account.  In addition, the school may purchase equipment for students or provide credit for use in the school canteen and café.