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Boston High School 16-19 Bursary Fund Policy – Academic Year 2012/13 and 2013/14
The Fund is a limited amount of money made available from the government through its funding body, the Education Funding Agency to provide assistance to students whose access to, or completion of education is inhibited by financial constraints or barriers. The 16-19 Bursary Fund has two elements: • A bursary of £1,200 a year for young people in the following defined vulnerable groups: in care, care leavers, young people in receipt of income support and disabled young people in receipt of Employment Support Allowance who are also in receipt of Disability Living Allowance. • Discretionary awards made by providers to young people in ways that best fit the needs and circumstances of their students. Bursary awards should be targeted towards those young people who face the greatest financial barriers to participation; such as the costs of transport, meals, books and equipment. Boston High School will determine the assessment criteria for eligibility for discretionary bursaries and the frequency of payments for all awards.
Who is eligible to apply for the 16-19 Bursary? Students must satisfy one or more of the following criteria:- Students must be aged at least 16 and under 19 at the start of the academic year in which they start their programme of study (the start of the academic year is 31 August 2012) Students who are in care, leaving care, in direct receipt of Income Support or are disabled and in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance Students should satisfy the residency criteria as set out in the EFA Funding Guidance Students should be participating in provision that is subject to inspection by a public body that assures quality and must also be funded by the EFA 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
Who is not eligible for 16-19 Bursary Funding? Students under 16 years of age or over 19 years of age on 31.08.12 Students who do not meet the residency qualifications Students who do not fulfil any of the criteria described above
Residency qualifications
All applicants should satisfy the residence criteria. This can be found at
Proof of evidence will be required to support the application and could include: Certified letter from the Local Authority regarding Free School Meals Certified letter from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs regarding benefits and/ or household income. Tax Credit Award Notice Certified letter from the Department of Work and Pensions P60 (additional evidence will also be required) Self Employment Income evidence Other means tested certification
How Boston High School will assess applications and allocate 16-19 Bursary funding? They must maintain a minimum of 95% attendance There must be no unauthorised absences during the school day or lateness to lessons They must maintain acceptable levels of behaviour, as outlined in the Sixth Form Agreement
Attendance Requirements Students will only receive their bursary payments if they have secured a minimum of 95% attendance at School including morning and afternoon registration. The only exceptions to this rule include the following: Medical Procedure or illness supported by a Doctor’s Certificate or Hospital letter Hospital Appointment (a hospital documentation or note from parent in planner) University Interview (will be paid if the school ATOS form has been completed and authorised) University Open Day School Trip Excursion Official School Closure i.e. snow day Official School Study Leave. Home Study can only be taken following a student’s final taught lesson of the day
Students will NOT receive their bursary payments if they use any of the following as verification of Absence: Hair appointment Dentist appointment Any other form of self-certification School exclusion Family holidays Lateness to school affecting lesson attendance
There may be occasions when cases have to be looked at on an individual basis and at the discretion of the Bursary Fund Committee whose decision will be final. An example of these could include any of the following, although this list is not in-depth: Theory and Practical Driving Test Family/close friend’s funeral Sports trials/training/county selections Religious events
The Sixth Form Bursary Fund Committee The Sixth Form Bursary Fund Committee will normally meet 3 times a year (September, December and April to consider and review applications). Applications will need to be submitted at the beginning of the Autumn, Spring and Summer term. It is important to note that the available fund is limited. The school is under no obligation to make payments and failure to comply with the terms of the Attendance Policy and/or the Sixth Form Agreement may result in the loss of any Bursary payments.
Level 1 Support £1,200 Bursary You can get this if you are in one of the following categories: You are living in care or have recently left living in care You are in direct receipt of income support You are disabled and receiving both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance
Payments will be made termly in equal instalments.
Level 2 Support £800 per annum You could receive this level of funding if: You have a gross annual household income of below £21,613 or You are in receipt of Free School Meals or Your household is in receipt of other income based means-tested benefits
Payments will be made Termly in equal instalments.
Level 3 Discretionary Support You could receive this level of funding if you have an identifiable financial need and do not fall into Levels 1 or 2 and your gross annual household income is below £25,000.4 If you think that you are eligible for Level 3 Support, please complete the application form as you may be eligible for a contribution towards the following specific educational purposes (receipts may be required): costs of transport, meals in school, books and equipment and educational trips.
Change in Circumstance A student receiving any support level of the Bursary must immediately inform the Sixth Form Administrator of any changes in family circumstance that may affect their ‘Support Level’.
Payments
A letter confirming the receipt of the student’s application for the 16-19 Bursary and outlining the support allocation awarded by the Bursary Fund Committee as well as its payment scheme will be provided to the student.
Appeals Any student wishing to appeal against the Support Level allocated should do so in writing within 2 weeks of receiving their letter of Support Allocation. Appeals should be made to the Sixth Form Administrator. It is expected that further evidence to support the funding request will be provided by the student if called upon.
Contingency Fund Boston High School will need to reserve 20% (including the 5% Administration fee) of the 16-19 Bursary amount provided. This is to accommodate changes in circumstance and ensure that requests for funds from vulnerable students can be accommodated.
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