A successfully used Bursary or Grant can have a hugely positive impact for those Sixth Form students who qualify, providing them with assistance for travel, trips, school clothes, books and any other materials. Sixth Form bursaries and grants can be as high as £1,200 per student.
There are two types of grant available to our Sixth Form students; the most common being Discretionary Bursaries.
The amount of financial assistance which we can give is dependent upon your personal circumstances. Each application is confidential and will need to be completed annually.
Who is eligible to apply?
To be eligible, students must:
- be aged under 19 years of age on 31 August 2025
- have been resident in the UK or EEA for three years preceding 31 August 2025
- meet the stated criteria for each type of grant.
Please see the criteria for each type of grant below. If you believe that you do qualify for a bursary or grant, please contact the Office Manager as soon as you start at the Academy, or download the application form here.
Discretionary Bursaries
The Academy will award bursaries to those students who face genuine financial barriers to participate in education. The benefits received will be paid by the Finance Office in the form of reimbursement for learning materials or activities.
The level of support we are able to give is dependent upon the number of applications received and the amount we receive from the Education Funding Authority (EFA) for this purpose.
There are two types of student who may qualify for this bursary.
Category 1: Students Eligible for Free School Meals
In the first category are those who qualify for Free School Meals. To do so your family must be in receipt of one or more the benefits listed below:
- Income Support (IS)
- Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA)
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- Child Tax Credit, provided they are NOT entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) that as of 6 April 2018 does not exceed £16,190
- The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit run-on, paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit, if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income mustbe less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefit you get)
Please note that parent in receipt of Working Tax Credits do not qualify for Free School Meals, unless it is run-on as outlined above.
Category 2: A combined Family Income of less than £24,000 per year
The second category of student who will qualify for a Discretionary Bursary are those who are not eligible for Free School Meals, as above, but who have a combined family income of less than £24,000 per year.
Appropriate evidence confirming eligibility will be required. It may include evidence of benefits received but may also include other evidence of income, such as:
- Salaries and Wages: P60, Month 12 or End of Year Payslips; other notifications of benefits in kind (e.g. P11d) and any P45 if employment status has changed during the year.
- Self Employment Income: accountants letter on headed paper, any Self declaration made to HMRC, or confirmations received from them.
- Notifications of receipt of working tax credit, or Statements of DSS benefits currently received from Jobcentre Plus or direct from the DSS.
Vulnerable Bursary
Students qualify for this bursary if they:
- are in care
- have been in care,
- or are in receipt of certain benefits in their own name
The bursary can amount to a maximum of £1,200 per annum towards the costs of education and attending the Academy. It is paid after receipts have been received and is subject to the student meeting our attendance and behaviour criteria.