16 to 19 bursary fund policy

The policy document must state that the support available is from the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund and you must be mindful of this if you: – develop your own financial support branding – use your own funding to enhance your bursary offer to students

Must§ 6. Publishing bursary fund policies

Bursary fund policies must clearly set out what type of help you offer, for example: – help with transport, books and equipment costs – contributions to the costs of attending industry placements, university interviews or open days – UCAS application fees – top-up to Care to Learn funding for childcare, where necessary and appropriate – essential field trips to achieve or support study programme goals or course objectives

Must§ 6. Publishing bursary fund policies

You must state any specific deadline date in your application form and include it in your bursary policy.

Must§ 7. Managing bursary fund applications

You must ensure your forms avoid any terminology such as ‘guaranteed bursary’ or wording such as ‘you will automatically get a bursary of £1,200 if you are in one of the defined groups’.

Must§ 4.6 Young people eligible for defined vulnerable group bursary but without financial need

You must: – ensure confidentiality to reduce these concerns – publicise the availability of help from the bursary fund – encourage young carers to apply where they have a financial need

Must§ 17.4 Young people with caring responsibilities

If you use non-bursary funds to subsidise or provide free travel for your non-bursary students, you must state clearly that this is an offer from the institution and not bursary funded.

Must§ 5.1 Costs that are not eligible for bursary funds

The document should be available early enough for students making decisions about their post-16 options.

Should§ 6. Publishing bursary fund policies

Your application forms, bursary policies and supporting information should make clear to students that there is no guarantee of funding (even for students in defined vulnerable groups) because bursary awards relate to financial need. Students with no participation costs would not receive any funding.

Should§ 7. Managing bursary fund applications

Examples of policies and procedures designed to raise early awareness of the bursary include: – information about the bursary fund shared through the college website or prospectus, posters displayed around the college, distribution at open evenings for year 11 pupils from local schools or talks at local schools

Good practice§ 17.1 Raising awareness of the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund