A key priority for the government is to close the gap in attainment between those from poorer and more affluent backgrounds, and to ensure every young person participates in and benefits from a place in 16 to 19 education or training. Pupil Premium funding is available until Year 11, but when students transition to Year 12, it is necessary to apply for Bursary funding.

How the Bursary Fund works at Little Heath School

In the Sixth Form, we encourage all students to apply once they start in Year 12, in particular those who have previously been in receipt of Pupil Premium funding. Students who received Bursary in Year 12, will not automatically receive funding in Year 13 and must reapply. In order to support students, we run weekly Bursary Clinics to provide a private space to discuss their needs. 

The Bursary Fund has 2 elements:

• The most vulnerable young people – young people in care, care leavers, those on Income Support or Universal Credit and disabled young people in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance (or Personal Independence Payment) may receive a yearly bursary of up to £1,200.
• The rest of the fund is awarded on a discretionary basis by institutions. Institutions decide how to use this funding and can award discretionary bursaries to any student that is facing genuine financial barriers to participating.

Institutions are free to determine the eligibility criteria for discretionary bursaries, and the frequency of and conditions for payments for all awards, subject to the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and the information published on this page.

The £180 million 16 to 19 Bursary Fund targets support towards the most financially disadvantaged 16 to 19 year olds - those who most need help with the costs of staying on.

If you have any questions, please email sixthform@littleheath.org.uk. 

Further information about the 16-19 Bursary Fund can be found on the government website: Guidance information on the government website.