Bursary 16-19
16 – 19 Bursary Fund Academic Year September 2025 – July 2026
The Government’s Education & Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) provides a limited amount of money to Schools and Academies to pass on to students aged 16 to 19 in full–time education so that financial barriers to education can be reduced or removed. Bursary awards will typically be allocated to fund course related costs such as books, educational equipment, and can also be allocated to assist with transport costs, catering, curriculum-required field trips, university open days and UCAS fees.
Harrogate Grammar School’s bursary policy is informed by the ESFA’s 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide 2025.
All students aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31 August 2025 may apply for a bursary (non-discretionary and discretionary). Bursaries are intended for students who are in most need of financial student support and the eligibility criteria reflects this intention. No student will be automatically awarded a set amount of funding without an assessment of their level of financial need. The bursary is not able to support costs unrelated to education, such as living costs, mentoring or tutoring, counselling, or extra-curricular activities.
The 16-19 Bursary Fund is targeted at two qualifying groups:
- Non-discretionary: Students that are in care; care leavers; in receipt of income support or Universal Credit in place of income support, in their own right; in receipt of Employment Support Allowance, Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments, in their own right. These students may receive a bursary of up to £1,200 a year.
- Discretionary: Students with an adult household income of up to £30,000
The value of the bursary awards to students in this group is dependent upon the number of students that apply. The value of the bursary awards will depend on the number of students that apply, and figures will not be known until the end of September.
Costs included in the bursary scheme
Payments for the items listed below will be considered through prior communication and the presentation of receipts.
Transport: The cost of travel passes will be supported
Learning resources: The cost of the school iPad for Learning Scheme as well as essential books can be supported
Educational equipment: The cost of essential educational equipment for the specific subjects studied may be supported through the Bursary. Any purchases must be agreed beforehand and payments will be made upon the presentation of receipts.
Catering: Financial support for meals purchased in school may be supported. The Bursary does not cover the cost of food and drink purchased outside of school.
UCAS Fees: If a university application is made, the school will pay the UCAS fee.
Field Trips: The school may support the cost of essential field trips which are required as part of the curriculum.
University Open Days: The cost of travel to university open days may be supported. These payments are subject to the advance approval by the Director of Sixth Form or Assistant Director of Sixth Form, and the presentation of receipts.
Conditions of payment
All awards will be dependent on students adhering to the standards outlined in the Sixth Form Handbook and terms of our Sixth Form Learning Agreement.
It is our expectation that students attend all timetabled lessons, study periods, and registration, on time. Students should have no unauthorised absences from school or lessons. If students do not meet the standards set by the Sixth Form in the Handbook and Learning Agreement, payments may be withheld.
Payments
The total annual amount of money that the school is given to grant bursaries is determined by the Government’s Education & Skills Funding Agency. Therefore, the amount of money available to grant discretionary bursary payments is dependent on the number of eligible students and demand for financial support.
Each application will be reviewed on its own merits and bursaries will be granted based on the information provided. The funding available is limited and awards of the discretionary bursary will not be guaranteed.
Applications
- Please complete all relevant sections of the application form by Friday 19 September 2025.
- Further applications for the discretionary bursary will be accepted throughout the year.
- Year 13 students who previously received the bursary in year 12 must re-apply for assistance in 2025/2026.
Please email HGSSixthform@hgs.rklt.co.uk for further information or if you have any questions.
