The 16-19 Bursary Fund at Durham Sixth Form Centre is a means-tested financial support program available to students up to the age of 19. Designed to help overcome financial barriers to education, the bursary provides direct payments into students’ bank accounts, ensuring they have the necessary support to continue their studies.
Financial Support
16-19 Bursary Fund – Means Tested
Available Bursaries
1. Guaranteed £1200 Bursary
This bursary is available to students who are in care, care leavers, recipients of Income Support, or disabled young people receiving both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance in their own name. However, students who are carers themselves do not qualify.
2. Discretionary FSM Bursary
Available to students who are eligible for free school meals. Students are entitled in addition to the bursary to take meals up to the value of £3.50 in the DSFCafe. There are no cash alternatives.
3. Discretionary In-Kind Bursary
Support for transport and other course-related costs is available to students whose total taxable family income falls below specific thresholds. Families receiving Child Benefit for one child must earn less than £28,500 per year, while those with more than one child qualify if their income is below £30,000. For families with two or more children attending Durham Sixth Form Centre simultaneously, the threshold is £31,500 per year.
4. Discretionary Top-Up Bursary
Available to students whose total taxable family income is less than £30,000 irrespective of the number of dependents. Students who are in receipt of discretionary bursaries may also apply. Top-up bursaries are for specific identifiable expenditure incurred whilst at the Sixth Form.
Funding Availability
Due to the restriction on funding available, applications for bursaries 1 to 3 will take a priority. Students who fall outside the criteria of receiving a Discretionary In-Kind Bursary but whose total taxable family income is less than £30,000 will be considered subject to available funds available. Further top-up funds will only be offered to students in receipt of a discretionary bursary if there are sufficient funds available after all other applications.
Eligibility and Evidence Requirements for 16-19 Bursaries
Eligibility Criteria: Priority will be given to students who would struggle to continue post-16 education without financial support. Applicants must demonstrate their need for assistance and should explore all other available funding options before applying. To qualify, students must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Be a care leaver (previously classified as a ‘looked after child’).
- Be economically disadvantaged (from families receiving benefits or on a low income), including those eligible for free school meals.
- Be homeless, in care, recently left care, on probation, a young parent, considered “at risk,” or supervised by a Youth Offending Team.
- Demonstrate financial hardship, with a total taxable family income below the specified thresholds.
Evidence Requirements: Applicants must provide appropriate documentation to confirm eligibility, including:
- Benefits received: A copy of the benefit award letter from HM Revenue & Customs, proof of taxable social security benefits from the Job Centre or Social Security Office (all pages required), and/or Universal Credit statements for the previous financial year. Letters from prior years will not be accepted.
- Employment evidence: A copy of the P60 from the previous financial year or the three most recent payslips. Self-employed applicants must submit an SA302 form, Tax Credit Award, or a letter from an accountant on headed paper.
Discretionary In-Kind Bursaries: These bursaries are awarded based on the distance a student travels (in miles) from their registered home address to the Centre. Mileage is calculated using AARoutePlanner.
Payments
Students who are awarded a bursary will be expected to meet certain conditions relating to attendance, adherence to our Climate for Learning Policy and completion of the examination year. Students who fail to meet the expected standards may only be paid a percentage of their award or even have their payment withheld until their performance meets expectations. Any student who leaves Durham Sixth Form Centre before the end of the examination year will forfeit any remaining unpaid bursary and may be asked to repay any unspent bursary.
Payment will be made by BACs to the students’ own bank account termly.
Further Assistance
Appeals Process: Students have the right to appeal any bursary decision. Copies of the appeal process are available upon request.
Important note: Due to limited funding, students eligible for multiple bursaries will only receive the one with the highest value. Full details on eligibility and terms and conditions for 16-19 Bursaries can be found in the 16-19 Bursary Policy & Guidance Notes, which may be subject to changes by the Education Funding Agency before the start of the academic year.
Completed documentation should be sent via email to finance@durhamsixthformcentre.org.uk. If you have any queries about our bursaries, please contact the Finance Team on (0191) 3830708. For additional information about Education Grants that you may be eligible for, please see below.