SECTION A - INTRODUCTION

Financial support is available to eligible students from the 16 to 19 bursary fund. The fund is intended to support students aged 16 to 19 in overcoming specific financial barriers to participation so they can remain in education. We use the fund to provide students with support to fund:  

         Transport

         Books

         Equipment

         Field trips and other course-related costs

         The costs of attending university / job interviews and open days.

Once all students who are eligible for a guaranteed bursary have been identified, remaining discretionary funds will be allocated according to the bursary policy as approved by the Academy Governing Council.

Students can apply for a discretionary bursary if they satisfy one or more of the following criteria:

• Household income is below £20,000 per year; or
• the student or their family is in receipt of Universal Credit or similar benefits; or
• the student lives outside of Wirral.

Students who do not satisfy any of the criteria listed in this section, but who are able to demonstrate financial hardship arising for other reasons, may apply for a discretionary bursary. In addition, Co-op Academy Bebington will consider applications for emergency payments to support students whose financial circumstances change resulting in severe financial hardship.

Students are required to decide for themselves how much funding they want to apply for to cover their costs for the whole school year and must provide a breakdown of these costs.

In assessing any application for a discretionary bursary, we will consider:

• Level of household income;
• Distance to travel between the student’s home and the institution, or a location for a placement;
• The number of dependent children in the student’s household;
• The requirements of their study programme; and
•  Whether the student has additional responsibilities that may mean they need extra help.

There is no set limit to the amount of discretionary bursary that can be awarded to students. We will base all decisions about which students receive a discretionary bursary and how much bursary they receive, on each student’s individual circumstances and their actual financial need. We will review each student’s eligibility position each academic year. Students will only continue to receive a discretionary bursary if they continue to satisfy the criteria.

All applicants for bursary funding must be at least 16 years old, but under 19 years old on 31 August 2026. Students aged 19 or over are eligible for a discretionary bursary if they are continuing on a study programme or course which they began when they were aged 16 to 18 years old, or have an education, health and care (EHC) plan.

All applications for 16 to 19 bursaries must be supported by appropriate evidence. Examples of acceptable evidence we may request are:

• Previous 3 to 6 months’ worth of payslips; or
• P60;
• Written confirmation of a student’s current or previous looked-after status from the relevant local authority; or
• Written confirmation of a benefit award or tax credit notice, in the name of the student or the parent (for the discretionary bursary).

Payment will be made by BACS each term into the student’s bank account.

Payments of the bursary are conditional on students meeting the following conditions in relation to our standards of attendance and behaviour:

• Attendance above 90% (unless due to exceptional circumstances);
• Following the sixth form code of conduct

All students are required to sign a declaration confirming that they agree to these conditions.

Students who fail to meet these conditions may have their payment withheld, but we will always take students’ individual circumstances into consideration. This includes considering the impact on attendance that might be caused by illness, caring responsibilities or other exceptional circumstances.

We will stop payments where students have been absent for a period of 4 continuous weeks or more (excluding holidays) and where students have decided to withdraw from a study programme.

We reserve the right to take back money from students where it is not spent for the reasons it was awarded. Students may be asked to provide receipts, copies of travel passes (for example) or other evidence to prove how the bursary funds have been spent.

We will consider the impact of stopping payment on the individual student before taking a final decision to do so, and any decision will be confirmed to the student in writing.

To apply for a sixth form bursary, please complete all sections of the application form (section B of this document) in CAPITAL letters and using black ink and return to Mrs Jane Whisker, Headteacher, Co-op Academy Bebington, Higher Bebington Road, Bebington CH63 2PS.

Successful applicants will be notified in writing within 10 working days of their application being reviewed. If your application is unsuccessful and you wish to appeal, you must write to the Chair of the Academy Governing Council care of Co-op Academy Bebington, Higher Bebington Road, Bebington, CH63 2PS.