You can access our Post 16 Bursary Policy and Bursary Application form on the Policies & Statutory Information page of the website.
16–19 Bursary Fund
The 16–19 Bursary Fund provides financial support to help students overcome specific financial barriers to participation so that they can remain in education and achieve their learning aims.
There are two types of bursary available to eligible Sixth Form students:
- Bursary for Defined Vulnerable Groups
- Discretionary Bursary
Both bursaries are intended to help with essential costs associated with participating in a student’s study programme. Each application is considered individually and eligibility does not automatically result in a bursary payment or a fixed level of funding. Support is based on the student’s individual circumstances, financial need and actual participation costs.
How to Apply
Students should complete the Budmouth Academy 16–19 Bursary Application Form 2026–27 and return the completed and signed form, together with the required supporting evidence, to the Sixth Form Office.
Applications cannot be fully assessed until all required evidence has been received. Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible; however, applications can also be made later in the year if circumstances change.
Bursary for Defined Vulnerable Groups
Students may be eligible for a bursary of up to £1,200 per academic year if they are:
- in care;
- a care leaver;
- receiving Income Support or Universal Credit because they are financially supporting themselves, or themselves and someone dependent upon them who lives with them; or
- receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit in their own right.
Receipt of DLA or PIP alone does not meet the eligibility criteria. Being in one of these groups does not automatically mean that a student will receive £1,200. The Academy will assess the student’s actual financial need and participation costs before determining the level of support. Post 16 Bursary Policy 2026-202…
Discretionary Bursary
The Discretionary Bursary is available to eligible Budmouth Academy Sixth Form students who face financial barriers to participation but do not qualify for the Bursary for Defined Vulnerable Groups.
Household income is used as part of determining eligibility. The Academy uses the following income bands to help prioritise applications:
- household income below £21,000;
- household income between £21,000 and £25,000; and
- household income between £25,000 and £30,000.
Students from households with the lowest incomes will normally receive the highest priority. Free School Meal eligibility may also be used as an indicator of financial disadvantage.
These are Budmouth Academy eligibility thresholds, rather than national DfE thresholds. Neither household income nor Free School Meal eligibility automatically entitles a student to bursary funding. Each application is assessed according to individual financial need, actual participation costs and the funding available to the Academy.
What Can the Bursary Support?
Depending on individual need, bursary funding may contribute towards essential costs including:
- travel to and from the Academy;
- essential books, learning resources and equipment;
- specialist clothing or protective equipment required for a course;
- meals on study days where appropriate;
- essential curriculum-related field trips;
- costs associated with industry placements;
- reasonable travel costs for university interviews or open days;
- UCAS application fees; and
- other essential participation costs agreed by the Academy.
All support must relate directly to removing an identified financial barrier to participation.
How Support Is Provided
Where practicable, the Academy will provide support in kind, for example by purchasing books or equipment, providing travel passes or meal credits, or paying approved costs directly.
Where a direct payment is appropriate, this will normally be made by BACS into the student’s own bank account. Payments will only be for the purpose for which the bursary has been awarded and may be made at appropriate intervals rather than as a single lump sum. Post 16 Bursary Policy 2026-202…
Attendance, Punctuality and Behaviour
Bursary funding is provided to enable students to participate in education and is not an attendance or achievement reward.
Continued support may, however, be conditional upon students meeting reasonable agreed expectations, including attending required lessons and activities, maintaining appropriate punctuality, following Academy expectations for behaviour and complying with the conditions of their bursary award.
Where concerns arise, individual circumstances will always be considered before support is reviewed or temporarily withheld.
Changes in Circumstances and Emergency Support
Students should contact the Sixth Form team if their financial or personal circumstances change significantly during the academic year. Students experiencing unexpected financial hardship can apply for support at any point during the year.
In exceptional cases of severe hardship, temporary emergency support with meals or travel may be available while a full bursary assessment is completed.