The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund provides financial support to help students overcome the specific financial barriers to participation they face so they can remain in education.

There are 2 types of 16 to 19 bursaries:

• bursaries for defined vulnerable groups
• discretionary bursaries

Both types of bursary funding are to help eligible students with essential costs of participating such as travel to and from school or to buy essential books, equipment, or specialist clothing (protective overalls, for example) that are required for their individual study programme. These are items a student would otherwise need to pay for to participate.

The bursary fund is not intended to provide learning support – services that you give to students, for example, counselling or mentoring - or to support extra-curricular activities that are not essential to the students’ study programme or to provide living costs support.

Guilsborough Academy has a transparent process for the allocation of 16 to 19 bursary fund, which aims to make clear to parents and students the type of support which is available and the means of applying for it. The policy ensures that the funds are targeted towards students identified as facing the greatest need to ensure that they are supported through their education.

This policy is based on advice from the Department of Education (DfE)  on the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide: 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK