16-19 Bursary Scheme

16 to 19 bursary funds are there to help students remain in education.   You can apply for funding if you meet the criteria.  You will also need to agree to standards of attendance and behaviour with your school.

In Newcastle the following secondary schools have agreed a joint scheme called the Newcastle Schools’ 16-19 Bursary Scheme, which is managed by the council:

• Benfield School
• Excelsior Academy
• Gosforth Academy
• Jesmond Park Academy
• Kenton School
• North East Futures UTC
• Sir Charles Parsons School
• St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School
• St Mary’s Catholic School
• Studio West
• Thomas Bewick School
• Walker Riverside Academy

You can contact your school for more information.

Applications starting from Monday 19th August 2024

Apply for a bursary

Who can apply for the bursary scheme?

There are two types of bursary.  You can only apply for one of these, depending on your personal circumstances.

Standard bursary

To apply for the standard bursary you must meet all four of the following conditions:

• attend a school in Newcastle which is part of the scheme
• be starting Year 12, 13 or 14 in September 2024
• be aged between 16 and 18 on 31 August 2024
• live in a household with an annual income (including benefits and tax credits) below £32,000.00

Enhanced bursary

To apply for the enhanced bursary you must meet all four of the following conditions:

• attend a school in Newcastle which is part of the scheme
• be starting Year 12, 13 or 14 in September 2024
• be aged between 16 and 18 on 31 August 2024

and you must also belong to one of the following groups:

• be in care
• recently left local authority care
• receive income support or Universal Credit because you are financially supporting yourself or financially supporting yourself and someone who is dependent on you and who you are living with, such as a child or partner
• receive Disability Living Allowances or Personal Independence Payments in your own right, as well as Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credit in your own right

How much will I get?

Weekly amounts are paid during term time (up to 39 weeks each academic year) paid in arrears.

What can I use the bursary for?

The bursary is to help with costs related to your studies, for example visits to higher education providers, travel to and from your school or academy, books and equipment, and other costs associated with your course.

If your application for bursary funding is successful, you should retain evidence of any expenditure in any of the above respects as bursary entitlement can be subject to checks by your school or the local council.

Are there any conditions attached to the scheme?

Yes - your school will expect your attendance and behaviour to be good. They will discuss and arrange a ‘Learner Agreement’ with you to set out their expected standards of attendance and behaviour.  The payment of your bursary will be conditional on you meeting the requirements of the agreement.

How do I apply?

If you are applying for the standard bursary your parent/carer will also need to complete part of the form and provide evidence of household income. Any documents should be uploaded with your application following the instructions that will appear on the screen.  All documents should relate to this year's financial year.  For example, evidence for tax credits should relate to the current financial year (2024/25) and show that the learner applying for the bursary is a qualifying young person.  All evidence should be complete, recently dated, clear and readable.  You must make sure that all pages and documents are uploaded. 

If you are applying for an enhanced bursary you should:

• complete the online application
• provide a letter confirming your status of being in care or of having been in care,  which you can get from your social worker
• provide evidence that you are receiving benefits in your own right, if applicable

Applications will be dealt with in the order they are received.  You are encouraged to apply as soon as you know that you will be attending Year 12/13/14 and it can be confirmed with your school .

If you have any questions, you can contact the council’s School Bursary team by emailing: schoolbursaries@newcastle.gov.uk

How will I know if my application has been approved?

We will email you to let you know the outcome of your application.  We will also contact you if we need more information from you .

If you think we have incorrectly assessed your application, email the Schools Bursary team  giving your first name, surname, the school you attend and any online reference number you were supplied with.

Payments

• When your application is approved, we will send you a schedule confirming the dates when you will be paid.  Payments will be made in arrears starting in November.  Remember - payments will only be made if your school confirms you have met the terms of your ‘Learner Agreement’.
• Payments will be made into your own bank account therefore it is essential that you have an account in your name.  Cash payments will not be made.
• It is important that you make sure that your bank or building society can accept BACS transfers before you provide your bank account details.   Post Office accounts and some Credit Unions do not accept BACS payments so it's worth checking if your account will accept the payments before you apply.
• You will be paid in arrears during term time only, up to a maximum of 39 weeks each academic year. Payment will be dependent on your school confirming that you are meeting the terms of your ‘Learner Agreement’.
• Eligibility for the bursary is assessed annually, so you must re-apply each year.

What happens if my financial or living circumstances change?

Let the School Bursary team know immediately if you:

• have a change of personal circumstances such as a change of address or household income. 
• change your bank account and provide details of your new account including sort code, account number and name of account holder.
• leave school before completing your course.  You must notify us of your leaving date and your payments will stop.
• transfer to another school within the Newcastle Schools’ Bursary Scheme.  We will amend and resume payments once you have established a new ‘Learner Agreement’ and you demonstrate you are meeting the requirements of the agreement.
• transfer to another school or post-16 provider which is not part of the Newcastle Bursary Scheme.  You will need to ask them about their own bursary arrangements.  Please be aware that their terms, conditions and payments may be different.

Any over payments will be repayable.

Can I apply for a bursary at anytime throughout the academic year?

You must re-apply for Bursary funding for each year that you are in the sixth form at your school.

Applications should be submitted as soon as possible after the start of the academic year.  Applications will generally not be accepted after 31 December each year.  However, applications can be submitted later if a young person joins a sixth form after the start of the academic year.
 

Who do I contact if I have any questions?

If you have any questions about the scheme you should speak to your school.  If they are unable to help, you can contact the council’s Schools Bursary team .  Please provide your first name, surname, the school you attend and ideally any online reference number.

General information on bursary schemes is available on the GOV.UK website.

Apply for a bursary