Financial Support

The Woodroffe School is committed to helping Sixth Form students overcome financial barriers to education. We recognise that studying in the Sixth Form can involve costs and so we offer bursary support to eligible students where funding is available.

All applications are assessed individually, taking into account household income, personal circumstances, and the specific bursary being applied for. Bursary awards are made in accordance with Department for Education (DfE) funding regulations and applicants must meet the residency requirements outlined in the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide: 2026 to 2027 – GOV.UK. 

As DfE funding allocations vary each year, the level of support available may change.  Funding is limited, and eligibility does not guarantee an award. Early applications are strongly encouraged.

These bursaries are awarded based on financial need, with assistance provided in kind wherever possible. Where an award is made as a monetary payment rather than in kind, it will be paid directly to the student by BACS transfer into their own bank account, in line with DfE guidance. Payments cannot be made to parents or carers.

All bursary awards are conditional upon good attendance, conduct, and commitment to studies. Students and parents/carers will be required to agree to and sign a bursary agreement as part of the application process before any funding is awarded or paid.

The School reserves the right to review, amend, suspend or withdraw support where these expectations are not met, or where a student’s circumstances change.

More information about the support available and application forms can be found below.

Free School Meals (FSM)

Students who are eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) will continue to receive this support while studying in the Sixth Form.

Sixth Form Bursaries

The Woodroffe School receives funding from the Department for Education (DfE) to provide financial support through the 16–19 Bursary Fund 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide: 2026 to 2027 – GOV.UK. 

Depending on their circumstances and eligibility, students may apply for the following bursaries:

1. Bursary for Defined Vulnerable Groups
   For students who meet the DfE’s criteria for vulnerable groups.
2. 16–19 Discretionary Bursary
   For students facing financial hardship that may affect their ability to participate fully in Sixth Form education.
3. Bus Travel Bursary Contribution
   A contribution towards the cost of travel to and from school for eligible students.

1. Bursary for Defined Vulnerable Groups

The 16–19 Bursary Fund provides additional financial support for students in defined vulnerable groups who face financial barriers to participating in education.

Students may be eligible if they:

• Are aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31 August in the academic year in which they start their study programme.
• Are aged 19 or over may only be eligible if they have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and are continuing the same study programme that they began before turning 19.
• Meet the residency requirements set out in the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide: 2026 to 2027 – GOV.UK
• Are currently in the care of a Local Authority.
• A care leaver.
• Receive Income Support (IS) or Universal Credit (UC) in their own right because they are financially supporting themselves, or themselves and a dependent who lives with them.
• Receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in their own right, together with Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit (UC) in their own right.

Please note: Students must be receiving both DLA/PIP and ESA/UC to qualify under the disability benefits category. Receipt of DLA or PIP alone does not meet the eligibility criteria.

Students in these groups may be awarded bursary support of up to £1,200 per academic year, depending on their individual financial needs and the actual costs they incur in participating in their study programme. The amount awarded will be determined following an assessment of need and may cover essential costs such as travel, meals, books, equipment, or other course-related expenses. Awards are not automatic and are not made at a fixed rate.

Evidence required for Vulnerable Group Bursary

 The School must obtain and retain evidence confirming eligibility for the bursary. Examples include:

• Written confirmation from the relevant Local Authority for students who are in care or are care leavers.
• An Income Support or Universal Credit award notice showing the student is entitled to the benefit in their own right.
• A Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance award notice, together with evidence of receipt of DLA or PIP, for students applying under the disability benefits category.
• Further information on acceptable evidence can be found in the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide: 2026 to 2027 – GOV.UK.

How to Apply for the Vulnerable Group Bursary 

The Sixth Form may already be aware of internal students who are eligible for this Bursary.  External applicants who believe they meet the criteria should contact Mr Wickins or Mrs Marmion before completing an application form so that eligibility and evidence requirements can be discussed in advance, given that the application process is different to that of the other bursaries. 

2. 16-19 Discretionary Bursary

Students from this group do not have the same entitlement to the 16-19 Bursary Fund as the vulnerable group, however they may be funded for sixth form related costs at the discretion of the school should funding permit through the Discretionary Bursary.

To be eligible, students must:

• Be aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31 August in the academic year in which they start their study programme.
• Be aged 19 or over may only be eligible if they have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and are continuing the same study programme that they began before turning 19.
• Meet the residency requirements set out in the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide: 2026 to 2027 – GOV.UK
• Live in a household with a total annual gross income of less than £35,000.
• Complete and sign the required bursary application form and attached contract agreement.
• Maintain good attendance, conduct, effort and commitment to their studies.

As funding allocations from the Department for Education vary each year, the level of support available and the number of awards made may change annually. 

Evidence for 16-19 Discretionary Bursary 

Applicants must provide evidence of household income and financial circumstances. This may include:

• The three most recent Universal Credit award statements.
• Current Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit award notices.
• Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance or other relevant benefit documentation.
• Recent payslips or other evidence of earnings.
• Any additional evidence requested by the School to support the application.

Where current-year income information is not available, evidence from the previous tax year may be accepted where household circumstances are not expected to change significantly.

A signed declaration from the parent/carer confirming household income and circumstances will also be required.

Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee an award.

As bursary funding is reassessed annually, students must submit a new application each academic year. Previous awards do not automatically continue into subsequent years. 

Payments will be made in kind from the 16-19 Discretionary Bursary Fund are expected to contribute to the following:

• Essential educational trips and participation costs
• Books/Learning resources and stationery including printing
• Necessary course – related equipment and uniform
• UCAS fees/HE travel related expenses
• University Open Days

Support will normally be provided in kind. A cash award will only be approved in exceptional circumstances and payment will be made directly to the student by BACS transfer into their own bank account.

Students should not expect bursary funding to meet all educational or course-related costs. The School receives a finite bursary allocation each year, and available funding must be distributed fairly among eligible students with the greatest financial need.

How to apply for the 16-19 Discretionary Bursary 

Application forms will be issued to students during Sixth Form enrolment and registration.

Completed application forms, together with all required supporting evidence, should be returned to Mrs Marmion in the Sixth Form Office.

3. Bus Travel Bursary Contribution

The Bus Travel Bursary Contribution (BTBC) is designed to help eligible Sixth Form students with the cost of travelling to and from The Woodroffe School. The bursary is intended as a contribution towards travel costs and does not necessarily cover the full cost of transport.

Students may be considered for support if they are:

•  Aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31 August in the academic year in which they start their study programme.
• Students aged 19 or over may only be eligible if they have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and are continuing the same study programme that they began before turning 19.
• Meet the residency requirements set out in the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide: 2026 to 2027 – GOV.UK
• Are enrolled on a full-time study programme at The Woodroffe School Sixth Form.
• Live in a household with a total annual income of less than £51,000.
• Live more than three miles from the School.
• Require bus transport to attend their study programme.

Applications will be assessed individually, taking into account household income, financial need, travel costs, and available bursary funding. Priority may be given to students with the greatest financial need. Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee an award.

Where support is approved, payments will normally be made retrospectively at the end of each half term and paid directly to the student by BACS transfer into their own bank account, in accordance with Department for Education (DfE) guidance.

As funding allocations from the Department for Education vary each year, the level of support available and the number of awards made may change annually

Evidence 

All applications must be fully completed, including all required supporting documentation as set out in the application form.

This includes full travel details, estimated or actual costs, proof of household income, and signed declarations. Further guidance on acceptable evidence is available in the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide: 2026 to 2027 – GOV.UK

Where an application is successful, students will be required to provide full proof of purchase for tickets (e.g. receipts or transaction confirmations, screenshots including names and prices). These should be submitted to the Sixth Form Office either half-termly or termly, depending on how tickets are purchased, to enable the contribution to be paid. 

Application for Bus Travel Bursary Contribution Bursary

Application forms will be issued to students during Sixth Form enrolment and registration.

Completed application forms, together with all required supporting evidence, should be returned to Mrs Marmion in the Sixth Form Office.

Further Information

Further details on the Bursary Fund can be found here: 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide: 2026 to 2027 – GOV.UK

SIXTH FORM – FINANCIAL SUPPORT APPLICATION FORM 16 – 19 BURSARY FUND: 2026-2027 – Fill out form

16-19 Discretionary Bursary Fund

The 16-19 Bursary Fund is allocated to schools by the Department of Education (DfE) and is aimed at students who would be unable to stay in education after Year 11 without financial help.

Eligibility

To be eligible to receive this bursary, students must be aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31st August in the academic year in which they start their full programme of study.  Applicants must satisfy the residency criteria in the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide: 2026 to 2027 – GOV.UK. 

1. Bursary for defined vulnerable groups

The defined vulnerable groups are students who are:

• in care
• a care leaver
• claiming Income Support or Universal Credit because they are financially supporting themselves
• receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in their own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right.

Students from the above groups may receive a Bursary of up to £1,200 per year from the Fund. Payments will be dependent on financial need, attendance, behaviour and progress on the course.

Evidence

The school requires original evidence from the Local Authority, external agencies, key worker/social worker or evidence of Income Support / Universal Credit etc in your own name. There is more detail on evidence required in the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide: 2026 to 2027 – GOV.UK. 

Application

Please note the application form is under review given the recent DfE changes.  The new application form will go live on Registration Day (2nd September).  Students will be reminded of this during Registration Day and the first week of term.  

2. 16-19 Discretionary Bursary

Students from this group do not have the same entitlement to the 16-19 Bursary Fund as the vulnerable group, however they may be funded for Sixth Form related costs at the discretion of the school should funding permit through the 16-19 Discretionary Bursary.   

Payments will be in kind where possible and will depend on total household income.  Students must:

• Live in a household where the total annual income is under £35,000.
• Meet the behaviour standards expected of Sixth Form students

and

• Adhere to Woodroffe’s attendance and academic expectations.

Evidence

The school requires the original documentation showing the household income for the year (or previous year if the current years is unavailable and the income is unlikely to change).   This is likely to include the 3 most recent Universal Credit monthly award statements, which can then be multiplied by 4 for an estimate of income for the whole year (the take-home pay figure in addition to the amount of UC after all deductions will give a total monthly income).

Full copies of Income Support, Employment Support Allowance and payslips can often help support the application as evidence of household income.

In addition to this we will require a signed note from the applicant’s parent/carer confirming the household income status.

Payments from the 16-19 Bursary Fund will be paid in kind where possible, and are expected to contribute to the following:

• Essential educational trips
• Books/learning resources and stationery
• Necessary course–related equipment and uniform
• UCAS fees/higher education travel related expenses
• University Open Days

Students eligible for help from the Discretionary Bursary Fund should not expect that payments will cover all course-related expenses: there is a limited amount available to the school each year and this will be distributed amongst students in need. The DfE do not expect the Bursary Fund to be used to fund extra-curriculum activities unless they are essential to the course. 

Application

Students applying for the Discretionary Bursary will be given the application forms on registration day or alternatively you can access the forms online from the website.  These forms should be completed in full with copies of supporting paperwork attached and returned to Mrs Marmion in the sixth form office by 17^th September.

The Sixth Form Bursary Team will be responsible for deciding who receives the awards based on the criteria outlined above.  The Bursary Fund is given to the school each year by the DfE (Department of Education).

Further Information

Further details on the Bursary Fund can be found here: DfE 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide: 2026 to 2027 – GOV.UK.

SIXTH FORM – FINANCIAL SUPPORT APPLICATION FORM 16 – 19 BURSARY FUND: 2026-2027 – Fill out form

16-19 Bus Travel Contribution Bursary

The aim of this Bus Travel Bursary Contribution (BTBC) is to provide some financial support towards travel costs for eligible students who are aged 16-19, currently attending The Woodroffe School Sixth Form and following a full-time course.  Payments will depend on total household income and students must:

• Live in a household where the total household income is under £51,000 .
• Live more than 3 miles from Woodroffe
• Have their own bank account
• Must be able to provide proof of bus ticket purchase prior to any reimbursements being made
• Require a bus to get to and from school

Applications to The Discretionary and Sixth Form Bus Travel Contribution Bursary 

Please note the application form is under review given the recent DfE changes.  The new application form will go live on Registration Day (2nd September).  Students will be reminded of this during Registration Day and the first week of term.  

Further Information

Further details on the Bursary Fund can be found here: Financial Support – The Woodroffe School.

SIXTH FORM – FINANCIAL SUPPORT APPLICATION FORM 16 – 19 BURSARY FUND: 2026-2027 – Fill out form