Warren School has produced this brief synopsis for the benefit of pupils, parents and carers. If you would like the full Bursary Fund Guide, please follow this link to the Government website: 16 to 19 Bursary Fund guide: 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK

The purpose of the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund is to provide financial support to help students overcome specific barriers to participation, so they can remain in education.

There are 2 types of 16 to 19 bursaries:

A Vulnerable Person’s Bursary of up to £1,200 each year, for young people in one of the defined vulnerable groups.

A Discretionary Bursary which institutions award to meet individual needs, for example, to help with the cost of transport, meals, books and equipment.

Eligibility criteria for the 16 to 19 bursaries 

Please note: the following eligibility criteria will be assessed in addition to the individual pupil’s actual financial needs.  

• Pupils must be aged 16 or over, but under the age of 19 on 31st August 2025 to be eligible for the 25/26 academic year.  

• Have an education, health and care (EHC) plan. 

• Pupils must be enrolled in the school’s post 16 provision. 

• Pupils must meet the residency criteria in the DFE funding rules for 16 to 19 provision. 

A pupil may be eligible for the discretional bursary if they meet any of the criteria below: 

• If the pupil is entitled to free school meals or has a sibling who is entitled to free school meals.  

• Total household income (excluding disability living allowance & child benefit) of below £43,000. 

A pupil may be eligible for the vulnerable bursary if they meet the criteria below:  

• Be a care leaver or in care. 

• Be in receipt of income support or universal credit because they are financially supporting themselves or supporting someone who is dependent on them and living with them, such as a child or partner.  

• Be in receipt of disability living allowance or personal independence payments, as well as employment support allowance or universal credit in their own right.  

The impact of bursaries on DWP benefits:

We wish to highlight to students and parents that any receipt of the 16 to 19 Bursary Funds will not affect their entitlement to DWP income-related benefits.

If the student is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments, and Employment Support Allowance, or in receipt of Universal Credit, parents may no longer receive certain household/family benefits for that child, such as child benefit.

Bursaries cannot be made as regular payments towards living costs.

Warren School will follow the guidelines of good practice set out by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to pay in-kind bursaries wherever possible, rather than cash. This helps ensure that the bursaries are spent for the reason it was awarded and helps students to participate. There are restrictions on what in-kind payments can be however, they may include support for travel, vouchers, credits for meals, books and equipment. Again, following ESFA guidelines, Warren School specifies that students must return books and equipment at the end of their study programme, to be used again by other students where appropriate.

If IT equipment is required and the student cannot complete the study programme without it, it can be bought with bursary funds and returned to school at the end of their course.

How to Apply:

Download the application form below and send completed forms (along with supporting evidence) to bursaries.warren@consortiumtrust.org.uk