16-19 Bursary Fund

The 16-19 Bursary Fund is a scheme designed to help young people facing financial hardship to stay in full-time education after Year 11.  At Birchwood College, this scheme provides support for students who qualify in any of the following three sections:

Tier 1

A full bursary (up to £1200 per academic year) is offered for those who are most in need of financial support.  These students are either young people in Local Authority care, young people who live independently having left Local Authority Care, young people receiving income support, or those in receipt of both Disability Living Allowance and Employment Support Allowance.

Tier 2

A discretionary bursary is offered to students whose families are in receipt of Income Support, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Income-based Job Seekers Allowance or Employment Support Allowance.  These families must also provide evidence that their household income for the previous tax year is below the figure set by Birchwood College.

 Tier 3

An educational support grant is available for those students whose families meet the criteria established in Tier 2, but have received a household income greater than the figure set by Birchwood College.  These students can then apply for support towards educational costs (E.g. equipment, trips, etc.) throughout the academic year.  The final decision on distribution of this funding lies with the Head of College.

 To apply for the 16-19 Bursary Fund, students should collect and complete an application form from the Birchwood College Office and return it together with the required financial evidence.

​For further information, contact Mrs Garratt, Assistant College Leader or Mr Burrows, Head of College.