16 to 18 Bursaries
If you are between 16 and 18-years-old on September 1 (of the academic year in question) you may be entitled to apply for support from either the National Bursary Scheme or the Priestley Education and Training Trust (PETT).
From September a student is eligible for a core/mainstream bursary or free meal when the household income is below the threshold of £25,000 and for free school meal purposes an eligible benefit.
Vulnerable Learners' Bursary
The defined vulnerable groups are students who are:
- in care
- care leavers
- receiving Income Support, or Universal Credit because they are financially supporting themselves or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them such as a child or partner
- 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
Core Bursary and Free School Meals
Available to students whose parents/carers receive one or more of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers’ Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue and Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
- Universal Credit benefit, with net earnings not exceeding the equivalent of £7,400 pa (example can be found on our website www.priestley.ac.uk of the Universal Credit monthly award notice. Your award notice can be found in your journal when you log in online to your UC account).
The Core Bursary can be used for travel costs and equipment. For example, to pay for a relevant bus pass or an Art Kit.
From September a student is eligible for a core/mainstream bursary or free meal when the household income is below the threshold of £25,000 and for free school meal purposes an eligible benefit.
Mainstream Bursaries
These bursaries are for students not eligible for a core bursary where their parents or carers have an annual income of less than £25,000.
Or those who face emergency short-term financial hardship.
Bursary Funds can be used to support costs with: Travel, meals, equipment and materials, course related visits, UCAS applications, sport activities, and/or one-off emergencies.
Priestley Education and Training Trust (PETT)
Priestley College formed a charity with the aim of supporting those in most need. If you are not eligible for one of the 16-18 bursaries you may be able to apply for a PETT bursary.
Discretionary Learner Support Fund
This fund is for those students who will be 19 or older on 1 September (of the academic year in question) who face significant financial hardship. This fund supports costs as listed above but can also be used to support costs for Tuition and exam fees and / or child care.
This is for students who are not entitled to mainstream bursary due to their age. To qualify for this fund the criteria is the same as for the Core Bursary or where household income being below £25,000.
Other sources of financial support
Household Support Fund for FSM families on benefits
The Household Support Fund has been extended again until September 2022. Any previous claimants of this fund will automatically receive the funding (this is any claims made since December 2020). For any new benefits related FSM families, they can make a claim for the fund via the following link: Household Support Fund | warrington.gov.uk (goes live on the 25th May) The initial payment is £20 per child for any family on benefits. This funding will be put directly into bank accounts, or they can request an electronic voucher. It can be used towards food and utility bills, and is in addition to the £150 Council Tax Energy Rebate. Further funding will be released for the summer holidays to help with food when schools are closed. Please can you promote to any families that may not have made a claim yet, either due to being new FSM benefits claimant or if they just didn’t previously want the funding support. If you have any queries regarding this funding please contact education@warrington.gov.uk This money supports our approach to food security across the Town
Child Benefit
Parents can continue to claim Child Benefit until their child’s 20th birthday if they stay in full-time education.
Care to Learn
Those students under the age of 20 can apply for financial support to cover childcare costs up to £160 per week through the Care to Learn scheme. Childcare must be provided by an OFSTED registered childcare provider.
Bursary and Free School Meals Applications
Application forms can be downloaded from our website or collected from Student Services. They can be returned – with supporting documentation – to Student Services during the summer holiday rather than waiting for registration.
Any questions: You can phone to speak in confidence to a member of our Student Services Team on 01925 633591.
This is for students who are not entitled to mainstream bursary due to their age. To qualify for this fund the criteria is the same as for the Core Bursary or where household income being below £25,000.
