If you are starting Year 12, 13 or 14 at a Newcastle school in September 2011, you might be entitled to a bursary of up to £15 per week to help with costs during term time. Apply now!
What is the 16 to 19 school bursary scheme?
Who is eligible for the bursary scheme
How much money will I get?
Is my school part of the Newcaste school's scheme?
What can I use my bursary for?
Are there any conditions attached to the scheme?
How do I apply?
When do I need to apply by and how will I hear the outcome?
What should I do if I’m not happy with your decision?
When will my payments start?
How will you pay me?
How long will I receive payments for?
Who do I contact if I have any questions?
Where can I get more information on 16 to 19 bursary schemes?
What happens if my financial or living circumstances change?
Application forms
16 to 19 bursary schemes are being introduced in place of the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA).
They provide financial help to young people aged 16 to 19 who face financial barriers to participating in education or training, provided they meet agreed standards of attendance and behaviour.
In Newcastle, all our secondary schools and academies have agreed a joint scheme called the Newcastle schools’ 16 to 19 bursary scheme. The scheme is being administered on behalf of most of the schools by Newcastle City Council.
Other post-16 providers in Newcastle and the surrounding area are also operating their own bursary schemes and will be able to give you further information on their schemes. You can find their contact details on the Newcastle Routes website (www.newcastleroutes.co.uk).
The Newcastle schools’ 16 to 19 bursary scheme offers two types of bursary. You can only apply for one type, depending on your personal circumstances.
To be eligible for the standard bursary you must meet all five of the following conditions:
1. attend a school in Newcastle which is part of the scheme
2. be starting Year 12, 13 or 14 in September 2011
3. be aged between 16 and 18 on 31 August 2011
4. living in a household with an annual income below £20,817 before tax and national insurance
5. not already be in receipt of an EMA for 2011/12.
To be eligible for the enhanced bursary you must meet all four of the following conditions:
1. attend a school in Newcastle which is part of the scheme
2. be starting Year 12, 13 or 14 in September 2011
3. be aged between 16 and 18 on 31 August 2011
4. belong to one of the following groups:
- be in care; or
- have left care having been in care for a minimum of 3 months since the age of 14; or
- be receiving income support; or
- be receiving both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance.
If you are eligible for the standard bursary you will be entitled to receive £15 per week during term time (up to 39 weeks).
If you are eligible for the enhanced bursary you will be entitled to £1,200 paid in instalments in arrears during term time only.
The following schools are all part of this scheme.
All Saints College
Benfield School
Gosforth Academy
Heaton Manor School
Kenton School
Newcastle Bridges School
Sacred Heart Catholic High School
Sir Charles Parsons School
St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School
St Mary’s Catholic Comprehensive School
Thomas Bewick School
Trinity School
Walbottle Campus
Walker Technology College
Newcastle City Council is administering the scheme and dealing with applications for every school named above except Excelsior Academy.
If you attend Excelsior, please return your application form and supporting evidence directly to your school office.
The bursary is to help with costs related to your studies, for example transport, books and equipment, and other costs associated with your course.
Yes. Your school will expect you to have good attendance and behaviour at school. They will discuss a ‘Learner Agreement’ with you and talk about the standards of attendance and behaviour that they consider acceptable.
Your bursary award will be conditional on you meeting the requirements of your Learner Agreement.
1. After enrolling at your school, complete the application form at the back of this pack.
2. If you are applying for the standard bursary, your parent or carer also needs to complete part of the form.
3. Attach evidence of your financial or living situation to support your application. These must be the original documents, not photocopies.
4. If you attend Excelsior Academy, take your application form and evidence to your school office. If you attend any other school within the Newcastle scheme, take your application form and evidence to your nearest Customer Service Centre.
If it is easier for you, your parent or carer can take your completed application form and all relevant evidence to your local Customer Service Centre on your behalf.
A Customer Services representative will check your application form has been fully completed, check the supporting evidence, and then submit it for processing.
There is a network of six Customer Service Centres across Newcastle:
All Customer Service Centres are open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm.
The deadline for applying is 23 September 2011. We will consider late applications but will consider these after we have processed all the applications received on time.
It is unlikely that late applicants will get your payments at the same time as everyone who applied on time.
We will write to everyone who applies to tell you the outcome of your application. Excelsior students will be advised directly by your school.
We will also contact you if we need more information from you to process your application.
If you think we have incorrectly assessed your eligibility, please phone us on 0191 277 4133 to discuss your application.
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 October.
Payments will only be made after your school confirms you have met the terms of your Learner Agreement.
Payments will be made into your own bank account by a process called BACS transfer.
It is essential that you have a bank account in your name as payments can only be made into your own account via a bank transfer. Cash payments will not be made.
It is important that you make sure that your bank or building society is able to accept BACS transfer before you provide your bank account details. Post Office accounts and some Credit Unions do not accept BACS payments.
If you do not have a bank account or have difficulties opening an account please contact Newcastle Connexions 0191 277 1944 and they will help you.
As long as your school confirms that you are meeting the terms of your Learner Agreement, payments will continue for the duration of the school year 2011/12.
New applications must be submitted for consideration every year. The terms of the scheme may change for school year 2012/13.
There is no guarantee that you will receive funding next year even if you are eligible this year. You won’t receive any funding next year (2012/13) unless you reapply.
If you have any questions about the Newcastle schools’ 16 to 19 bursary scheme you should in the first instance speak to your school.
If your application is being processed by the city council (in other words if you attend any school except Excelsior Academy), you can contact Newcastle Families Information Service (FIS).
FIS are dealing with all phone and email enquiries on behalf of the 16 to 19 Bursary Team.
Phone: 0191 277 4133
Email: fis@newcastle.gov.uk
Post:
Newcastle Schools 16 to 19 Bursary
Newcastle City Council
Room 418
Civic Centre
Barras Bridge
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8PU
General information on bursary schemes is available on the Direct.Gov website – www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/14to19/MoneyToLearn/16to19bursary/index.htm
If you have a change of personal circumstances such as a change of address or household income, you must let us know immediately in writing.
Any over payments will be repayable.
You can write to us at:
Email: fis@newcastle.gov.uk
Post:
Newcastle Schools 16 to 19 Bursary
Newcastle City Council
Room 418
Civic Centre
Barras Bridge
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8PU
If you change your bank account details you must also write to us immediately. We will need to check your signature against your original application so we can only accept changes to banking details received by post.
If you leave school before completing your course, your payments will be stopped.
If you transfer to another school within the Newcastle schools’ scheme, you must let us know in writing and we will resume payments if you meet the terms of their Learner Agreement.
If you transfer to another school or post-16 provider which isn’t in our scheme, such as Newcastle College, you will need to ask them about their own bursary scheme. Please be aware that their terms and conditions and payments may be different to ours.
16-19 bursary application form (word version)
16-19 bursary application form (pdf version)
Page last updated: 24 August, 2011
