16 to 19 bursary fund: model policy

You must have a policy if you access the 16 to 19 bursary fund 

The policy needs to outline: 

• How you'll use the funding
• Your eligibility criteria
• Any terms and conditions you set

Download our model policy 

Our model:

• Is designed for you to adapt to suit your school's context
• Takes into account relevant guidance and requirements
• Is approved by Forbes Solicitors

Model policy: 16 to 19 bursary fund

Please note: This model policy is aimed primarily at maintained schools and academies, but can be easily adapted to suit any school. If you wish to use the policy in a different type of setting, we recommend you check this policy against any requirements or considerations specific to your context and adapt it accordingly.

Changes for 2023/24 academic year

There haven't been any significant changes to the guidance. However, the DfE has included a number of clarifications and reminders in section 2 of the 16 to 19 bursary fund guide:

• Emergency meal support has been extended for 2023/24
• You must make sure that students are eligible for the discretionary bursary in each year they require support (this rule was relaxed for the 2022/23 academic year)
• You are reminded that you cannot carry forward unspent discretionary bursary funds for more than 1 year
• Transitional arrangements for the revised allocation methodology have now ended. Read more in the allocation guide
• You must make sure that the actual financial needs of individual students are assessed in addition to the eligibility criteria when awarding bursaries
• You are reminded that the bursary fund is intended to help students with essential costs of participation (such as books and equipment), and not to support living costs or extra-curricular activities

If you've previously downloaded our model policy, we'd updated the following sections to better reflect the guidance:

• Section 6 - added a note to clarify that you must assess the actual financial need of a student, in addition to their eligibility
• Section 10 - added a new section to outline the requirement to report unspent bursary funds and to note that your school can't carry forward unspent discretionary bursary funds for more than 1 year