We offer a bursary support programme to students from lower income families to support with public transport to school, books, resources and out of school excursions.  Through partnerships with the Connolly Foundation and the Harper Trust, we are able to offer University bursaries for outstanding academic performance, commitment to the life of the school and to support students where financial considerations may be an obstacle to University study.

The scheme is made up of two parts:

• Those most in need will be eligible for a full bursary of £1,200 a year. This includes young people in care, care leavers, young people receiving income support, and disabled young people receiving both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance.  This bursary is referred to as the ‘full’ bursary
• Other students who need financial support to help them to stay in education or training may also be able to claim a bursary to help with costs of transport, food, equipment or other course-related costs.  This bursary is referred to as a ‘discretionary’ bursary

Eligibility for a Bursary

Priority 1- For the full bursary, a student must meet one of the following criteria by being a:

• Young person in care
• Care leaver
• Young person receiving income support
• Disabled young person receiving both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance.

Priority 2- For the discretionary bursary, a student must be one whose parents or carers are in receipt of:

• Income support
• Income based Jobseeker‘s Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Child Tax Credit and/or Working Tax Credit and whose total annual household income is less than or equal to £21,000
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit

Or as a student:

• Being in receipt of Free School Meals
• Who has a long term medical condition that can affect their studies and meets the discretionary criteria

Priority 3- For the one off payment (examples; bus pass, exam re-sit fee, educational resources).

This is for those students who are experiencing sudden and exceptional change in financial circumstances and do not qualify for the other two bursaries.

There is an application form to be completed outlining what the need is and why the need has occurred.

Applications & Deadlines

The application process will be open in September once you are enrolled and attending lessons. Students are required to submit evidence as appropriate alongside the application.

If you qualify, you will receive a payment for each academic half- term for the academic year from the point at which your application is received by the school.  There will not be any back payments made for previous terms in an academic year.

Data Protection Act 1998:  The information you give on this form, together with any supporting documentation will be used by the school for the purposes of processing your application.

Payment

Successful applicants will receive half-termly payments for the academic year.

Payments for the Autumn Term will be made before the October half term and the second before the Christmas holidays. For the spring and summer terms, payments will be made at the end of each half term.

Receipt of a payment is conditional on the student meeting agreed standards.

Agreed standards at St Thomas More

1. 95% punctual attendance to school and all lessons.
2. Tracking results – minimum grade 2 for all areas and 80% at grade 1 or higher

A student’s payment may be held back by the school for the following reasons:

• Attendance is below 95% (the remaining 5% must be only acceptable informed absences)
• Behaviour, attitude or work-rate falls below acceptable levels as outlined above. 
• Should payment have to be withheld targets will be agreed and students will be given a set period of time to meet the targets so payment can be made.

Students will sign a contract with St Thomas More setting out the standards which need to be met. 

All scheduled payments may be delayed or withheld if the student fails to meet the agreed standards.  The student will be informed if a payment is being delayed or withheld along with the reasons why. St Thomas More will decide whether to withhold a payment completely or delay it upon the student meeting some agreed targets.  St Thomas More will take into the individual circumstances of a student where they fail to meet one of the agreed standards, for example, long term illness in relation to attendance.

Payment Arrangements

Payment will be made by bank transfer or cheque. Students should outline who the cheque should be made payable to on their application form.

Appeals Procedure

In the event of an appeal by a student or his/her parents against a payment decision by the school, a school’s normal complaints procedure should be followed with the final decision being made by a nominated person (Head Teacher Mr Martin Bonner) outside of the decision making process.