Student Financial Support
What financial help is available for the academic year 2011-12?
Education Maintenance Allowance
EMA is being phased out by the government. No new applications for EMA will be accepted but, as this is a transition year, there will still be some EMA payments made during 2011-12 as follows:
- If you received £30 per week EMA in 2010-11, you will get £20 per week EMA in 2011-12.
- If you received £10 or £20 per week EMA in 2010-11, you will get no EMA at all in 2011-12.
The Government’s plan is to replace EMA with the newly introduced 16-19 Bursary Fund. Through this fund, the academy is able to ensure that a variety of financial support arrangements are in place to help students should problems arise (subject to available funds).
As required under Government guidelines, the academy has already consulted with various local schools to explore the possibility of establishing an agreed framework to administer the Bursary Fund. The Governing Body of the academy will be meeting shortly to finalise our policy and a full update will then be published for both students and parents.
All students have been advised that the academy has a contingency fund in place to ensure that, whilst the above policy is being ratified, any financial problems that may arise and which could prevent a student fully participating in their Sixth Form education are overcome. Students have been advised to see the Director of Learning: Post-16 for an application form for this fund if necessary.
Free School Meals
Additionally, the academy is also keen to ensure that any Sixth Form student who would be eligible to receive free schools meals is registered accordingly with the local authority. It may well be decided by the Governing Body that eligibility for free school meals forms part of the criteria for receiving financial support from the Bursary Fund, and parents are therefore encouraged to register as soon as possible where appropriate. Please click on the following link for details about eligibility for free school meals and information about how to register: Free School Meals