16-19 Financial Help

GOVERNMENT'S 16-19 BURSARY FUND 

Government's 2025/26 6th Form Bursary Application

Payments will be made following confirmed enrolment. 

At The Blue, we are receiving a total of £17,420.00 for the 2025/26 academic year (from 1st September 2025 to 31st August 2026) to cover all discretionary payments under the scheme.  This funding is finite and no more money is provided if take-up exceeds the maximum amount provided.   

The Government expects Bursary payments to be made only to those individual students who without this financial support would otherwise not be able to access their post-16 study programme.  To support the school's verification of need, students applying for a Bursary are required to confirm that they need the allocation to support their ability to follow their programme of study at the 6th form.   

Subject to need, in 2025/26, the Bursary will be used to provide £880.00 to students who are eligible for free school meals.  Up to a maximum of £516.00 will be provided to students who are not in receipt of other Bursary funding amounts, as a contribution to the cost of school vehicle transport when this is needed to get to and from school (and only if a space is available).  Accordingly students living in Wells who do not need to catch a bus to school are not eligible under this discretion.  The total cost of a paid space (if available) on a Somerset school transport bus service is £1,032.00 for the 2025/26 academic year.   

Please ensure that you have checked Somerset Council's policy regarding Post 16 Transport for the 2025/26 academic year.  Somerset Council does not fund post 16 transport to school.  Please be aware that The Blue School has no influence over Somerset Council's policies in relation to the provision of post 16 school transport.  Somerset Council does advise post 16 students to investigate ticketing options which vary between transport operators and can sometimes be cheaper than trying to buy a place on a school transport vehicle.

A further discretionary bursary payment to individual students may be considered in exceptional cases, where personal financial hardship could impact on the student's ability to continue their studies at the school.

Bursaries will be allocated on a first come first served basis until all funding is used up.  The final deadline for applications is Tuesday 31st March 2026 (if any funding remains).

Students eligible for the maximum (category 1) grant at £1,200.00 are funded separately by Government, and are not part of the discretionary budget.  

WELLS BLUE SCHOOL CHARITABLE TRUST - BURSARY FUND 

Independent of and separate to the Government Bursary Scheme, the separate charitable trust "Wells Blue School" will consider financial support applications from current students at The Blue School.  Bursary awards average £100.00 and rarely exceed £250.00.  They are usually given to support the one-off costs of an enrichment or work experience activity, eg: contribution towards travel costs for an educational trip abroad.  Students who wish to apply for such a Bursary should contact Mrs J Stitch, Head's PA via Reception at The Blue School.