Student Support and College Bursary

Student Support

At Dixons Sixth Form Academy we have a range of support for students to help them during their learning and development whilst studying with us.

Free College Meals

Free meals are targeted at disadvantaged students. Free meals in FE defines disadvantage as students being in receipt of, or having parents who are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:  

• Universal Credit 

• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 

Households in receipt of Income-related Employment and Support Allowance or the guarantee element of Pension Credit may also be entitled to a meal. 

If you are not eligible for bursary you can apply for Free College Meals via Bradford Council. 

Free meals will be paid up to a spend of £6.00 per day in our on-site cafés.  Food and drink items must only be purchased and consumed by students allocated a free college meal. 
 

Post 16 Bursary

What is the 16-19 Bursary Fund?

The Government has given colleges a Bursary Fund. This fund is to be shared amongst the students who meet certain requirements set by the individual school or academy and will be allocated on a needs basis. The fund is available for 16-19 year olds to provide support with the costs of full-time education. 

Who can apply?
 

The discretionary bursary is based on annual household incomes and is means tested.  To be considered eligible for the bursary payments at Dixons Sixth Form, the total household income (employment and government assistance income included) must be below £37,000.  Students who wish to apply will need to provide evidence of their household income in the form of: 

• Final Tax Credit Award Notice (TC602): this is a document detailing entitlement to Working Tax Credits or Child Tax Credits. The income figure required is shown as ‘Total Income for the year from 6th April to 5th April for the current financial year. The Final Tax Credit Award Notice must be dated from April of the current year. 

• P60: this is a statement of earnings from an employer and the income will be shown as either; total pay for year, total income received or gross Income. This must be dated this current year and will relate to the previous year’s earnings. 

• Other Benefits: entitlement or award letter showing evidence of any benefits received, including Universal Credit monthly statements as requested in the application (last 3 months). 

• Self-assessment tax calculation form (SA302): this form is sent by the Inland Revenue to self-employed people and is the equivalent of the P60. The income will be shown under ‘Total Income’ for the most recent year end. 

What does the bursary cover?

• Provision of a metro card for free bus travel to and from college  

• A stationery pack (each academic year)  

• Course textbooks and revision guides selected by the department 

• Fully paid YR1 Big Trip 

• Free college meal: up to £6.00 spend per day in our on-site cafés  

• The cost of the Dixons Sixth Form Big Meal Events 

• Free locker  

• Contribution towards compulsory academic trips / enrichment activities  

• £5 a month towards mobile phone / data charges* 

*Contributions will be paid to students on the production of a valid receipt/ invoice  

Vulnerable Bursary

The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund defines ‘in care’ as children looked after by a local authority on a voluntary basis (section 20 of the Children Act 1989) or under a care order (section 31 of the Children Act 1989). 

The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund defines a care leaver as either a young person aged: 

• 16 and 17 who was previously looked after for a period of at least 13 weeks consecutively (or periods amounting to at least 13 weeks), which began after the age of 14 and ended after the age of 16 - they do not need to have entered care after their 14th birthday to be eligible, they can have entered care at any age, but they must have spent at least 13 weeks in care after their 14th birthday before leaving after the age of 16 

• 18 or above who was looked after before turning 18 for a period of at least 13 weeks consecutively (or periods amounting to at least 13 weeks), which began after the age of 14 and ended after the age of 16 

A financial need assessment must be completed and evidence of in care or care leaver status must be obtained. 

If any of the following criteria apply to you then complete the D6A bursary application form and upload evidence to support your application: 

• You are in care (child looked after by a local authority) 

• You are a care leaver (see above) 

• You are receiving Income Support or Universal Credit in your own right (not in parents name) 

• Someone is financially dependent on you, or you are financially supporting yourself. 

• You are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independent Payments or Employment and Support Allowance in your own right (not in parents name). 

Application Requirements 

To apply students must: 

• Be enrolled on a full-time programme of study at Dixons Sixth Form 

• Achieve an excellent standard of conduct and attendance 

• Satisfy residency criteria 

• Have their own current bank account (not savings) to receive any eligible bursary payments. 

To apply students will need to complete an online application form and upload all required evidence as outlined above to support an application.  Any delays in providing this information will hold up a bursary application so students should ensure they have all the information they need about their household income.  

At the end of the first year of study at D6A, students will be asked to self-declare if their family circumstances have / have not changed, which will determine if the bursary funding continues or stops during the student’s second year of study.  

Further Information for Students

Student Dress Code

The dress code can be accessed here: Student Dress Code
 

Calculators

Our calculator policy can be found here: Calculator Policy