Financial Support

Bursary A

A bursary of up to £1,200 a year is available to students in one of the defined vulnerable groups. The £1,200 is a maximum. Awards are based on an assessment of your actual financial need, so meeting the criteria does not guarantee an award.

You may be eligible if you are:

• in care (privately fostered students are not treated as being in care for the purposes of this bursary)
• a care leaver
• receiving Income Support, or Universal Credit because you are supporting yourself, or yourself and someone who depends on you such as a child or partner
• receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) together with either Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit (UC)

For the two benefit-based groups you must receive the benefit or benefits in your own right. Receiving DLA or PIP on its own does not meet the criteria.

You must also meet the general age and residency criteria for the bursary fund.

Financial Support: Bursaries

The support described here is provided through the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund, a government fund administered by the Department for Education. It helps students meet the essential costs of taking part in their education, such as travel to school, books, equipment and educational visits. It is not intended for general living costs. The LAE Tottenham Opportunities Fund is a separate scheme funded by the school itself, and help from it is not part of the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund.

No bursary is guaranteed. All awards, including for students in the defined vulnerable group, are based on an assessment of each student's actual financial need.

We offer three bursaries under this category: B, C and D.

Bursaries B and C: for students eligible for Free School Meals

If you are eligible for Free School Meals you can apply for a bursary towards academic resources, travel, educational visits and equipment for the co-curricular programme.

• Bursary B is for students eligible under the Targeted Free School Meals criteria: households receiving Universal Credit with annual earnings of £7,400 or less, or receiving one of the other qualifying benefits. Awards are up to £300 a year, based on assessed need.
• Bursary C is for students eligible under the Expanded Free School Meals criteria: households receiving Universal Credit with annual earnings above £7,400. Awards are up to £225 a year, based on assessed need.

Students eligible for Bursary B or C also receive a free meal on each day they attend, provided as a £3 daily allowance on their cashless catering account. The meal is funded separately by the government and continues for as long as you meet the Free School Meals criteria.

Bursary D: for other lower-income households

Bursary D is for students who are not eligible for Free School Meals but whose household's gross annual income is below £35,000 a year, excluding Housing Benefit and Child Benefit. Awards are up to £125 a year, based on assessed need. Bursary D students also receive a £3 daily allowance on their cashless catering account.

Conditions

Bursary payments depend on maintaining the school's attendance and behaviour standards, as set out in our 16 to 19 Bursary Fund Policy (N034). In summary:

• attendance of at least 95% is expected, applied with discretion and with account taken of authorised absence and exceptional circumstances such as illness or caring responsibilities
• students are expected to meet the school's behaviour standards, and a bursary may be reviewed or suspended if those standards are not met
• you must be aged 16 or over and under 19 on 31 August 2026 (students aged 19 or over may still apply for a discretionary bursary if they are continuing a programme they began before turning 19, or they have an Education, Health and Care plan)

We always consider a student's individual circumstances before suspending any award. These conditions apply to bursary payments only. They do not affect a Bursary B or C student's entitlement to a free meal.

Asylum seekers

Asylum seekers have the right to access education but not to public funds, so cannot receive a cash bursary. An asylum seeker whose claim has not been refused may still receive in-kind support such as books, equipment and a travel pass. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are treated as looked-after children and should apply under Bursary A.

How to apply

Apply through the Bursary 16+ platform. If you have any questions, or you cannot access the platform, contact Student Services at studentservices@laetottenham.ac.uk.

The LAET Bursary Policy 2026-27 can be found here.

LAET Opportunities Fund

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Opportunities Fund helps LAET students overcome barriers to their education. It is funded entirely by donations and is separate from the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund.

The fund is open to all students. If you are eligible for a bursary, please use your bursary in the first instance and apply to the Opportunities Fund for any further support you need. Applications are considered on their merit and on a first come, first served basis, taking account of the financial circumstances of the student and their family or carer.

For more information, or to apply, please contact Student Services at studentservices@laetottenham.ac.uk.

Here is the link to the LAE Tottenham Bursary system for current LAET students.