Charging and Remissions

Basic Equipment

The school supplies basic writing equipment, although we do try and encourage the students to have their own pens, pencils, rulers etc.

Practical lessons

At the beginning of every term parents will be asked to make a voluntary contribution towards the cost of ingredients and materials for technology sessions through Compass. Unfortunately if there are not enough donations to cover these costs it will be necessary to restrict the activities that your child participates in and we will be unable to allow your child to bring these items home

Educational Visits

Many of the students are regularly involved in short trips and journeys in the local area that we will continue to subsidise. However most of our half- or full-day trips to educational places of interest will only be able to go ahead if parents feel able to make a voluntary contribution through Compass towards the cost.

Visits outside school hours

The school usually subsidises these trips but it may be necessary to ask for contributions to help meet the total cost of the journey/activity if there are not enough school funds available.

Residential Visits

Parents/Carers will be informed of the total cost of any residential trip and of the charges that will need to be made in order for the trip to take place.

Breakages and damages

The school will continue to ask parents to contribute to the cost of replacement of deliberately broken, damaged, defaced or lost school property.

Remissions

If a family is in receipt of specific benefits, the school is obliged by law to waive charges for board and lodging on residential journeys. The school will always consider extending this remission to other activities that may from time to time attract a charge.

Post 16 Bursary Fund

The government has granted a small amount of money for schools to help eligible students overcome specific financial barriers to continue their education in the sixth form. This letter, and attachments, provide a brief explanation of the fund and encourages any parents/carers of post-16 age students to apply for support should they feel they qualify. The 16-19 Bursary Fund has two elements:

• Vulnerable Bursary for young people in one of the defined vulnerable groups (definitions are included in the attached policy) and,

• Discretionary Bursaries – for young people whose access to education is inhibited by financial constraints.

We use the fund to support students with funding for:

• Transport

• Meals

• Books

• Equipment including laptops

Students must be at least 16 years old, but under 19 years old on 31 August 2025. You may qualify for the Bursary Fund if you meet one of the following criteria:

• Students are eligible for free school meals

• Students are in need of financial support.

In assessing any application for a discretionary bursary, we will consider students where the household in which they live has an annual income below the low income threshold of £27,000 (including benefits). Please see below for more information and application forms.

Letter to parents re: bursary