PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Students: Travel (20 November 2017)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what financial support her Department provides to students who travel to attend a further education institution that provides A-Levels where there is no such provision in their home parliamentary constituency.

Asked by:
Anna Turley (Labour)

The department provides financial support through the 16-19 Bursary Fund to support young people who need financial help to participate in education.

The majority of the fund, approximately £130 million in the 2017/18 academic year, is allocated to education and training providers, who make awards to students to cover the costs of transport, books, food, equipment or any other education-related costs. It is up to institutions to set their own eligibility criteria for discretionary bursaries, based upon local barriers to participation and individual circumstances; and to decide how much each student will receive.

Students in defined vulnerable groups (in broad terms, young people who are most affected by disability; or who live independently and do not receive financial support from their families) may receive bursaries of £1,200 per year dependent on their circumstances and receipt of benefits. These can be used to support travel costs. Further details can be found at:

www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund and www.gov.uk/guidance/advice-for-young-people-16-to-19-bursary-fund-guide.

We also provide financial support via the Residential Support Scheme to the small number of students, aged 16 to 18, that require help with the costs of living away from home to participate in a study programme if the same or similar substantial Level 2 or Level 3 qualification is not available locally. In order to receive support students must meet the eligibility criteria (which includes an income assessment) and the course must be outside a reasonable daily travelling distance which is defined as more than 15 miles or a 2-hour return journey. Further details can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/residential-support-scheme.

For learners aged 19 and above, Learner Support is available to help those with a specific financial hardship that prevents them from taking part in learning. Providers have discretion to help learners meet costs such as transport, accommodation, books, equipment and childcare.

Answered by:
Anne Milton (Independent)
24 November 2017