Support

Wellbeing Support

At The Priory School Sixth Form we pride ourselves on supporting students pastorally and helping them to become resilient young adults. We believe wellbeing should be on everyone’s agenda and encourage students to take an active role in managing their wellbeing. 

We look at wellbeing as part of our RSHE and Enrichment programmes, including providing fitness and wellbeing sessions once a fortnight. From September we will be launching a new wellbeing app in school called GOVOX. This will allow students to take Wellbeing surveys on their Chromebooks and for them and staff to receive instant results based on this. We will use this information to intervene earlier to help students manage their mental health.

Students will undertake surveys during the year to allow us to identify if there is a concern for which a student may require additional support.

We aim to give students a toolkit of self-help techniques, but also have an open-door policy for times where students feel they require extra support. If students are finding things difficult, their first port of call should always be their form tutor. In addition to this, Mrs Shipp, our Key Stage 5 Manager, is located in the study centre and is a good first point of contact for any issues that arise throughout the day. 

We have a dedicated in-school wellbeing team who can provide additional support should we feel this is required. 

Financial Support

We would like to ensure that all students have fair access to their studies and there are a number of schemes available to support our students financially. 

Vulnerable Learners Bursary

If a student falls into one of the following categories, please contact Emma Shipp or Rachael Buchanan to discuss applying for the Vulnerable Learners Bursary:

  • in care
  • care leavers
  • receiving Income Support (IS), or Universal Credit (UC) because they are financially supporting themselves or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them such as a child or partner
  • receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP) in their own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or UC in their own right

16-19 Discretionary Bursary

The 16-19 Discretionary Bursary is a government fund allocated to schools to help students to cover the cost of their education. This is available to students whose parents meet one of the following criteria:

  • receiving Free School Meals  
  • receiving Income Support  
  • receiving income-based job seekers allowance  
  • receiving support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999  
  • receiving Child Tax Credits – provided the parent is not entitled to Working Tax Credit and their annual income assessed by the Inland Revenue does not exceed the maximum allowed (£17,005)
  • receiving the guaranteed element of the state pension credit
  • a resident in the UK/EU for three years (NB refugees are not required to meet the three-year residency rule if refugee status was confirmed in the three years prior to starting the course

The bursary can be used to contribute to the following costs:

  • clothing, books and other equipment for your course
  • transport and lunch on days you study or train
  • one-off payments to cover study trips or travel for university interviews

All applications are assessed on an individual basis.  There is limited funding available so all applications need to be submitted by the end of September. If you require any advice or support in completing this form please contact Mrs Shipp, Key Stage 5 Manager. Once completed, please return the form to Mrs Shipp.

16-19 Discretionary Bursary Application Form

16-19 Bursaries Policy

One-off Bursary

We also offer bursaries to support students with one-off costs such as school trips, travel to university interviews or other unexpected expenses throughout the year. The same eligibility criteria applies as with the 16-19 discretionary bursary. 

Post 16 One Off Bursary Application Form

Other Financial Support available

HEF

The Hitchin Educational Foundation provides grants to students studying in Hitchin schools to cover educational costs. You can complete this application form and return it to the address on the form.  

Local Support for Food Security

Transport Bursary

Post 16 students who travel further than 6 miles to school may be eligible for a transport bursary.  Please click here to access the Transport Bursary Policy for more information.

Post 16 Travel Bursary Application Form