IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING CHANGES TO FREE SCHOOL MEAL ELIGIBILITY

There are new eligibility criteria in place for the academic year 2026-2027.  The previous transitional protection arrangements which had been in place since 2018, will stop as from August 2026 and ALL students wishing to receive Free School Meals as from September 2026, must carry out a new eligibility check.  This includes students who have previously been in receipt of Free School Meals.

FREE SCHOOL MEAL ELIGIBILITY CHECKER

Please use the CHECK ELIGIBILITY option below, to see if your child qualifies for Free School Meals.

Check Eligibility

Once you have completed the check, you will receive an email confirming the result of the eligibility check.  The school will also receive notification of the result.

All students who are confirmed as being eligible for Free School Meals, will receive a daily Free School Meal allowance of £3.25 which can be accessed via their Wisepay account.

Entitlement to a free school meal can only apply from the date the school receives the evidence and cannot be backdated.

For further information about Free School Meals eligibility, please contact The Student Services Department at Bursaryaward@brit.croydon.sch.uk

16-19 BURSARY AWARD 2026-2027

The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund provides financial support to help students overcome specific financial barriers to participation they face so they can remain in education.

There are 2 types of 16 to 19 bursaries:

• bursaries for defined vulnerable groups
• discretionary bursaries

Both types of bursary funding are to help eligible students with essential costs of participating such as travel to and from school or college or to buy essential books, equipment, or specialist clothing (protective overalls, for example) that are required for their study programme. These are items a student would otherwise need to pay for to participate.

The bursary fund is not intended to provide learning support – for example, counselling or mentoring – or to support extra-curricular activities that are not essential to the students’ study programme or to provide living costs support.

ELIGIBILITY

A student must be aged 16 or over but under 19 on 31 August 2026 to be eligible for help from the bursary fund in the academic year 2026 to 2027.

Students in Year 12, 13 or 14 can apply for the 16–19 Bursary award. The application can be made via Applicaa and all students will be sent an email with the details on how to apply for the award funding.

Eligibility for the 16–19 Bursary award is based on a total household income threshold of up to £35,000.00. Income can include earned salary, all benefits and any other income source.

Funding can be used for essential course equipment and travel only.

For further information about the 16-19 Bursary award and application process please contact Bursaryaward@brit.croydon.sch.uk

How to Apply for the 16-19 Bursary Award

Students can submit an application for the 16-19 Bursary using Applicaa.

The link for the bursary award application form will be available as from August 2026.

 Students can apply at any time during the academic year.

For further information about the 16-19 Bursary Award and application process please contact Bursaryaward@brit.croydon.sch.uk