Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they are evaluating the impact and take-up of the 16 to 19 education Bursary Fund.

The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund was introduced in September 2011. It provides financial support to young people who face significant financial barriers to participation in education or training post-16.

An independent evaluation of the Bursary Fund commenced in April 2012 and runs until early 2015. The two strands of the evaluation examine, firstly, the effectiveness of its administration by schools, colleges and providers, and secondly, its impact on participation and attainment, especially for the poorest and most disadvantaged young people.

There are two published process reports on the administration of the scheme, which include results from institutional and student surveys. An interim impact report has also been published. Final reports from both strands are due to be published early in 2015.

All published reports are available, along with copies of the research briefs, on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-the-16-to-19-bursary-fund-year-1-report#history