Sixth Form Discretionary Fund
Set up by the Support Tiffin Girls’ School Company (STGSC), the Sixth Form Discretionary Fund (SFDF) is a discretionary source of financial support available to sixth form students at The Tiffin Girls’ School who meet the eligibility criteria set out below.
The SFDF is separate from the Education Support Fund (ESF) which is open to eligible students in all year groups.
Decisions regarding the SFDF are made by the two ex-officio trustees, currently the Headteacher and the Senior Deputy Headteacher. The SFDF is allocated according to need, demonstration of educational benefit and funds available. Payments from the SFDF are discretionary and the charity has no obligation to make them. Payments are a grant, not a loan, and do not need to be repaid. There is limited funding available each academic year.
Grants up to £100 may be made per academic year and the minimum grant is £10. Usually, payments are made upon receipt of evidence of expenditure (can be a screenshot). However, the ex-officio trustees may agree that a payment can be made as an advance.
The ex-officio trustees will consider requests for a grant from the SFDF to be used for or go towards:
- Trips and visits that are essential to the curriculum (e.g. subject-specific lectures)
- PE kit
- Textbooks or additional items needed for lessons (e.g. a calculator)
- Exceptional travel expenses to/from school
- Public transport costs to participate in a school event such as a debating competition or Model United Nations
- Public transport costs for university open days and/or university interviews, higher education, further education or post-school employment
- UCAT tests and other university aptitude tests
- Work experience placements
Requests for financial support outside of these categories will be considered at the discretion of the ex-officio trustees. Please note STGSC is not able to provide funding towards the purchase of laptops or tablet devices.
Who is eligible?
Requests will be considered from sixth form students who are:
- previously in receipt of free school meals or eligible for Pupil Premium or Service Premium
- currently in receipt of a sixth form bursary
- registered with special educational needs or disabilities
- currently in care or have previously been in care
- young carers
At the discretion of the ex-officio trustees, any family who does not fall within the categories listed above but considers themselves to be in financial need. Evidence of eligibility will not usually be required. However, the ex-officio trustees reserve the right to ask for evidence should this be appropriate. If approved, the application will be passed to the Finance Office for processing. Decisions made by the ex-officio trustees are final.
How to apply
Applications are made by students via a google form. The link to this form is provided to all sixth form students by a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
The trustees may review and amend the arrangements relating to the Sixth Form Discretionary Fund at any time. Any such amendments will be communicated to all sixth form students.
