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Explore the financial support available and use the links below to jump directly to the section most relevant to you.
Free school meals
Important Changes to Free School Meals from September 2026
There are important changes to the eligibility criteria for Free School Meals (FSM) taking effect from 1 September 2026.
Who is eligible?
From September 2026 FSM will continue to be available for households with annual earnings of £7,400 or less. In addition, all students in households receiving Universal Credit will become eligible, regardless of earnings. Free School Meals will be categorised as either:
- Targeted FSM - existing benefit-related FSM will continue to operate in same way under targeted FSM.
- Expanded FSM - this is a new entitlement to free meals only, applying to households receiving Universal Credit with annual earnings of more than £7,400. This will enable the student’s access to Bursary.
What is changing?
The Government have announced that all existing FSM protections will end on 31 August 2026. This means that Free School Meal eligibility must be rechecked annually.
The change means that all households receiving Universal Credit, above the current £7,400 income cap, will qualify for this support.
What if I no longer receive Universal Credit? Will my child no longer be entitled to Free School Meals?
If household do not meet the FSM eligibility criteria, if household income is £38,000 or less, student’s may still be entitled for school meals.
How does my child collect their free meal at school?
Students are expected to tap their student ID cards on the till pad at any of the college’s catering outlets.
I have parental responsibility, but my child does not live with me. Can I still apply?
Yes, we encourage all contacts with parental responsibility to make an application.
What details do I need to check my eligibility? To complete an application, you will need to provide:
- Your own name and date of birth; Contact details.
- National Insurance Number or National Asylum Seekers Number
- Child's name and date of birth.
Are Children Looked After (CLA), students in Care and Foster Homes be entitled to FSM?
Yes. Evidence of status or a letter from Social Worker and/or Local Authority is needed.
How can I check my eligibility now?
We encourage all parents to apply at any time online using the link https://fsm.lgfl.net/ to determine if you are eligible for either Targeted or Expanded free school meals.
I believe my eligibility status is wrong. What can I do?
If your application does not confirm eligibility, you can send evidence of your household receiving Universal Credit, or, if you have no recourse to public funds (NRPF), you will need to complete a declaration form and submit evidence for review. This can be emailed to us at bursary@shc.ac.uk.
You can download a copy of the NRPF declaration form below.
Application form for free school meals from families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)
Your family may be eligible for free school meals. Use the eligibility checker below to see if you qualify, then complete the appropriate application form.
Check your eligibility for free school meals
Instruction guide to free school mealsApply for free school meals if you have no recourse to public funds (NRPF)Complete a self-employment declaration for free school meals
Bursary funds
The 16-19 Bursary Fund is a government scheme designed to support students aged 16 to 19 who face financial barriers to continuing their education.
Shooters Hill Sixth Form College is committed to helping students access and succeed in their studies by providing financial support to help cover the cost of books, equipment and travel to college.
If you are in care, a care leaver, or receive Income Support or Universal Credit in your own name (Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP)), you may be eligible for a bursary of up to £1,200 to support you during your studies.
We also offer a Discretionary Bursary Fund to help cover the cost of:
- Equipment and kit
- Meals and travel
- Course-related trips
- Childcare
- Other essential course-related costs
Priority is given to students who:
- Receive free school meals
- Come from households receiving tax credits
- Have a household income below £38,000
- Are young carers
Please read the following documents before completing an online or paper application:
Complete the online bursary application form
Complete the paper bursary application form
If you experience any issues while completing the application form, please contact the Bursary Team:
Oyster cards
Students may be eligible for discounted travel through Transport for London (TfL) Oyster card schemes. Students aged 16–17 can apply for a 16+ Zip Oyster photocard, which offers free bus and tram travel for eligible London residents, as well as discounted travel on other TfL services.
Students aged 18 and over who are enrolled on an eligible course and living in a London borough during term time can apply for an 18+ Student Oyster photocard, which provides a 30% discount on adult-rate Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes. These schemes can help make travelling to and from college more affordable.
Care to Learn
The Care to Learn scheme helps young parents with childcare costs while studying at Shooters Hill Sixth Form College.
To be eligible, students must be under 20 years old at the start of their course. If you live in London, you may receive up to £195 per child per week towards childcare costs.
For more information, please refer to the guidance below and visit the government website.