School and college students to get £700,000 council bursary

Hundreds of 16-19 year olds in schools and colleges throughout Cornwall will benefit from a £700,000 bursary from Cornwall Council.

So far 16 schools and colleges have signed up to the scheme which will help students with the cost of books, transport, equipment and meals.

The council will roll out the new scheme in the next academic year.

But Launceston councillor Alex Folkes is concerned about Cornish students attending schools and colleges across the county boundary in Devon. "We remain concerned about 500 students in the east losing out," he said.

The government scrapped the Educational Maintenance Allowance last year which provided up to £30 per week for students on low and middle incomes.