School Transport costs and Social Exclusion

kegg_2

If the grammer schools are single sex schools the difference in the numbers could purely be down to the size of the schools ie the boys schools are bigger and therefore there is more places.
In an idea world they would be the same but in reality they can only offer what they have got.

fluffymuffy

kegg wrote: »

If the grammer schools are single sex schools the difference in the numbers could purely be down to the size of the schools ie the boys schools are bigger and therefore there is more places.
In an idea world they would be the same but in reality they can only offer what they have got.

Yes - it would be a good idea to swap them over then. The boys should be in the smaller school.

Or both schools should be mixed.

Or better still the grammar schools should be scrapped and proper provision should be made for the brighter children at their local school.

Fly_Baby

fluffymuffy wrote: »

And sit and do nothing all day? DD had literally completed ALL work available in science at the local school. Surely the education authority is obliged to provide an appropriate education to meet a child's needs?

I don't know. If there is a provision for that - then well done the education authority! And it did give the girl a place in a selective school.

School transport is an entirely different matter. It isn't supposed to be free - same as uniform, school meals, trips etc.

fluffymuffy

Fly_Baby wrote: »

School transport is an entirely different matter. It isn't supposed to be free - same as uniform, school meals, trips etc.

No - but help is available to very low income families with uniform & school meals. And schools are not allowed to exclude anyone from a trip because they can't afford it. Why is transport different? Being in need of extra help because of learning difficulties is classed as a Special Need and so transport assistance is available. Surely being at the other end of the spectrum and needing a special school is a Special Need too?

Fifer

kegg wrote: »

Not all local authorities give free travel to faith schools. My youngest has to travel by train to his RC secondary school and even though it is the nearest one available we still have to fund the majority of the transport costs. We get a small discount but thats it.

Presumably it's not the nearest school and the children aren't attending because of special needs, skills or abilities though?

Fifer

PayDay wrote: »

Child Tax Credits are benefits paid for the children and should not be used for the parents keep. Use some of her CTC for her bus to school.

And what makes you think fluffy is squandering hers on fags and bingo and not already spending them on the family's keep?

Fly_Baby

fluffymuffy wrote: »

No - but help is available to very low income families with uniform & school meals. And schools are not allowed to exclude anyone from a trip because they can't afford it. Why is transport different? Being in need of extra help because of learning difficulties is classed as a Special Need and so transport assistance is available. Surely being at the other end of the spectrum and needing a special school is a Special Need too?

Yes, for school meals and uniforms (although I didn't know about the latter). As for trips, then if there is not enough 'volunatry' contributions from parents then the trip might not take place at all.

But the OP is not on a very low income.

I understand it's fairly standard in all areas on UK when it comes to entitlements. If there is indeed a provision for free transport for low income families then obviously the OP does not qualify - or she would have been given it.

fluffymuffy

Fly_Baby wrote: »

But the OP is not on a very low income.

I understand it's fairly standard in all areas on UK when it comes to entitlements. If there is indeed a provision for free transport for low income families then obviously the OP does not qualify - or she would have been given it.

Well yes I am actually. And the unfairness of the policy which deprives us of any help with transport it exactly what this thread is about. We qualify for free everything and would get free school transport to except that being gifted is not recognise as a special need despite the fact that the council provides a special school.

kegg_2

Fifer wrote: »

Presumably it's not the nearest school and the children aren't attending because of special needs, skills or abilities though?

It is the nearest RC secondary and my son went to the primary feeder for it.
If we had choosen the other RC secondary school available which is further away but still a freeder school from his primary we wouldn't even get a reduction on the train ticket.

kegg_2

If the ops daughter is gifted in science did the local comp offer the chance to take the exams early?
I know of several children who have taken exams early and they went to a bog standard local comp.