School transport post 16

anj_S

My daughter currently gets free transport to school as we live in a rural area. She attends our nearest school but it is still 5 miles on narrow lanes, no footpath etc. the current arrangement is the county council contract a local minibus that picks up in our village and takes them to school.

Next year she will be 16 and wants to go to sixth form. She will also be in the first year of kids that are affected by the increase in school leaving age.

I've been told that she will no longer be entitled to this transport. Ye by law she still needs to be in education?

Looking at the options they are very limited. The public transport bus that runs through the village is infrequent and the first bus is not Til 9.30 so not useful for school.

I've been told that we can apply for a spare seat on the minibus. However that will cost £972 a year and also it's unlikely that there will be a spare seat.

Any advice as to what we can do?

Counting_Pennies_2

Is there no possibility to drive her there yourself? On the way to work?

If you don't drive is there anyone who can.

I am not trying to sound rude, but surely when you opted to live so far out of a town you worked out transport issues at that point?

paddedjohn

what about getting a moped?

mandragora_2

From DFE website:
Raising the participation age (RPA) does not mean young people must stay in school; they will able to choose one of the following options post-16:

• full-time education, such as school, college or home education
• an apprenticeship
• part-time education or training if they are employed, self-employed or volunteering full-time (which is defined as 20 hours or more a week).

As she has options, sadly, I think your basic argument is doomed to fail.

Alias_Omega

Get her a moped/scooter, she will be 16 so able to ride one under the CBT rules.

Scooter - £500~
Helmet - £50-100
Padded Jacket - £50
Insurance (Third Part Fire & Theft) - £100
Big Lock - £30-40

An ideal investment, and will provide your child with mobility, taking the strain off mum & dad's taxi..

**Patty**

Yes, that's right. Post 16 you have to either make your own way or pay.

I have a child in a Special School (where it's normal practice for them to stay until 18) and i have already been informed i will have to pay for transport Post 16.

ash28

Anj_s wrote: »

My daughter currently gets free transport to school as we live in a rural area. She attends our nearest school but it is still 5 miles on narrow lanes, no footpath etc. the current arrangement is the county council contract a local minibus that picks up in our village and takes them to school.

Next year she will be 16 and wants to go to sixth form. She will also be in the first year of kids that are affected by the increase in school leaving age.

I've been told that she will no longer be entitled to this transport. Ye by law she still needs to be in education?

Looking at the options they are very limited. The public transport bus that runs through the village is infrequent and the first bus is not Til 9.30 so not useful for school.

I've been told that we can apply for a spare seat on the minibus. However that will cost £972 a year and also it's unlikely that there will be a spare seat.

Any advice as to what we can do?

We're rural too and the kids use the school bus - school almost 10 miles away - once they are over 16 they can still use the transport but it isn't free - there is a charge of £390 per year (full cost is over £800) - payable termly with the first payment able to be paid monthly if needed.

Your best bet is to get in touch with your local council and find out about post 16 transport - I would be really surprised if there was no provision at all.

Sorry missed the bit where you said your daughter wasn't entitled to concessionary travel - is this because the school/college isn't the nearest or designated school/college?

Have you applied to the council and been refused transport? If you haven't do submit an application.

Have you asked the school/college if there is a bursary available - there is (some) money available from most schools and colleges themselves to help with transport.

ash28

Alias_Omega wrote: »

Get her a moped/scooter, she will be 16 so able to ride one under the CBT rules.

Scooter - £500~
Helmet - £50-100
Padded Jacket - £50
Insurance (Third Part Fire & Theft) - £100
Big Lock - £30-40

An ideal investment, and will provide your child with mobility, taking the strain off mum & dad's taxi..

We are rural and there is no way I would let someone of 16 have a moped on the roads around here.

The roads are virtually all national speed limit once you are outside of a village and drivers can be quite reckless and impatient - we wondered why our insurance went up when moved from a large urban area and having been here a year now I can understand why - there are loads of accidents - most of them not serious but accidents none the less.

McKneff

Another option, you could move house......

Dumbe

Alias_Omega wrote: »

Get her a moped/scooter, she will be 16 so able to ride one under the CBT rules.

Scooter - £500~
Helmet - £50-100
Padded Jacket - £50
Insurance (Third Part Fire & Theft) - £100
Big Lock - £30-40

An ideal investment, and will provide your child with mobility, taking the strain off mum & dad's taxi..

Wow you would allow a sixteen year old to drive a scooter? Personally wouldn't in a rural area as the damage caused by a driver doing 60mph round a bend would not be worth contemplating.

Are any of her friends also in the same predicament .. Could you car pool and each do a day a week with 3 others and. Two days every 3rd week. Meaning they would get to school safely and wouldn't impact work etc.. Too much..

POPPYOSCAR

Have you spoken to the county council about this?

£927 is a lot for the minibus.

My daughter goes to college and the coach they provide costs us less than £400 for the year.

Also our county council provide a transport ticket for £500 per year which is waived for those below a certain income.


I do think it is wrong though to change the law where they have to stay in education but not continue to provide transport to ensure they can get there.