Post 16+ transport to college cut

[lexcat]

Just hear they are going to cut the transport cost for 16+ in our area. Shocking as they have also just taken away our outstanding 6th sixth college which would have been walking distance for my dd. The two nearest colleges now are 15 and 20 miles away. Didn't see this as problem as I thought transport would be covered.

Just to add to this my dd is consider a high achieving student their fore her school (state ) has been pushing her and her class mates towards a-levels and university. In fact she's even been sent on courses to promote university to state educated children.

Yet I'm expected to some how find money I don't have to get my dd to college to do her A-levels in order for her even to get into university where she has been told their is the financial support.

[SouthWestmom]

Yup it's crap isn't it? Ours is 400 per year and 270 for under 16s if they don't qualify for free.

[titchy]

Yep no statutory right to free transport for sixth form, even if the nearest is over three miles away. Costs us £80 a month. Cost nothing when she was at school.

The sixth form might have a hardship fund - worth a phone call.

[SuburbanRhonda]

We paid £700 a year (season ticket) for the last two years for DS to travel by train to sixth form college as his school only went up to year 11. Two of his friends dropped out because their families couldn't afford to pay the fares.

[goodbyestranger]

It's £560 here. The Council is merely pushing the onus for paying onto schools because they say it's the schools who now get the funding to pay for anyone in need, through the 16-19 bursary. I've spoken to the guy implementing the policy at the Council also my MP.

[OddBoots]

Would she be entitled to a 16-19 bursary? www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund/overview

[TeenAndTween]

£850 per year for us.

[lexcat]

Yet our children have to stay in education, I can't get my head round the whole idea. I know their are lots of parents in dd school who are even worst off financially then myself. The 16-19 bursary is available to a very select group and dd will not fall into this group.

I have one year to try and save or hope they see how ridiculous the whole thing is.

[bojorojo]

OP. Do you have a decent school 6th form that is closer? 6th form students have had to pay for transport for 25 years here. You are fortunate if your LA has been able to afford non-statutory transport. If the nearest 6th form is closing, I would ask if you can get some help towards transport as you have not chosen to go so far away. You have been forced to. See if they have transition arrangements.

[TaIkinPeace]

Welcome to the world of everybody outside London who does not get free travel to school or college for their kids.

DDs pass was £760 per year
DSs will be a shade under £800 per year

but then a 4 mile each way return bus fare to the next town is £7 round here

[user12785]

Ours was £800 pa for my Yr 7. Bus has just been completely cut for Sept, with very little warning. The letter gave a link to the public transport website. Which clearly shows that there is no direct public transport from our village to the school...