Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

College transport non existent

107 replies

Reallyneedsaholiday · 10/02/2026 12:12

Why is it so shit? DD goes to our “local” college. 18 miles away. Minimum 3 buses or bus, train, bus and 15 minute walk. Minimum 2 1/2 hours to get there. When she signed up, in September, there was a direct bus, albeit meandering, which took an hour and a half, running once a day (7am) to college and then once a day leaving college at 5pm (home at 7pm). That lasted until October, when they cancelled it. Now, she needs to leave the house at 6.30 and doesn’t get home until 8pm, when the buses are running properly. This morning, she’s just come home after leaving at 6.30, still not even having made it there, due to bus cancellations and diversions (in case of scepticism she has photos of the bus stop signs saying “cancelled”) So that was £12 down the drain for transport costs to nowhere. I can’t take her myself, as I don’t have a car. I really don’t know what to do anymore. She’s unmotivated to even try and get there anymore (don’t really blame her). She’s missed quite a bit (although her attendance isn’t the worst in the group). If she leaves, I could be fined and would lose all child benefit, child maintenance etc. without qualifications it’s really hard to get a job. We don’t live “in the back of beyond” but in a reasonable sized and growing town. AIBU to think that a reasonable standard of (affordable and efficient) public transport should be available for college, especially given that it is a legal requirement to remain in education until 18?

OP posts:
Reallyneedsaholiday · 10/02/2026 14:44

WaneyEdge · 10/02/2026 12:27

You won’t get fined for a start. The education till 18 thing isn’t really enforced in that way. Just your DD won’t be able to claim benefits.

It’s because post-16 transport isn’t a requirement like when still at school. Are there no other closer options?

No

OP posts:
Reallyneedsaholiday · 10/02/2026 14:44

Skybluepinky · 10/02/2026 12:24

Change to a local one she can get to.

This IS the local one, as I said in my OP.

OP posts:
Meadowfinch · 10/02/2026 12:33

Hampshire are particularly useless at providing workable solutions. They concentrate the 6th forms for our area in either Basingstoke or Winchester but then cancelled the bus to get there. I'd have had to drive 80 miles a day (20 miles x 4 a day) so 400 miles a week to get ds to 6th form.

When I rang Hampshire's education office to ask what they could offer as an alternative, I was told post-16 wasn't their problem and I should Google. No assistance with fares either.

Truly abysmal service.

WaneyEdge · 10/02/2026 12:27

You won’t get fined for a start. The education till 18 thing isn’t really enforced in that way. Just your DD won’t be able to claim benefits.

It’s because post-16 transport isn’t a requirement like when still at school. Are there no other closer options?

Skybluepinky · 10/02/2026 12:24

Change to a local one she can get to.

sashh · 10/02/2026 12:20

Contact local taxi companies, a minibus every day (if you can find enough other students to fill it) might not be as much as you think.

ThatOrThis · 10/02/2026 12:15

Ok, have you done the practical stuff?

  • lift shares with friends
  • Speak to the college to see what they can suggest / advise help for
  • contact your county councillor and ask for any funding grants available to pay for transport (most county councillors get a discretionary fund they can spend each year for personal requests)
  • driving lessons for your daughter
Swipe left for the next trending thread