16 plus school transport (facebook group)

[t1zzy]

(As a parent of a 16 year old who has been travelling free to his nearest catchment school 20 minutes away for free until he hit 16 )now we have to fork out £946 for a travel card per Year , AIBU to think this is unfair especially as local school was shut (Iver Bucks) I cannot afford to pay this all in one go so am spreading the cost but for this I have to pay over £50 more a year! So unfair and many families will just not be able to afford to keep their children on at the school they know and love... Chalfont Community College

Yes work for my son consists of waiting tables at a pizza place and if they are quiet they tell him to go home only a few hours on a sat and some in the holidays when required... Minimum wage.. its good experience but is not really worth sacrificing study time for.....

did you know the NMW is £3.68 ph for a 16 year old.

so a 16 year old would have to work 258 hour to afford to go to school

My DH cycles 15 - 17 miles each way daily to work It takes him 45 - 50 mins.
Not buying this "its too far" argument. Its a cop out. If its a choice between education and no education get him on a bloody bike. It helps keep him fit too.

That said I do think 16 years in education should get free transport. But realise the problems with that; so you have to find an alternative rather than keep making excuses.

such a shame the goverment took away EMA as it was just for stuff like this,

"Statutory age" even if it goes up to 18 apparently a loophole allows the council to still charge.......

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www.iverconnect.org/pdf/Heatherden-Hall-Arts-Academy.pdf

www.facebook.com/groups/127408464084954/

www.facebook.com/groups/127408464084954/

You both work - it works out at less than £3 per day. I'd rather campaign about the cuts to services for disabled people and their carers, for example. There's one pot of money that all these things come out of. It's fair that people whose parents don't work get school transport for free. It's fair that you pay, because you can.

I pay £62 a month for my eldest DS school bus, those on benefits get it free..there's my dig at the system.

OP did your child just appear age 16, or did you have 16 years to prep for this?

Not so long ago there were no free busses, and adult fares started at 14.

There's no reason why a healthy 16year old should not be able to cycle to school, his choice on how to get there should not be subsidised by the state, that money should be saved for those who actually need it.

YABU.

Fredfredgeorge, my healthy DD2 won't be cycling the 12 miles each way to school as it's too far and it's rural unlit lanes. We'll have no option but to pay the £750 buss pass next year to her catchement area school as she is now 16.

If it's the only school around, and he's legally obliged to stay in education, it should be free transport until he old enough to leave.

The OP said the other school that was nearer closed.

Hmm - Cycling to my school 12 miles away wouldn't have been an option for me even if I could cycle. Most of the route was on unlit country roads where people enjoy driving without light on and over the speed limit. We didn't have a school bus even come within 4 miles of our house so had parents take us to school. I think many others are in similar positions.