aibu to think this school should let my ds get the SCHOOL bus?

[Doubtfuldaphne]

ds was issued a free bus pass on the basis that the nearest school is full. Now it turns out the bus is for 6th formers only and they want me to tear up the pass and for him to get on public transport (new pass provided for this)
He's only 13, a little naive and shy. Never been anywhere without me really.
They want him to leave at 7am to get two connecting buses to school. He won't get home until 5pm as he'll have to wait around the town centre for the next bus back to our village.
Before moving to this village, we were told the bus would be an option as long as he had a pass.
I don't drive..I can't afford to. I have no other way of getting DS to school now.
The council are blaming the school and the school are blaming the council. Now the EWO is saying that getting a public bus is perfectly reasonable.
I'm pulling my hair out here!

[queenofthemountain]

I don't really understand what it has to do with the school.It is the LEA who are responsible for organising home to school transport.
If your DS is the only one making this journey then it would cerainly seem to be unreasonable.
The point to remnember is that neither the LEA nor the school will know an exact number of students who will be coming back to 6th form at this stage, so I would write to them and your local councillor to say why your DS needs a place on the bus, and then once the GCSE and AS results come out, ramp it up!

[5Foot5]

I think that's a really long day for him

He's 13 not 6! If you live in a rural area then long journeys to school are often part and parcel of that. I know I had similar.

Unless this is going to have a massive drip feed where the OP reveals some additional reason why her son cannot manage public transport alone then I am a bit about a 13yo who can't catch a bus.

[Icimoi]

Does the journey by bus take more than 1 hour 15 minutes? If so ds is entitled to the provision of transport by the council which, as a minimum, takes him under that limit (e.g. a taxi to the second bus stop). But it you pushed for that I suspect the council would decide that the best option is the 6th form bus.

If you think ds might qualify, contact the council's school transport department and get your application in.

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Op, have you actually made a direct application to the council for home to school transport?

It could be that the children going by taxi are funded.

It is worth making an application if not, stating your reasons why you think your case should be assessed.

[edamsavestheday]

That journey is a pain in the bum and I'm sure you are pissed off given you were promised there was a bus before you moved.

Icimoi's point about the lengthy of the journey is definitely worth following up.

I used to do a similar journey to school from the age of 14, and while it's not ideal, it is do-able. Tiring, though, and miserable if anything goes wrong e.g. bus is horribly delayed or breaks down. But mostly OK. I made good friends on the bus - even though it wasn't a school bus, there were 7 or 8 of us who were going to various schools in the city 15 miles away and we got to know each other.

Think you should follow the advice to talk to the other parents about a lift/taxi share.

[HappyYoni]

Op, what are your fears about the public transport? What do you worry will happen?

[LadyGnome]

I think there are two separate issues

1. if there is bus going to the school going close to your house, why can't he use it?
   
   
2. Your concerns about public transport. Admittedly we live in London so public transport is frequent but DS1 has travelled home from school on the bus since he was 9 (Yr5) so I don't follow the angst about a 13 year old travelling on public transport. The journey is long but I assume that is the case for many children in a rural location.

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Having read this more thoroughly I see there would be a (presumably free) pass for public transport.

Op, I really feel for you but I suspect there's not a lot you can do other than appeal.Most councils are trying to find ways to cut costs and I expect they have judged that the public bus is the cheapest way, and a suitable means for him to get to school.You are in a position you are not comfortable not by choice but because the local school has no places.

There is a certain duty I believe, where the council is obliged to provide transport, for them to provide transport that leaves them in a fit state for their day at school -ie not too stressful, or whatever.
Its something I am unsure on but its worth looking into if you really feel this way of travelling would impact negatively on your son.
We're all individuals, and if you feel this would be a real problem for your son, you should write and outline the ins and outs of the journey, explain that you have no car, and tell them how you feel it would cause detriment to your son at this point.If you put all the difficulties to them, I can't see there's a lot more that you can do, following that avenue.Perhaps they may re-assess.

Failing that, the possibility of taxi share, or a lift or taxi for part of the journey?

Good luck.

[HappyAgainOneDay]

I had to get two buses to school from the age of 11. Your DS is 13 for heaven's sake!