AIBU?
AIBU to expect school transport?
mumof3boys33 · 28/07/2017 21:38
This has made me annoyed. So AIBU?
We live in 3 miles from our local village school. It is the school of the village in our address. There is a slightly nearer school but it is not our catchment school and also across the border in a different county.
When the children at the school reach year 7 they automatically move up to the nearby secondary school. It is our catchment secondary school. There are various school buses picking up at various places. My oldest 2 get picked up at on our front drive and taken the 7.5 miles to school (obviously picking up lots more children on the way) We do have a nearer secondary school that is not our catchment school as it is across the border, it is only 4 miles away. No transport is provided as the buses don't cross the border. Which is fair enough. Hence attending the catchment school. In our county.
Anyway, my oldest has been offered his 6th form place at the school he's attended for 5 years along with his friends. I applied for a place on the school bus, I know I have to pay £230 a term for this bus, but assumed he would get the bus as usual. I received a letter saying he cannot get on the bus as the school over the border is nearer. I must admit I was not expecting this to happen. So I appealed. Appeal turned down.
AIBU to be angry? It means I have drive 150 miles a week on a journey the bus is doing anyway. It will still be reversing up my drive to pick up the other child. It seems bonkers to me. Why should he change schools? Why should another council school him when we pay tax to our council? It's madness. They say he can cycle the 4 miles to the other school (on a very busy main road) or obviously I take him. The primary school is the same direction as the current secondary (5 miles further on) so if I do have to drive then it doesn't make much difference fuel wise which school. But I still think it's madness.
mokaerisifhija · 28/07/2017 22:10
I can see it's irritating but if there are limited spaces on the bus then obviously younger children should be prioritised as 6th formers have more options. They can't magically make the bus have more seats.
Your DS cannot possibly be the only 6th former to live in the same direction from the school as you and who doesn't have a school bus place. It might take a bit of digging to find out who but a car pool option is probably possible.
Otherwise look at what public bus routes pass near to the school - obviously there is none from your village to the school or there wouldn't be the school bus, but it might only be a mile or two rather than 7.5miles to get him to the right road to catch a public bus.
ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 28/07/2017 22:15
It's 6th form, yabu they need to attend the nearest educational establishment that offers the course. If you can prove the course at the nearer college is slightly different in an important way them you may have luck though.
He's old enough to make new friends though if there is no transport available at all Yanbu but could see if anyone near you has had same - could ask transport dept if possible to put on additional vehicle or larger vehicle as you'll be paying anyway
Dixiechickonhols · 28/07/2017 22:23
It sounds very unsatisfactory. Like the bus service hasn't caught up with fact children are expected to stay in education until 18.
You say no school bus to nearer school over county lines so even if he transferred to nearer 6th form he is in same boat.
If no public transport as you are rural how is he supposed to remain in education? Unsafe to cycle, not old enough to drive (assuming funds to) Lack of joined up thinking. He can only access compulsory education because you don't have to be in work/have a car. That doesn't sound right. Is it worth querying the cycle angle if you say unsafe - speed limits, how many fatalities, bike storage facilities at school.
beepbeep · 28/07/2017 22:29
For us, 6th form means no place on the school bus - whether there are spaces or not. They are expected to use public transport. Not sure why, maybe because it's not compulsory education?
There is no public bus service to get them to school on time, so up to parents to get them to school (road too busy to cycle).
FluffyPineapple · 28/07/2017 22:33
YANBU. We are in a similar position. My soon to be 6th former had the choice of doing 6th form in his school or local college. He chose local college, as they have the A Level courses he wishes to persue. The school bus passes the local college on the way to school. His siblings catch the school bus directly opposite our house - no charge.
Yet.... because the school would prefer 6th form students to continue their education within their school (which school transport would be free) my ds (or I) now have to pay for his transport to attend 6th form college, which is closer to our house than his school.....Go figure!
BoysofMelody · 28/07/2017 23:27
He's no longer of compulsory school age, he can chose to go to the other school if he wishes. No one will be running buses for his mates who are working or doing apprenticeships. Why should those who are staying on at the school they studied at previously be a special case?
He could get a moped or better still a push bike - 7 miles shouldn't take a young lad more than 25 minutes. He'll also be as fit as a flea.
Also, at 16 shouldn't he be making decisions and attempting to sort out how he's going to get into school? Have you even asked 'have you made any plans for how you are going to get to school in September?'
Storminateapot · 28/07/2017 23:38
It's the same in my county, despite having to stay in education now, post-16 transport is discretionary and only given at a subsidised rate to nearest school, even if it's not catchment & would mean a change of school. I had this battle last year & got nowhere. DD has just finished lower 6th.
I did discover the county does offer discount travel cards to students and that actually costs about the same as the discretionary pass in the end except you can pay £40 at a time rather than a term up front.
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