To think it's outrageous that there is nowhere in my town of 200000 people offering Alevels

[Bestseller]

There no getting away from it, this is a deprived area and with educational provision like this there is little prospect of social mobility.

We have 5 large secondary schools. Not one of them has a sixth form. There is a further education college but it has merged with two other colleges in surrounding towns and ours now only offers vocational qualifications. To do A levels you either need to go to sixth form at a school 8 miles in one direction (with rubbish public tramsport links) or a 25 min (expensive) train journey in the other direction.

Obviously for committed students with supportive families , that's not insurmountable but another example of how life is even harder for those whose opportunities are more limited in the first place.

Is this usual in deprived areas? Who do I need to take it up with?

I live in a deprived area of wales, both my boys attended schools with sixth forms and there is also a college. Me and my ex, plus all siblings on both sides, all have at least one degree each, and ds is now at university. I had a chaotic childhood, lots of screaming, shouting and physical violence on the part of both parents, and lived on a council estate.
So I don’t think what you are describing is the norm in my experience.

No, not normal. Where do you live?!

That's really not good. Where on earth do you live?

That's good loubluee. So it's just this area that's been written off!

I really feel I should take this up with someone. It's too late for my DC (they go to next town) but there are bright kids they were at school with who would have automatically gone on to a levels if their lives had been different. And there will be more after them.

We're in the South East. A little enclave of poverty and deprivation surrounded by green belt and affluence.

All the local MPs and councillors live in the posh bits (naturally) and every social problem is pushed this way, as if we don't have enough already. The latest is a large housing development ageed for posh town but the required social housing % will be built here.

I don’t work in education but that does sound wrong. Don’t children have to stay in education until 18 these days, so do you mean their only local options are vocational not academic so little chance for progressing to university if that’s their potential?

You could start by writing to your MP?

Yes Paint. They either travel to do A levels (not many) or they do hairdressing or construction. The local college doesn't even offer the more academic vocational courses like computing or engineering.

This is going to become more normal the longer we keep making cuts to education. We used to have three places for A Levels, two schools and a college. The college closed down so all vocational courses are gone, and as the two schools are under the same academy trust they moved all sixth formers to one site, at the same time reducing subject choices.

Yes I should write the MP but my issue there is he's Conservative and elected by residents in posh town (same constituency) who are more than happy to see all the social ills dumped here.

That’s awful-I’m in the south east and it’s not like that around here. Can I ask which county- if that’s not too outing?

Keep voting Tory, let see where that will get us

My only college options were both miles away, one did the usual stuff, one was more agricultural. Most people just got the bus, it was fine.

Did you mean to say a town of two hundred thousand residents or is that a typo?

It might have been fine for you Nerdy, but it's not fine for children with families who are unwilling or unable to support them in making it happen.

Yes two hundred thousand residents. No A level provision at all

That is rubbish, but 8 mikes is about 40 mins on a bike to a healthy teen, even with sports kit, small musical instruments, books etc. Even early in the morning, even in the early evening. I speak from experience and I grew up in Londo!n!

Yes I am also assuming the 200,000 must be a typo

8 miles or a 25 min train journey doesnt sound too bad to me, lots of kids in rural areas do more. The cost is an issue though - are grants still available.

One of my kids took the bus about 10 miles to college. One went 5 miles away. Even then there were really bright kids who went to the closer, less academic sixth form because their parents didn't want to pay for their travel. It's rubbish I agree.

Yes BikeSki, it's not impossible for those with the support and motivation to do it, it's just another example of how getting a decent education is that much harder for people who are already disadvantaged.

Many of the children I work with still live in a world where owning a bike is just a dream.

Is there any help available for travel expenses? Our bus fares (to the town several miles away, like you!) are wince-making, but there are reductions available for low-income families.

Am I missing something? 8 miles isn't far and transport would be provided.

I live in a town in the SE with no sixth form provision but there are dedicated bus services and reduced travel passes, free for some.

Post 16 funding. Lobby your MP for more money for education.

I think this is appalling - how long has it been like this?