question about transportation to secondary school

[AurelieW]

Hello everyone!

We have recently moved back to the UK after several years abroad, coming back to the same area we lived before. Eldest DD will go into Year 7 (this school year, so starting mid-way Y7 as soon as schools open again) and the catchment school is currently full. She's got her heart set on it as all her old friends are there, however there are other good schools in the area that we'll apply to while she can be on the waitlist to her preferred school.

I have a question about transportation to and from school as I'm new to this, kids have always just been in catchment schools before. If we put our catchment school as our number 1 preference on our application and she does not get in (as expected) and is offered a place at her 2nd or 3rd choice school, will she be offered transportation to and from school or is this something we will have to arrange ourselves? Does it matter that we're applying in-year, making it less likely to be offered transportation or does this not make any difference?

The catchment school is within biking distance but the other schools are a bit of a drive. There's one a bit closer than choices #2 and 3 but it's not a very good school so we'd prefer not to apply for a place there.

Transportation to and from would help a lot but if it's not offered we'll manage. Thanks very much for any insight!

If you are assigned a school that is more than 3 miles away by the shortest reasonable walking route then the LEA is supposed to provide transport. This may be in the form of a bus pass which is next to useless if the bus routes or timetables don't work out. If it's less than 3 miles then it is considered reasonable for the child to just walk it.

There should be a transport policy on your local authority's website but on the whole, if a place isn't available at your catchment school and the nearest school offered is more than 3 miles away, then yes they will provide transport.

The council might argue that she isn't going to the nearest school with places if there is another school that is closer, especially if the school which you would prefer not to send her to would be less than 3 miles.

Assume you would arrange it. If far enough to the closest with a place there maybe a bus but not necessarily free or have space mid year.

@LIZS

Assume you would arrange it. If far enough to the closest with a place there maybe a bus but not necessarily free or have space mid year.

If the nearest school with space is more than 3 miles and school transport is not a possibility (either unavailable or at capacity), a taxi would normally be provided.

Thanks very much everyone, very helpful! Nearest other school with spaces in DD's year is over 3 miles away however that's still closer than the two other schools we'd prefer as 2nd and 3rd choice, so I will plan to arrange transport ourselves and be pleasantly surprised if it turns out it's provided.

Thanks again!