Post 16 travel costs

[jellycake]

Hi I am currently having a nightmare trying to find out how much it is going to cost me for my son to travel to our local 6th form college in September. Bus websites are useless. We live in Essex, I am trying to find out if 16+ have to pay full fare or whether there is a student concession. As far as I know under 18s in London get free travel but that certainly isn't the case here. If anyone has any advice, it would be gratefully received!

Our LEA offers a travel discount card which gives 25% off the adult fare for 16-19 year olds. Student railcard might also be an option. Otherwise it's full adult fare

Our main bus company (Arriva) did a student pass at a consessionary rate - it was actually cheaper than the pass that the LA offered. It ran for 11 months and could be used on any of their buses in the region - not just the route to college.
Does your DCs journey just involve oe transport operator? If so, can you ring them and ask. If not can the LA School transport dept advise - it was ours that told us about the student bus pass for Arriva.

It entirely depends on the area and the bus company. Sometimes it is funded via the college VI form or at least administered by them so you might be better off contacting the college.

But be aware that even with a pass the costs can be high.

My DS travels to the nearest 6th form college 5 miles away (there was no 6th form at his school). He travels 3 stops on the train. With a pass (which costs £25 a year) and season ticket it costs £700 a year

My son travels 3 hours a day on a college supplied bus at a cost of £470 a year. There are two.bursaries to reduce this which are family income dependent and the bursary which gives the pass for free is £30k or less a year plus 90% plus attendance

It would've cost us over £500 for the bus pass this year. As the college finishes twice a week after the last bus leaves for our village we didn't bother for DS2. I drove him in in Yr12 and he drove himself in in Yr13.

I would love to save the £700 and drive DS in but I have to be at work myself