College transport

[bjjgirl]

Are all pupils entitled to transport - as in access to a bus? We live rurally and literally have no bus service within 2 miles of 60mph non pavement road.

How does access to college / 6th form work?

For school they put on a small taxi / bus service for kids in the hamlet.

Wondering if there is a general rule re 6th form? I work full time and couldn't give lifts and taxis are out of the question.

It’s up to parents to get them to college once they have left Yr 11 I’m afraid. It sounds as though your teens will have to walk to the bus stop. Mine have a similar journey to yours. It’s not nice this time of year as it’s pitch black, but in the summer they enjoy the walk.
Generally they can stay at college all day even if they only have 1 lesson.
Colleges have a hardship fund to help with cost but they can’t help with logistics.
It’s not easy if you are rural but they have had all the benefits of living in a beautiful area as children. It is a shock to the system after school taxis though!

See what the college offer (some have transport bursaries or options) but if they don’t it’s up to you to get them there.

We have college buses and they cover a vast area. The cost is between £580 and £960 a year depending on how close you live to the college. I had no idea that they existed before we went to the open day.

My understanding is there’s no requirement to provide transport post yr 11.
https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/council/strategies-policies-plans/children-education-and-families/school-transport/post-16-transport-to-education-and-training-policy-statement/
In our area you can apply for a school bus pass if there’s space I think.
I’d speak to colleges and see what services are in place. Or ask on local Facebook as some parents may band together.

Here, you get transport to your nearest college as the crow flies, but the route is limited and the majority of students don't go to that college as it is small and offers little variety.

DD is y12 and we live rurally. We started in Sept paying £400 a term for two buses which were invariably late or didn't turn up and now DD has moved in with her grandparents Mon-Fri as there's a more direct bus. DD is going to have to learn to drive the second she turns 17. It's the pits. FE is compulsory but the costs are prohibitive.

Thansk all it's shocking to be fair- after the school taxis - but we will find a way.

Crazy though to think I may have to alter my work pattern (as for child care adjustments) when my kids are in college!

The roads she will have to walk are 60mph no pavement so it's just not safe in the winter for all that way

Have you checked with the college? I had absolutely no idea there were buses at our college despite the bus stop being almost on the doorstep and working as a teacher myself. Now I notice them when I'm driving.

Ask the college if there are any routes in place your DS could join.

My DS has SEN and is entitled to free transport at the moment. When he goes to college in September we have to contribute £550 per term towards the cost.

You have to pay for your own transport. We had a college bus which DD would have had to leave the house at 6.40 to get each day. That would have been £400 p.a. Instead we drove her to the nearest station so she could get a train over an hour later, but that gave her more flexibility in the evenings as well. That cost around 3x more.

We are happy to pay but there is no viable service - it's unbelievable really- to think I'll have another 4 years (2 dc 2 years apart) of a school run.
Both are summer babies so driving won't be an option for most of their college time

The college has confirmed the routes- despite us living in a major road there's no buses

Also zero other public transport

We don't have a sixth form so all.students need transport to a sixth form 8 miles away or colleges that are even further. The transport and choices of colleges are excellent given we are in an isolated area but we did have to pay.

Some colleges gave reductions for certain bands of income.

It’s rubbish and something that isn’t joined up - they need to be in education or training post 16 but no need to provide bus to get there. It’s not the paying that’s an issue if there’s no bus they can’t get there.
Is there a further afield college that may provide transport or anyone locally going you could club together with.

Nothing at all- it's shocked me to be honest- there will be a work around I am sure between myself and their dad (may mean them living with him which breaks my heart but is an option)

However, I am stunned as for many there won't be this option, which is a huge barrier to night education

But they cannot get to work either! Friends and cars are needed for country living. It’s always been the same!

But there’s always an option as an adult living rurally to work from home or move. A 16-18 yr old is a child and is being told it’s compulsory education but no requirement to provide transport (that parents pay for)
I know Op will sort it so child can go but what if that isn’t possible.
A summer born child and wait for driving tests means most of sixth form is car less even if they can afford the car and £4000 a year insurance.
I’m surprised it isn’t more of an issue.

I’d definitely try facebook local page you won’t be only one in this scenario. We are in a village with buses but I know nearby village where public bus was stopped a college did a pick up so kids there went to that further away college not 6th form in nearby town.

Most 18 year old adults don’t work from home. If you don’t go to the nearest school 6th form you pay. College transport hadn’t been free at all here. Even when I went, you paid. Only free to nearest school.

I meant to add: living rurally costs!

Yes and absolutely happy to pay but there is no option:

Driving - summer children so for at least 18 months no own car
Bus- none bar 1.5 mile walk along country lanes with no lights and 60mph speed

I am in the emergency services so getting flexible hours is possible but does has an impact on the team etc

However, what if I didn't have the option to apply for that? What if I didn't have a supportive ex to co parent with to sort lifts between us. What is the option- it's just crazy.

Not everyone in the countryside is wealthy, so paying for taxis etc isn't always possible.
I am just stunned that this is the case and could potentially prevent young people accessing higher education

Op isn’t objecting to paying it’s the fact education/training is now compulsory for yr 12/13 but there’s no requirement for council’s to put on a bus or let sixth formers on the school bus if there is one.
No school buses are free in our area. My dc got a school bus yr 7-11 (nearest school cost me £40 a month) yr 12/13 she’s at same school sixth form and not eligible to get on school bus. Not an issue for us as village has a public bus too. But if you are like Op in a village with no public bus it’s potentially a massive headache.

I'm sure LAs still have to ensure students can get to their education setting

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5c48534c40f0b616fba5cb6a/Post16transportt_guidance.pdf

As I said. There is no requirement to provide 6th form or college transport. Therefore it’s another call on an already stretched education budget. My dc are summer born too. 6th former students can share transport here but parents pay. Not if you are on fsm though. It’s never been provided to the college of FE. No bus stop here either! Again narrow lanes with no pavements.