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Secondary education

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Original poster

Lea refusing to issue free bus pass

36 replies

vjg13 · 04/09/2014 15:21

Has anyone any experience with this? My daughter has just started y7 in a faith school more than 3 miles from home. The LEA normally issues a free pass but has refused my daughter's application. This is due to not attending a feeder school.

We had a poor experience with the feeder primary when my older disabled daughter attended and she had to leave because they could not meet her needs. We made the decision to send my younger daughter to local primary knowing she could later attend the faith high school.

The Lea are meant to be reviewing the application and if this is unsuccessful we can appeal later in the year.

OP posts:
titchy · 04/09/2014 15:37

Could she have got into a closer school? There is no statutory requirement to provide free travel if that is the case, even to faith schools, although some still allow it if they go to the nearest faith school.

Original poster
vjg13 · 04/09/2014 15:50

It is the nearest school for that faith. Other kids that live very close by have been given a pass because they attended the feeder faith primary.

OP posts:
Whitershadeofpale · 04/09/2014 15:53

Was her primary school a faith one?

Original poster
vjg13 · 04/09/2014 15:57

No, just local one.

OP posts:
Whitershadeofpale · 04/09/2014 16:01

In that case I think their argument will be that it hasn't been important to you that she has a faith education and as such could have attended a nearer non faith school. As you've chosen to send her to a school further away the responsibility for funding it should come from you.

icymaiden · 04/09/2014 16:04

They used to provide bus passes for faith schools, but that has been scrapped now.

Original poster
vjg13 · 04/09/2014 16:07

We did have a very good reason for not using the only faith feeder primary in area because of the issues with my older child and I have provided them with evidence of Sunday school atendance and a 'religious reference'.

OP posts:
Original poster
vjg13 · 04/09/2014 16:08

Icy maiden, they still provide them here on distance criteria.

OP posts:
Pico2 · 04/09/2014 16:10

Why should you get an advantage in getting transport to your faith school while those of no faith can't get free transport except to their nearest school?

Original poster
vjg13 · 04/09/2014 16:14

Because that is their policy.

OP posts:
Pico2 · 04/09/2014 16:16

Well it clearly isn't their policy in your case.

Original poster
vjg13 · 04/09/2014 16:19

Thanks Pico2, really helpful Hmm

OP posts:
Whitershadeofpale · 04/09/2014 16:22

I'm confused, does their policy state that they will give free transport for religious reasons or distance.

Either way I think you're in trouble. If it's religious, well you've chosen not to send her to a religious school previously (regardless of reasons) and if it's distance; there were nearer schools that she could have gone to.

queenofthepirates · 04/09/2014 16:32

With hard pressed local budgets and the pressure to feed infant school children at lunchtimes further stretching the purse, I feel your sense of entitlement is somewhat misplaced.

Bramshott · 04/09/2014 16:40

Can you find the exact wording of their policy online? Eg. does it say transport is ok for your nearest faith school, or does it specifically state that you need to have attended a feeder primary?

Unfortunately a lot of LAs are cutting back on transport wherever they can, and transport to faith secondaries is one of the first things to go.

Original poster
vjg13 · 04/09/2014 16:45

Distance criteria is attending school 3 miles away, also for faith schools if over 3 miles and that is your nearest school.

OP posts:
EduCated · 04/09/2014 16:52

Think some people are being a bit unfair to OP.

I agree it's a silly policy, but it's a policy nonetheless, and one they should stick to.

Does the policy make any mention of feeder schools?

GlacindaTheTroll · 04/09/2014 17:00

IIRC, it's a legal requirement if the nearest school with places is over 3 miles (if you choose one at a greater distance, you have to pay), but that extends to 6(?) miles if you are in receipt of certain low-income benefits and it ithe nearest faith school with a place (can't remember if this also applies to grammar schools).

Anything above that is discretionary, and councils can set their own rules. If they are applying their rules correctly, then an appeal would fail. But if the rules themselves are unfair, they should be challenged.

Unfortunately, given how cash-strapped most councils are at the moment, I suspect the upshot would be the removal of all discretionary free transport, not the extension of it to others not covered by the current rules.

Polonium · 04/09/2014 17:01

Is it for a school bus or a public bus?

And is the bus in operation and are there seats? You can go in the morning and have a look, and again at tea time.

SoonToBeSix · 04/09/2014 17:04

Do you live in Merseyside op ?

TheRealMaryMillington · 04/09/2014 17:06

I can see why they would not give you a pass.

You actively chose a non faith primary (for perfectly valid reasons of course), therefore they infer your preference for this secondary (which is presumably not your closest school with places available) may not be on the basis of faith. You can't have it both ways.

Original poster
vjg13 · 04/09/2014 17:10

They have just put a rewritten policy on the council website to include the part about attending the feeder primary. This was not the case when I applied and put on after the closing date for this year's passes. Surely the new rules will only apply for next year?

OP posts:
Original poster
vjg13 · 04/09/2014 17:15

No, not Merseyside.

OP posts:
headlesslambrini · 04/09/2014 17:28

Your reason that your other daughter had a bad experience will not hold water I'm afraid. Each child is an individual and there is no evidence that your youngest wouldn't have succeeded at the closer school.

Look on the local bus company website as you will be able to purchase a term time ticket on her behalf.

ChillySundays · 04/09/2014 19:30

Both my DC went to a feeder school prior to faith secondary. No free buses although the school bus was pretty reasonable. It was way cheaper to buy a weekly pass on the school bus then pay for council bus pass which involved two buses and didn't drop and pick up from the school car park