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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Sixth Form - not allowed on school bus, no public transport, so what do people do?

99 replies

catelina · 07/09/2021 17:26

I found out today that despite there being no public transport at all where we live, there is no transport provision for sixth formers to attend our catchment school, which is 10 miles away.

They can apply for a (paid, expensive) seat on the school bus that DS currently goes on (for free), but there is no guarantee they'll get one and most don't.

WTF do people do? Give up their jobs so they can drive 16 year olds to and from school?

OP posts:
SussexBonfireViking · 08/09/2021 12:52

@Lougle

My DD has SN and the can't take transport safely on her own. The council will want £1300 for transport to her nearest appropriate college Sad
We had this, paid transport to secondary school, but nothing for 6th form. It meant my dc had to change schools as there was no way we could get them to their original one.

(he's off to uni next week so no harm done)

Marni83 · 08/09/2021 12:56

Did you only find out that this was the case on the first day of term?!

Marni83 · 08/09/2021 12:58

And if you’re 10 miles out

Surely fairly high chance he would get a place. It’ll be the ones 2/3/4 miles that struggle

Comefromaway · 08/09/2021 13:18

ONe of the parents localish to me has been asking the council since May about the issue. Knowing about it for longer doesn't magic up a solution. One parent's only solution is to drop her daughter at school at 7am and she will have to wait outside the gates for an hour and a half until the building opens.

Marni83 · 08/09/2021 13:21

The op said she found out today.

Lipsandlashes · 08/09/2021 13:26

Blimey - where are all these free buses? We have to pay £700 a year for transport to secondary school, from age 11.

TuckMyWin · 08/09/2021 13:40

@Lipsandlashes

Blimey - where are all these free buses? We have to pay £700 a year for transport to secondary school, from age 11.
Rural areas where children can’t get to the nearest catchment school by walking.
Jangle33 · 08/09/2021 13:48

It’s utter madness… though one of the reasons many move to a more urban area…

Comefromaway · 08/09/2021 13:49

@Marni83

The op said she found out today.
She also said her son currently travels on the school bus so presumably he is in Year 11 or younger so she's found out at least a year before he starts 6th form.
Nat6999 · 08/09/2021 13:51

lougle if your dc gets the enhanced rate of PIP for daily living you can apply for a free bus pass & if they have an EHCP you can argue for school transport to be included.

Marni83 · 08/09/2021 14:06

@Comefromaway

Exactly
I suppose as a working single parent I’m so military in organising that I think…. A year and you haven’t sorted something

And yes - a year is time to sort something.

Comefromaway · 08/09/2021 14:15

But what if something can't be sorted? You can't make your employer change your work hours or make the bus company provide a service or magic up the money for daily taxis.

Marni83 · 08/09/2021 14:18

@Comefromaway

But what if something can't be sorted? You can't make your employer change your work hours or make the bus company provide a service or magic up the money for daily taxis.
I guess it’s how you view problems

A year to plan

I’d campaign. Council, school, MP

I know I’d sort.

HalfShrunkMoreToGo · 08/09/2021 14:19

We all got mopeds, you can get a moped license at 16, they are cheap to buy, tax, insure and run and they gave freedom in a rural community with no bus, our nearest bus stop was 3 miles away down unlit country roads.

Marni83 · 08/09/2021 14:21

@HalfShrunkMoreToGo

We all got mopeds, you can get a moped license at 16, they are cheap to buy, tax, insure and run and they gave freedom in a rural community with no bus, our nearest bus stop was 3 miles away down unlit country roads.
I’d carry my 16 year old on my back, wearing flippers

Before I got him a moped on country roads, or indeed any roads!

Bramshott · 08/09/2021 14:22

The OP mentions the bus "DS currently goes on" so I'd assumed he was Y11 now and she was looking into options (or the lack of them!) for next year.

Samanabanana · 08/09/2021 14:23

So have you paid for and applied for a place and been turned down? If so clearly yanbu. However they often say places on educational transport are limited but not everyone who goes to the sixth form will need a space on that particular bus anyway.

WhatHaveIFound · 08/09/2021 14:25

@alrightfella

I don't understand why transport isn't free for 16-18 year olds especially as they have to stay in education.

My dd chose to go to a different sixth form. Her bus ticket is just over 1k for the year. We can afford that but for many people that wouldn't even be a possibility. Public transport in the U.K. is so expensive and I just don't think it's acceptable to charge those prices to get to school and back!

Just been having this argument with Northern Rail as DS isn't allowed to buy an educational season ticket for 6th form and has to get a regular one instead.
Original poster
catelina · 08/09/2021 14:27

@Chloemol

You speak to your LA and ask them to sort as you have to be in education

Contact your MP and get them involved

Yes, that's my plan
OP posts:
WhatHaveIFound · 08/09/2021 14:27

Sorry, in answer to the OP. Is there a few children locally in the same situation. Maybe a shared taxi would be ok?

Original poster
catelina · 08/09/2021 14:28

@Marni83

Did you only find out that this was the case on the first day of term?!
No, he's in Y11, but I'm getting in early with my outrage after a chat with a neighbour
OP posts:
Porridgealert · 08/09/2021 14:30

@giggly

What is this madnessHmm free school transport for all ages within the catchment area in Scotland for state schools. Why on earth are 6th form excluded? The English school system totally baffles me.
I don't think England has as much money as Scotland. 🙂
BingBongToTheMoon · 08/09/2021 14:34

@giggly

What is this madnessHmm free school transport for all ages within the catchment area in Scotland for state schools. Why on earth are 6th form excluded? The English school system totally baffles me.
Exactly what I was thinking. This is crazy.
Marni83 · 08/09/2021 14:36

Brill op

You will sort this.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 08/09/2021 14:39

We are fortunate to live near the local sixth form college. Covers our village and quite a few others.

But.. despite it being rural... they didn't build a car park for students (it's new!) Because they should walk, use public transport or be dropped off.

They park on country lane verges instead...as there is limited public transport.