Cost of Train to College

[Belshels]

We are really struggling to pay, it's £12 a day for 18 year old yp! That's £240 a month, for her trip to and from college. She has just gone to a 16-25 railcard which doesn't discount before 10am... What is that then? The 16/17 railcard she had previously meant train was half price in rush hour too.
Am I missing something?
Season tickets are £92 per week which is even more!
I don't get how there isn't some sort of discount for teens?
Any advice appreciated xx

Ok, so the discount applies, but only if the ticket you are purchasing is more than £12? It’s £30 for a return to London from where we live so my dc are entitled to use the discount for their commutes.

Ok, the fare from where we live into London is £30, so that explains why my dc are able to use their railcards at peak times.

£12 a day is a LOT - especially when peers who live in towns may get the same or better access to sixth form education for free.

Again, locally, young people from the town where the college is attend free of charge. Others pay high transport costs daily. It’s not equitable, and access to education should be equitable if it is compulsory.

100% definitely true - my (very well paid) son uses it at peak time for his commute - and is 29!

I used to pay £2000 a year to get both my sons to and from their secondary school... Ridiculous

While it’s great that employees travelling into London can use their 16-25 railcards to reduce the cost of their commute, I’m not sure how that helps OP to fund the travel costs for a child who is still legally required to be in education?

Op I am with you

It is completely WRONG that anyone studying - and including secondary school kids - have to pay to go to school or college. They aren't earning!

Our local kids have to pay 40 a month - even very low income families - and it could be multiple children!

I have written to my mp about this!

What on earth is the relevance of someone well paid - in an acutal job - getting to use a discount card?

My dad is a pensioner and travels for free ! even he says it's totally wrong that children have to pay to get to the school they are legally obliged to attend.

The point I was making- albeit badly it appears- is that she is able to use a young persons railcard to get reduced price tickets…….she was under the impression that she couldn’t

The railcard website states '£12 minimum fare applies Monday to Friday between 04:30 and 09:59'

so for those of us whose fare isn't £12+ there's no saving. I made this mistake when buying my yr 13 a 16-25 card then found it was useless.

I wonder if anyone has considered if this is contributing to the increase in NEET young people.

Oops I had no idea - I thought it was a third off all tickets! Sorry OP

That’s bloody ridiculous then - adults in work are subsidised by kids at college. How unfair!

Shes in college ??? You dont get a student loan until youre in university? Your post is really arsey.

People have been pointing that out for years yet those in charge don't seem to get it 🙁

You definitely get student loan for college i.e. higher education. It depends on the course what kind of finance but for HNC/HND courses you get a student loan.

www.studentinformation.gov.scot/students/higher-education/funding-your-studies

She in education full time and her parents will
be receiving child benefit for her. Why is sit her responsibility to pay?

It’s a real pressure on some families and an example of how extending education to 18 but not updating travel policies works.
What they tended to do at my dc’s school was get lifts from parents or friends to save money. I remember a moaning post on local facebook about all the parking/traffic, so many people thought school bus was free! Sixth form can’t even get a place on school bus.
It must put a lot of pressure on dc to miss college some days to save the fare.
I’d speak to college and see if there is a bursary.

We are paying £4.50 a day to get our 12 year old to school… its insane!

Yes but I this isn't higher education.
It's 16-18 education.
In England/Wales (where I get the impression the OP is) that's either "Sixth Form" or "College".

Lots of schools and colleges limit hours yp can work I think my dc’s school was no more than 8-10 a week. Some yp get work especially if a skill like lifeguarding but lots struggle in light of NI/min wage increases.

Nowhere does the op say that 🤨. I've never heard of sixth form college. Not a huge leap to assume she just talking about general further/higher education college.

Yes unless Op says differently I’m assuming the dc is yr13 at sixth form or college in England. Depending on birthday some dc are 18 all school year.

That’s a good point.

There should be discount for students that have to stay in education - especially as now colleges don’t all offer them same meaning some students have no choice to travel further to follow the courses they need.

She said she's just turned 18 - so in the second year of a 16-18 course.
I am guessing you are in Scotland by your name and schools are different there but in England and Wales to be in "college" having just turned 18 it won't be university.

Have you checked with your child’s college whether you would qualify for a bursary? A friend of mine earns around £40k per year and her child gets one.