Transport Consultation Frequently Asked Questions
Post 16 transport consultation 13 December 2011 to 1 February 2012
Below are some frequently asked questions regarding the post 16 transport policy consultation, and a definition of some terms used to help you understand the proposals. These will be developed and changed as further questions and feedback are received.
I attend a Staffordshire school/college but live outside Staffordshire – what do these proposals mean to me?
Our post 16 transport policy and these changes only apply to students who live in Staffordshire. If you live outside Staffordshire you should ask the council covering the area where you live for help.
I’m already receiving support under the existing post 16 transport policy – will this stop?
No – we are proposing that any student already in year 13 or above as at September 2012 would continue to have the existing transport policy applied to them. The proposed changes would only affect those who move into year 12 from September 2012 onwards.
What transport alternatives are there available to me?
There are around 12,000 post 16 students across Staffordshire. In 2010/11 we helped around 3,200 students. Most students walk or cycle or make their own transport arrangements using school or college arranged transport, or public transport.
With the recent introduction of the ‘Your Staffordshire Card’ allowing travel for 11 to 20 year olds at £1 per journey any time of the day, any day of the week if the journey starts or ends in Staffordshire even more students are now making their own arrangements – this year the number of students supported by our post 16 transport scheme has reduced to around 1300.
Disabled students may be eligible for a bus pass which gives them (and in some cases also a companion) free travel across Staffordshire any time of day, any day of the week.
For more information on the Your Staffordshire card or the disabled person bus pass see our concessionary bus pass pages|.
What are the main proposed changes to the post 16 transport policy?
Our main proposed changes are -
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support low income students where transport already exists and they live between 3 and 15 miles away from their learning provider.
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require all low-income students, who apply for assistance with their travel, to make a contribution of £380 per year towards their travel cost. This works out at roughly £2 per day and is £120 less than the full contribution rate of £500. In return you will receive a seat on existing contracted transport or a public transport pass.
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extend the definition of a low income student or family.
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support students with learning difficulties and disabilities who are assessed as requiring specialised transport, upon payment of a contribution which would be £500 for non low income students and £380 for those on low income. In return we will arrange transport suitable for your needs to the closest suitable learning provider offering the course, no maximum or minimum mileage being applied.
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no longer offer support through the post 16 scheme for mainstream students who are not from low income families. However support would still be available for many students via the Your Staffordshire Card, or by purchasing a spare seat on contracted school transport if available through the Temporary Vacant Seat Scheme.
When is it proposed the changes would take effect?
We propose to introduce these changes to students moving into year 12 in September 2012 onwards. Anyone in year 13 or above as at September 2012 would continue to have the existing policy applied to them.
I have learning difficulty or disability which means I can’t walk or use public transport – would I get help with my travel?
If you are going to be attending the closest suitable school or college offering the course, you would get help. You would need to make a payment towards the cost - £380 if you are low income and £500 if you are not low income.
In addition, disabled students may be eligible for a bus pass which gives them (and in some cases also a companion) free travel across Staffordshire any time of day, any day of the week.
For more information on the disabled person bus pass see our concessionary bus pass pages| or apply at your local libarary.
What do you mean by ‘low income’?
At the moment if a student or their parent/guardian is in receipt of income support, income based job seekers allowance, income based employment and support allowance or guaranteed pension credit we consider them as on a low income.
We are proposing that the definition be extended to include those where their parent/guardian is in receipt of the maximum level of working tax credit, or they qualify for free school meals i.e. they receive one of the following:
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Income Support
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Income Based Jobseekers Allowance
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Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
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support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
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the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
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Child Tax Credit, provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
This is in line with our under 16 transport policy.
I’m on a low income – would you help me?
If you meet the new low income criteria we would help you if
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you are attending your catchment school or, closest school or college offering the course
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the school or college is more than 3 miles from your home but less than 15 miles away
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there is existing public, school or college transport already in place
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if you have a learning difficulty or disability and are assessed as needing specialised transport, we will provide transport appropriate to your needs, if you are attending the closest suitable learning provider offering the course. No maximum or minimum mileage criteria would be applied.
You would need to make a payment towards the cost (£380 proposed for 2012/13 which can be paid in instalments) and in return we would provide you with either a pass for public transport or a seat on school/college arranged transport.
Could I get any other help with the costs of my travel?
Students who are in care, care leavers, young people receiving income support, and disabled young people receiving both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance are eligible for a bursary of £1,200 per year under the 16-19 Bursary Fund – contact your learning provider for more information.
Other students on low incomes may also be eligible for help under the 16-19 Bursary Fund – again contact your learning provider for more information.
If I wouldn’t be eligible for any help under the post 16 transport policy, how else can I get to school or college?
Most post 16 students in Staffordshire walk, cycle or make their own transport arrangements using public transport or by using transport arranged by individual schools or colleges. With the recent introduction of the ‘Your Staffordshire card’ allowing travel for 11 to 20 year olds at £1 per journey any time of the day, any day of the week if the journey starts or ends in Staffordshire even more students are now making their own arrangements rather than using the Staffordshire post 16 transport scheme.
Disabled students may be eligible for a bus pass which gives them (and in some cases also a companion) free travel across Staffordshire any time of day, any day of the week.
For more information on the Your Staffordshire card or the disabled person bus pass see our concessionary bus pass pages|.
If Staffordshire County Council operates specially contracted transport to the school, you may be able to buy a seat under the Temporary Vacant Seat scheme. Where a vehicle hired by the Authority has more seats than are needed for pupils entitled to free or subsidised transport, places may be made available to other pupils. A standard charge irrespective of the distance travelled or number of journeys required will be made for each pupil. For 2012/13 the charge will be £500 and this can be paid by instalments.
Please note that the number of seats available under this scheme is limited, and a place cannot be guaranteed. We strongly suggest that you consider alternative transport solutions. For more information see our Temporary Vacant Seat webpage|.
I would have to attend another site or would have a work placement to reach – would you help me with that travel?
We would provide transport to your registered base only, to enable attendance for the general start/finish times of the academic day. Transport to other sites or work placements, or to your registered base outside standard hours to attend activities that are not essential to passing your course would not covered by this scheme. You should contact your school/college to ask them if they are prepared to offer any assistance in such cases.
I want to go to the same college as some of my friends but this is further away than my local school or college which offers the same course. Would I get help with my travel costs?
No – we would offer support only to the catchment school or the closest school, college or F.E. provider offering the course. However, you would still be able to make use of the Your Staffordshire Card to travel at £1 per bus journey if it starts or ends in Staffordshire.
I attend a faith school – would I get help with my travel costs for sixth form study there?
Under the proposed changes, we would only offer assistance to a denominational school if it is the closest school offering the course. This would bring the policy more in line with that we operate for students under 16 attending faith schools.
I received free transport when I was at school in year 11 – shouldn’t you continue to give this to me in year 12 and above?
Staffordshire County Council does not have a legal obligation to provide free transport for students of sixth form age (those aged 16 to 19). However, the County Council does have a duty to consider whether any transport arrangements are necessary to help students’ access further education at school or college. When considering whether support is necessary we must consider a number of issues, including the needs of the most vulnerable learners, such as those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
When students have to stay at school unit they are 17 or 18, won’t they get any free transport they receive in year 11 continued through year 12 and 13?
The Education and Skills Act 2008 increases the minimum age at which young people in England can leave learning, requiring them to continue in education or training until the end of the academic year in which they turn 17 from 2013 and until their 18th birthday from 2015.
Raising the participation age (RPA) does not mean young people must stay in school; they will able to choose one of the following options:
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full-time education, such as school, college or home education
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work-based learning, such as an Apprenticeship
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part-time education or training if they are employed, self-employed or volunteering for more than 20 hours a week.
As attendance at school is not statutory (you can choose where and how you continue to study) and any free transport being provided in year 11 would not continue in year 12 or 13.
The nearest college running the course I want to follow is outside Staffordshire – would you help me with the travel costs?
Under the proposed scheme, if you are a low income student, it is the closest school or college offering the course, and it is between 3 and 15 miles away, we would help you. If you have a learning difficulty or disability and have been assessed as requiring specialised transport, it must be the closest suitable learning provider.
If these changes take place, I have to make a payment towards my travel costs – would I have to pay this in one lump sum?
Payment could be made in up to 8 instalments by direct debit.
I’m on a low income and would be eligible for help under the new post 16 transport scheme but is it the cheapest way for me to travel?
It may not be – for example if you go to college less than 5 days a week and can use the Your Staffordshire Card at £1 per journey to get there, that would be cheaper than using the post 16 transport scheme. Your school or college may arrange transport which is cheaper for you, or you may be able to buy daily, weekly or monthly passes that could be cheaper. We suggest that you thoroughly explore all your travel options before applying for help under the post 16 transport scheme to make sure that it is the cheapest option for you.
Students who have a learning difficulty or disability may be eligible to receive a disabled person’s concessionary bus pass. This will allow them (and a companion in some cases) to travel free of charge in Staffordshire at any time of day, any day of the week. For more information see our webpage| or apply at your local library.
My school or college runs some transport that would be suitable for me – would you help towards the cost?
Under the proposed scheme, if you are on a low income and it is either your catchment school or closest school or college offering the course that you are attending, and it is between 3 and 15 miles away, we would help you but you would need to make a payment towards the cost.
I could use public transport if it was available but there isn’t any in my area – will you give me any help?
Unfortunately not – we would only offer assistance using transport that was already in place.
How would you measure the distance from my home to the school/college?
We would measure from where your home address meets the public highway to the nearest open gate of the learning provider, using the shortest walking route as determined by our Geographic Information System, for distances up to 3 miles. Over 3 miles we will use the shortest driving route as calculated by Transport Direct|.
How can I give you my views or ask a question on the proposed changes?
Your views really are valuable - you can feedback in a number of ways:
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Online – complete the online feedback form
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Email – send your comments or questions to transportconsultation@staffordshire.gov.uk.
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Post - Print off and complete the feedback form or write to us at:
Staffordshire County Council, Post 16 Travel Consultation, Transport Policy and Support Team, Tipping Street, Stafford, ST16 2DH. The feedback form is available from the transport consultation website| your local Staffordshire library, or by telephoning 0300 111 8000.
All responses received will be seen and considered by Cabinet when making their decision in March 2012 and the outcome will be published on the transport consultation website. The closing date for all comments is 5pm on 1st February 2012.
How much money do you spend on post 16 transport?
In 2010-11 we spent a total of around £14.8m on travel to school and college for around 14,000 students across Staffordshire - the document below details how the money was spent. Around £1.65 million of this was on travel for around 3,200 post 16 students. However, since the introduction of the Your Staffordshire card the number of students had reduced to around 1325 for 2011/12.
summary of home to school and college transport cost 2010-11 .PDF (25 kb)|
How much would these changes save and what would it be spent on?
We expect that when fully implemented these changes would save around £670,000 per year. Funding for local authorities is expected to reduce significantly in future years, so any savings made would be contributing towards the £120m saving that Staffordshire County Council needs to make over the next three years.
Have you carried out an impact assessment on the proposed changes?
Yes, we have completed draft equality, health and community impact assessments which are available on our useful information page|, but these may change as a result of any feedback and questions received.
Definitions and Abbreviations
Course of study - a course at or below level 3, arranged and funded by the County Council or YPLA/EFA. Students paying towards the cost of their study will not be eligible for assistance
- a course at or below level 3, arranged and funded by the County Council or YPLA/EFA. Students paying towards the cost of their study will not be eligible for assistance
EFA – Education Funding Agency – YPLA work will move to the EFA from April 2012.
End qualification – the named end qualification awarded. We do not consider the individual units offered, or any extra-curricula activities that are not part of the course of study
Full time study - at least 12 hours per week timetabled study under the present policy – proposed increase to 16 hours per week
LLDD – learning difficulty or disability
RPA - raised participation age. The Education and Skills Act 2008 increases the minimum age at which young people in England can leave learning, requiring them to continue in education or training until the end of the academic year in which they turn 17 from 2013 and until their 18th birthday from 2015.
Raising the participation age (RPA) does not mean young people must stay in school; they will able to choose one of the following options:
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full-time education, such as school, college or home education
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work-based learning, such as an Apprenticeship
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part-time education or training if they are employed, self-employed or volunteering for more than 20 hours a week.
Specialised transport – where a student, because of their learning difficulty or disability is assessed as unable to walk or use public transport and requires transport (such as a taxi with an escort) to be arranged. This does not mean that transport would be arranged where a student with learning difficulties or disabilities could use public transport, but public transport is not available, or because of the journey time/distance involved if the journey was made using public transport.
YPLA – Young People’s Learning Agency (due to become the Education Funding Agency from April 2012) – provide financial support to young learners, by funding Academies for all their provision and by supporting local authorities to commission suitable education and training opportunities for all 16-19 year olds.
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