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You are here: Home Page> Education and learning> Schools and colleges> College transport for 16-19 year olds

College transport for 16-19 year olds

Last updated: 31/10/2012 Add to My Bookmarks Subscribe

Transport for students in further education

Local Authorities are under no obligation to provide free home to school or college transport if a student is over 16 at the beginning of the academic year (1 September).  Cornwall Council, like many other local authorities across England, operates a policy of subsidising travel to Further Education for students aged between 16–19 (21 for students with special educational needs) who attend the nearest establishment offering the course(s) the student wishes to study and provided they live over three miles from the said establishment.

Students taking an A/AS level course would not automatically qualify for subsidised travel to an establishment which is not the nearest if their designated/nearest school does not offer a particular subject.

Please read these notes carefully. If, when you have read them you think that you qualify and would like Cornwall Council to arrange transport for you to attend a Cornish school sixth form or college of further education, please fill in the Post 16 Transport Application Form and return it as soon as possible with payment.

Cornwall College Students – all applications are to be made via the Transport Office of Cornwall College based at Cornwall College (St Austell).  Please go to the Cornwall College website or telephone on 01726 226404 / 01726 226618 for details.

Truro College Students – please contact Truro College in the first instance as they run their own transport scheme.  Please go to the Truro College website or telephone on 01872 267003 for details.

All Other Students – all applications must be sent to the Transport Officer, Access and Infrastructure Team, Camel Building, County Hall, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 3AY.

All applications must be submitted by the 10 August 2012.  Following approval an eligible students bus pass will be sent to them from 1 August 2012 onwards.

If an application is submitted to the Transport Officer after 10 August 2012 students  will have to make their own way to and from the school sixth form or college of further education at their own expense until their applications are processed.  This process can take up to 10 working days.

If you have an enquiry regarding College Transport, please complete the College Transport Enquiry Form.

The following questions and answers provide further information on Cornwall Council’s current policy.

Do I qualify?

To qualify for subsidised transport for the academic year 2012/13 you must be:

  • Under 19 years of age on 1 September 2012.
  • A full time student attending a course for 450 guided learning hours per year and enrolled for the 3 terms of the 2012/13 academic year.
  • Living more than 3 miles away from the nearest school sixth form or college that offers the course that you want to do (for A/AS Level study please refer to the policy).
  • Willing to pay a contribution towards the cost of your transport.

Special educational needs students must be:

  • Under 21 years of age on 1 September 2012
  • A full time student attending a course for 450 guided learning hours per year and enrolled at their nearest school/special school/college for the 3 terms of the 2012/13 academic year.

Students not eligible for subsidised transport:

  • Home address is within 3 miles of the school/college.
  • The student chooses to attend a school/college which is not the nearest institution offering the course (or similar) that they wish to take.
  • The transport expenses are incurred for travel between lodgings and the school/college.
  • The transport expenses are incurred for work placement study.
  • The student wishes to travel by means of transport other than that determined by the council.
  • The student is following a higher education course.
  • The end qualification of the course is the same as that of a similar course offered at a nearer educational establishment.
  • The student has been guilty of the abuse or misuse of subsidised transport.

How do I apply and what is the cost?

  • You can download an application form or request a form by contacting the Passenger Transport Unit, County Hall, Truro, TR1 3AY; Telephone number 0300 1234 222.
  • The contribution towards 16-19 transport is £327 for the academic year.  Payment can be by one payment or collected before the start of each term; £120 a term (£87 for the summer term).  Please note that the average cost of providing transport for mainstream students is £599 per student which equates to the Local Authority subsidising each students transport in the sum of £272. For students with Disabilities/Learning Difficulties the average cost is £3,592 per student which equates to the Local Authority subsidising each students transport in the sum of £3,265.
  • You can pay by cheque or postal order (made payable to Cornwall Council) - Please don’t send cash.
  • Alternatively, you can make a payment by credit/debit card.

What transport is provided?

The Council will seek to provide suitable transport using the most cost effective method utilising public transport (trains and buses), contract buses, taxis and volunteer drivers. If any of these are unavailable or prove unsuitable, a travel allowance may be offered to students to make their own way to school/college.

The allowance is paid at 25 pence per mile. Transport is provided to and from the school/college at scheduled times Monday to Friday. Transport will not be scheduled to accommodate each individual student’s course timetable.

What transport is available for students with special educational needs?

Specialist transport such as by taxi or accessible minibus will only be provided where supporting evidence identifies the need to do so.

Evidence may take the form of letters of support from a doctor, social worker, educational psychiatrist/psychologist or other professional bodies. Once this has been approved by the Commissioning Team, the Council’s Passenger Transport Unit will usually decide the mode of transport to be provided and whether a passenger assistant needs to be deployed.

What happens if I lose my pass?

If you lose your pass, a replacement can be obtained from the Passenger Transport Unit.

A charge of £10 will be made for a replacement pass to be issued with an increase of £5 for each additional lost pass requested.  A pass will be replaced at the discretion of the Passenger Transport Unit.

Can I get any money back if I leave my course?

A full termly or annual refund will only be provided if requested before the end of September and with the bus pass, if issued, returned to the PTU.  Thereafter a full refund will only be considered if the bus pass is returned unused (ie still attached to the letter) or evidence can be provided that the transport was not used.

After the end of September and up to the start of half term half the payment for the term will be refunded, after half term no refund will be paid for that term unless evidence can be provided that the transport has not been used.

For subsequent terms a full refund will only be available if evidence can be provided that transport has not been used for the term otherwise half the payment will be refunded up to the end of half term with no refunds available after half term.

What if I am not eligible for subsidised transport?

Contract vehicle capacity does not always match the number of passengers to be conveyed, there are sometimes spare places.

A spare seat on a vehicle under contract to the Council may be allocated to a student ineligible for automatic placement on the assisted travel schemes on payment of the required fare. These students travel as Concessionary riders. The spare places are allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis. The scheme does not start until 1st October each year when bus loadings are settled.

You must arrange and fund your own transport to school sixth form or college until a Concessionary Scheme seat is allocated.

Note: The scheme only applies to vehicles under contract; it does not apply to public service buses or trains.

What is the cost of a concessionary scheme place and how do I apply?

  • The contribution towards a Concessionary Scheme place is £327.  Please use the Concessionary Scheme Application Form or request a form by contacting the Passenger Transport Unit, County Hall, Truro, TR1 3AY; Telephone number 0300 1234 222.

What if the Council cannot help in any way with transport?

The school sixth form or college that you are going to attend may be able to help.

Can my bus pass be withdrawn?

Yes. Undisciplined behaviour whilst travelling on subsidised transport or non co-operation with any employee of the contracting company or an officer of the Council will result in the withdrawal of your bus pass.

Also, your bus pass is not transferable; so giving your pass to another student to enable them to travel will result in your pass being withdrawn.

What can I do if I don’t agree with the decision on my eligibility for transport?

If you do not agree with the decision which has been made about your eligibility you have the right to appeal.

Appeal in writing to:

The Manager (Access and Infrastructure Team)
Children Schools and Families
Camel Building
County Hall
Truro
TR1 3AY

who will arrange for the appeal to be taken to the next meeting at the Appeals Panel.

Useful links

2012-13 Post 16 Transport Policy

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Contact

Passenger Transport,
Fal Building,
Cornwall Council,
County Hall,
Truro,
TR1 3AY

Telephone

0300 1234 222

Email

ptu@cornwall.gov.uk

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