Rural students face high bus costs

As we pre-viewed yesterday on AudlemOnline, a local parent, David Parry, has contacted many authorities about the high cost of post-16 students getting to Brine Leas Sixth Form by bus.

Letters have been sent by David to local MP Stephen O'Brien who has taken up the case with Cheshire East's chief executive. David Parry's letter says: "Cheshire East no longer fund a school bus pass for post 16 students; this requires them to buy a weekly bus pass from GHA Buses at a cost of around £684 annually (£18 x 38 weeks). Whilst Brine Leas School intends to contribute around £250 p.a per student this still leaves the student with more than £400 per year to find simply to attend Brine Leas Sixth Form.

Unfair

"I believe this to be unfair, inequitable and contrary to the Department of Education vision:
"Our vision is for a highly educated society in which opportunity is more equal for children and young people no matter what their background or family circumstances".

David argues: "Students requiring bus transport to continue in full time education are being treated as an income earning adult would be – no free bus pass, no concessionary fares and a discretionary subsidy from the school equating to less than 40% of the total cost. They are being penalised for their family circumstances i.e. living in areas requiring a bus ride to their nearest post-16 educational facility."

Letters

Letters have also been sent to Customer Quality Manager at Cheshire East Transport; to Brine Leas School; and to Nantwich MP Edward Timpson, in whose constituency Brine Leas School is, who took up the case with the Department of Education who have responded saying:

"Thank you for your email of 1 July addressed to Edward Timpson MP. I am replying on behalf of the Department for Education, which is responsible for the legislation covering the duties of local authorities in relation to post-16 transport to school, college or training. While the Department is responsible for this legislation, it does not have responsibility for the detail of local transport arrangements, which is the responsibility of each local
authority.

"As a local authority, Cheshire East Council is required to publish a transport policy statement explaining the arrangements it thinks are needed to help young people travel to school and college. While the arrangements described in the statement do not have to be free, Cheshire East Council should consider what financial help might be needed to help meet reasonable travel costs.

"There is no legal requirement for Cheshire East Council to offer free or subsidised transport, but we expect all local authorities to make reasonable decisions about what support should be available based on the needs of their residents, local transport infrastructure and the resources they have available."

Brine Leas

Following our story yesterday raising this issue, we were contacted immediately by the head of Brine Leas, Andrew Cliffe, clarifying that travel was only subsidised and NOT fully paid for by Cheshire East. He adds that Brine Leas will subsidise transport based on means testing.

A copy of the letter from the council received by the school is reproduced above (click on the letter to enlarge it.) A number of parents were also in touch confirming that the costs are a significant issue affecting rural communities like Audlem.

Local pressure

Perhaps this is an issue that Audlem Parish Council should take up with Cheshire East as it could so easily penalise young people living in rural areas at a vital stage of their education and, of course, their families. After all, if paying out £400 for one child's transport will be a problem for many families, imagine paying for more than one child to get to college.

Please continue to send in your thoughts on this issue.

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