16 year old student travel

[wendyl]

Not sure if the right place to ask but here goes

16 year old granddaughter in full time education at 6th Form college believes she has to pay full adult fare on bus to college amounting to �4.30 per day ( she has just moved house after living within walking distance back to her old family home) Is this correct or should there be a concession which she can claim and if so how please.

[Buenchico]

You've missed out an important piece of information: the name of the council which is responsible for education in your grand-daughter's area.

There is no national scheme. Each county (or unitary) council has its own rules. For example, Hull give 6th form students, who live over 3 miles from their college, a grant of �100 per annum (except for students who attend one particularly remote college, where the grant is �270p.a.). However, they only provide the grant where the student is in receipt of the Education Maintenance Allowance or where his/her parents are receiving certain benefits.

Here in Suffolk, the '3 mile rule' still applies but the benefits requirement does not. Instead, a student has to pre-pay a certain amount of each term's travel costs and the council pays the rest. (They issue a pass to show that travel has been pre-paid). There is no specific set amount of money, or a proportion of the costs, made available. Each case is treated on its merits. (So, although there's no strict rule about benefits, they might be taken into account).

Contact the education office of the relevant county/unitarycouncil for details of the scheme (if any) which applies where your grand-daughter lives. Alternatively, take a look at that council's website (or post here again, stating the area that your grand-daughter lives in, and I'll find the information for you).

Chris

[wendyl]

That's very helpful Chris. Not far from Suffolk here in Essex and Colchester 6th Form College. The three mile rule applies to secondary school travel and I had thought students could get a reduced rate rather than full fare. Not familiar with Education Maintenance allowance is that the �30 per week I read about in the papers a while back for staying in higher education. I believe her mother plans to apply for that but working full time and organising moving house for 2nd time in 6 months ( has not round to it!)

[Buenchico]

(2-part post):

Thanks for your reply.

You can download information about the EMA from the Colchester 6th Form College website:
http://www.colchsfc.ac.uk/downloads/documents/ ema_guide_2006.pdf

The Essex County Council website is far from 'user friendly'. It's just taken me much longer than it should have done to track down the relevant information. It's not very clear what the situation is part way through an academic year but, as far as the next academic year goes, here's how it seems to work:

If your grand-daughter pays the full bus fares (at current prices), it will cost her about �840 for a year's travel. However, her parents can pay just �465 (at current rates, split across monthly instalments by direct debit) and the council will pay the rest. (They would issue your grand-daughter with a pass). However, if her parents are in receipt of certain benefits or Child Tax Credit, they will be exempted from paying the �465 and the council will meet the full costs of travel:
http://www.essexcc.gov.uk/vip8/ecc/ECCWebsite/ dis/guc.jsp?channelOid=16638&guideOid=15138&gu ideContentOid=15144

[Buenchico]

It might also be worth noting that all regular bus travellers can make substantial savings by purchasing a weekly ticket. Unlimited travel is available on First bus services around Colchester (in an area bounded by W. Bergholt, Horkesley Heaath, Wivenhoe & Fingringhoe) for just �12.

For �1 more (i.e. �13) an Inner Zone Colchester Borough Card gives a week's unlimited travel around the same area on the services of First, Network Colchester and Hedingham Omnibuses (as well as services, run by other companies, which are supported by Essex County Council).

If your grand-daughter lives further out, a weekly ticket wouldn't really save that much. An Outer Zone Colchester Borough Card costs �20. It includes travel on all of the operators mentioned above and covers a region extending as far as Frating, Stratford St Mary & Kelvedon. It would only save your grand-daughter �1.50 per week but it would also give her free travel at weekends, to go shopping or to visit her friends:
http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/southeast/esse x/fares/firstweek.php

I hope that something here is of use to you.

Chris

[wendyl]

It certainly appears she is eligible for EMA and a
borough outer ticket will make a small saving plus weekend use, any more help doubtfull mid term but her younger sister should be able to claim bus pass for secondary school.
Thank you - Chris for all you trouble - much appreciated

[Shazza36]

Doesn't your local bus/train company offer a half fare pass? My 16 year old son is in sixth form and gets half fare travel he just needed to get a from from his education establishment to verify he was in full time education he then got a yearly pass which gives him half fare travel and he can also purchase weekly travel passes at half fare so it cost s me �6.75 for a weekly one which he can use on the bus and train.

[wendyl]

I think you are quite fortunate. Here there is only one bus service no trains and not only is the 16 year old paying full fare her 12 year old sister is having to do so also whilst waiting for a new free bus pass. She cannot use school bus without one and has to pay full fare to travel before 9.00am single adult fare plus single junior for return is no cheaper either

[strip]

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