Travelling

Free School Transport is provided only to pupils under 8 years of age living over 1 ½ miles, and pupils aged 8-16 living over living over 2 miles from the nearest catchment
area school. (Pupils must be of statutory school age and all distances are measured via the shortest walking route). However, you will not be entitled to free school transport if you have chosen an alternative school and there is another school of the same type nearer to your home, which your child could attend. By “of the same type” means another Community School, Welsh Medium School, Church in Wales School or Roman Catholic School.

Pupils 16-19 Prior to 1st September of the Academic Year

The Authority provides travel assistance to pupils/students aged 16-18 before the 1st September of the Academic year and living more than 2 miles from their nearest appropriate school or college. Students and pupils aged 19 or over on this date are not eligible for travel assistance from the Authority, even if their course of study commenced before this date. In these circumstances they are advised to contact their respective college for details.

If the above criteria is met the Authority will provide travel assistance up to a maximum of £200.00 per academic session to those pupils/students paid termly as follows: £75 Autumn, £75 Spring and £50 Summer. The student has the option to have this money paid directly to Coleg Gwent as a contribution towards the purchase of a season ticket, or as a financial travel grant. If the student indicates that he/she wishes the money to be paid to Coleg Gwent, then a free bus pass is provided, with Coleg Gwent meeting the additional cost of the season ticket. The Authority does not have a similar arrangement with other colleges/schools.
Transport assistance for students/pupils will not be provided to a college or alternative school where the course subjects, or similar subjects, are available in the catchment
area school.

Pupils with Special Education Needs

Transport is provided for pupils with a Statement of Special Educational Needs as determined by the Statementing Panel.

Pupils with Medical Problems

Transport may be provided on medical grounds, on the advice of the Health Authority to enable pupils to attend their nearest appropriate school even though they may live within the statutory walking distance.

Pupils who Live on Exceptional Hazardous Routes

Free transport may be provided where the Authority is satisfied that the route between home and school is sufficiently dangerous to warrant such provision, even though the distance is under those quoted previously.
The Authority will have regard to the following criteria:

there is no bus service travelling between home and school.
that the degree of danger involved is such that escorting parents themselves are at
risk from the particular traffic situation.

For more information, please contact Peter Butcher, the Home to School Transport Officer.
Tel No.: 01495 355435