POST 16 STUDENT TRAVEL SCHEME
INFORMATION LEAFLET 2009/2010 ACADEMIC YEAR
Northumberland County Council provides free
student travel. This is available to full-time students attending
High School Sixth Forms and Further Education and Specialist
Colleges. Students are issued with a travel pass which allows them
to make a return journey to and from home to school/college during
weekdays and term time only.
To apply online please follow this link
http://forms.northumberland.gov.uk/AF3/an/default.aspx/RenderForm/?F.Name=GacLSRQ6eFa
If you are applying for the Post 16 Travel scheme online it
is important that you print off the Website Application
letter, this can be found by following this link
Post 16 Web
Application Letter
How much does the travel pass cost?
Providing the student meets the conditions
listed below, the travel pass is issued free of charge.
Who can receive assistance?
To qualify for assistance under the scheme
students must:
- Live in Northumberland
- Be attending a full-time course of study
(minimum 16 hours per week or 450 guided learning hours per year as
stated by Learning Skills Council).
- Live 3 miles or more from the nearest high
school or college
- Be under the age of 19 on 31st August
immediately preceding the start of the academic year (Students with
special educational needs may be eligible for support until they
are at least 21, providing that they are on a continuous course of
study).
Or if Northumberland County Council decide it
is the most suitable place of study for the course (taking into
account distance, access and the cost of travel).
We cannot help with travel if a similar (not necessarily
identical) course is available at a school/college to which it is
more suitable to travel.
What assistance will I get?
Northumberland Council provides transport in
the most cost effective manner related to a student’s
journey.
A travel pass for bus services will normally
be issued, however taxis, trains, or parental/student’s own
vehicles may be considered if they are the cheapest available
option. The decision on the transport allocation rests with
the County Council.
Students travelling to schools and colleges
within the county will be able to use a specific bus service
for their journey selected by Northumberland County Council.
Those who are travelling out of Northumberland will be issued
with a bus pass specific to one commercial operator. If a student
uses a service other than those stated by their travel pass they
are likely to be charged for using the service.
Students are expected to make their own way to
the nearest main pick up point. Feeder transport may be provided
where necessary.
A student with special educational needs can
be provided with transport if they have a specific transport
requirement which is specified in the statement of special
educational needs and is supported by a referral from their
Connexions Advisor.
When can I apply for transport support?
Students are strongly advised to return their forms as soon as
possible to ensure that they are processed before the beginning of
the academic year. They may be submitted before exam results are
known, however forms will not be considered without an official
stamp from their place of study proving enrolment. If there is a
change to the information on the application form then you should
contact the Integrated Transport Unit at County Hall on 0845 600
6400.
Application Timetable
- The scheme will open for applications in June 2009. Students
can apply for the transport provision for the year between June and
October half term. If the student applies for transport between
these dates and they are eligible for transport, we would arrange
and fund their transport for the rest of the academic year.
- Applications received after October half term will be
processed, but students would not be allocated transport until Term
2 begins in January, and will be allocated transport for terms 2
and 3 only. There will be no reimbursement of costs in the case of
late applications.
- The scheme will open again from Christmas until February half
term. If the student applies for transport between these dates and
they are eligible for transport, we will arrange and fund transport
for the rest of the academic year. There will be no reimbursement
of costs in the case of late applications.
- Applications received after February half term will be
processed, but students would not be allocated transport until Term
3 begins in April, and will be allocated transport for term 3 only.
There will be no reimbursement of costs in the case of late
applications.
- The scheme will close completely after Easter holidays.
Students are responsible for any fares incurred before the pass
is issued and up until 15 working days have elapsed from the date
of reciept of the application form by the I.T.U.
Appeals
If you are refused free transport you will be sent a letter
advising you of the reason for the refusal.
If you do not agree with the reason for refusal because you
believe your personal circumstances have not been considered you
can write a letter outlining your case to the School Organasation
Manager, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF within 10
working days of the reciept of the refusal letter date.
If you still disagree with the Local Authority decision you may
appeal to an independent panel.
Further Information
For further information about this scheme, or to request an
application form, please contact the Integrated Transport Unit, on
0845 600 6400 or email
Post16Transport@northumberland.gov.uk.
Alternatively you can write to Transport Network Team,
Integrated Transport Unit, Community & Environmental Services
Directorate, County Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, NE61 2EF.
