Free school transport for Honiton Community School

For the academic year 2018-19:
In total 16 students attended Honiton Community School from Awliscombe and 15 had free transport.

Question 1: What criteria was used for all 16 broken into separate groups e.g. Distance/Dangerous route/Disability etc.
Number of children recorded as receiving transport on distance grounds = 7
Number of children recorded as receiving transport on “unavailable” route grounds = 11

We should clarify that in collating information for this FOI request anomalies were found in terms of the “reason” codes allocated to individual students.

Question 2: Why was 1 student denied free transport

Records are not kept of reasons for refusal and we therefore do not hold this information

Question 3: What are numbers between Taxi and Bus and why is a taxi used

Loadings indicate that of 18 students travelling in October 2018, 3 travelled on TRIP and 15 travelled on the bus. 7 other passengers from outside Awliscombe also travelled on the bus.  Disclosure of the reasons why a taxi is used may relate to an individual’s personal circumstances and therefore their own personal information.   As this is would potentially identify the individual or individuals concerned this would be a breach of the first data protection principle and this information is therefore exempt from disclosure pursuant to s. 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Question 4: Why is ‘TRIP’ used for some students but the remainder use a bus, this can’t be economic or environmentally friendly, 2 vehicles covering the same route

Loadings in October 2018 indicated that the bus did not have the capacity to cater for all children from Awliscombe/Broadhembury area. Routes are reviewed as passenger numbers change on a regular basis

For the academic year 2019 – 20:
In total 31 students attended Honiton Community School from Awliscombe and 21 had free transport.

Question 1: What criteria was used for all 31 broken into separate groups e.g. Distance/Dangerous route/Disability etc.

Number of children recorded as receiving transport on distance grounds = 11
Number of children recorded as receiving transport on “unavailable” route grounds = 14

We should clarify that in collating information for this FOI request anomalies were found in terms of the “reason” codes allocated to individual students.

Question 2: Why are 10 students denied free transport

Records are not kept of reasons for refusal and we therefore do not hold this information.

Question 3: What are numbers between Taxi and Bus and why is a taxi used

Loadings in November 2019 showed 4 students travelled on TRIP, 18 travelled on the bus. 7 other passengers from outside Awliscombe also travelled on the bus. In relation to the taxi, please refer to our response above.

Question 4: Why is ‘TRIP’ used for some students but the remainder use a bus, this can’t be economic or environmentally friendly, 2 vehicles covering the same route

Loadings in November 2019 indicated that the bus not have the capacity to cater for all children from Awliscombe/Broadhembury area. Routes are reviewed as passenger numbers change on a regular basis