Post-16 Transport Policy Statement 2025/26 - Children, families and education

Contents

Transport policy statement for young people aged 16-18 in further education, continuing learners aged 19 and those young people aged 19 – 24 (inclusive) with learning difficulties and/or disabilities

Introduction

Local authorities (LAs) do not have to provide free or subsidised post-16 travel support but do have a duty to prepare and publish an annual transport policy statement specifying the arrangements for the provision of transport or other support that the authority considers it necessary to make to facilitate the attendance of all persons of sixth form age receiving education or training.

All young people carrying on their education post-16 must reapply for travel support.

‘Sixth form age’ refers to those young people who are over 16 years of age but under 19 or continuing learners who started their programme of learning before their 19th birthday (years 12,13,14).

LAs also have a duty to encourage, enable and assist young people with learning difficulties or disabilities to participate in education and training, up to the age of 25.

This statement uses the term ‘Post-16’ to include both learners of sixth form age and those with learning difficulties or disabilities up to the age of 25.

This policy document specifies the support that Devon County Council (DCC) considers necessary to facilitate the attendance of post-16 learners receiving education or training.

Education or training refers to learning or training at a school, further education institution, a council maintained or assisted institution providing higher or further education, an establishment funded directly by the Department for Education (DfE), learning providers delivering accredited programmes of learning which lead to positive outcomes and are funded by the council, for example, colleges, charities and private learning providers.

Aims and objectives

Devon County Council has the following aims and objectives when assessing transport or travel support:

To provide a level of support for students to access post-16 learning and training at a sixth form, further education college or other learning establishment. This will be where doing so is necessary to enable continued learning because the student is unable to make their own arrangements.

The LA’s policy should be seen as safety net to facilitate access to continuing learning rather than as a universal entitlement.

Where provided, transport assistance will be through the most cost-effective means possible that is suitable for the young person. It will be one of the following:

Subsidised public transport pass.
Subsidised specialist transport, a contract vehicle commissioned by the LA.
A fuel allowance.
Access to a moped or cycle scheme.

Support will be from home to setting where this is necessary but will ordinarily be between designated pick-up and drop-off points.

Where there is no suitable public transport available to take you to a post-16 setting (a school or college), students can apply for a ‘vacant seat’ on a LA commissioned contract vehicle.

For students who are unable to travel by public transport or on a contract vehicle because of additional needs, the LA may be able to provide support for independent travel training.

Transport and travel support

Concessionary fares from public service providers

Public service providers in Devon offer reduced fares for children and young people. Using public transport with reduced fares may be a more cost-effective and flexible option for post-16 students.

Reduced fare options may also include use in the evenings and at weekends. Information about public transport is available by visiting Traveline South West’s website or by calling 0871 200 22 33.

Reduced fares on trains are also available with a rail card for young people aged 16 to 17. This gives a 50% discount. Information can be found on the National Rail website or by visiting the 16-17 Saver website.

Public service providers:

Axe Valley Mini Travel: 01297 625959
Buses of Somerset: 01823 211180
Country Bus: 01626 833664
Dartline: 01392 872900
First Dorset: 01305 783645
Hatch Green Coaches: 01823 480338
Oakley’s Coaches: 01752 729866
Plymouth City Bus: 01752 662271
Stagecoach Southwest: 01392 427711
Tally Ho Coaches: 01548 853081
Taw & Torridge: 01271 859533

Travel support from schools and colleges

Post-16 settings may operate their own schemes to support their students. This may be the most cost-effective and convenient option. LA assistance is not available where travel arrangements can be made through the sixth form or college.

Settings should be approached first by students and their families and their websites will be a useful starting point when making post-16 education choices.

Further education colleges:

Bicton College
Exeter College
Exeter Mathematics School
Petroc College (Barnstaple & Tiverton)
School Sixth Forms within Devon:
Bideford College
Colyton Grammar School
Coombeshead Academy (Newton Abbot)
Ellen Tinkham School (Exeter, special school)
Exmouth Community College
Ivybridge Community College
King Edward Vl Community College (Totnes)
Kingsbridge Community College
Mill Water School (East Budleigh, special school)
Newton Abbot College
Okehampton College
Pathfield School (Barnstaple, special school)
Queen Elizabeth’s School (Crediton)
Sidmouth College
South Dartmoor Community College (Ashburton)
South Devon UTC (Newton Abbot)
Tavistock College
Teign School (Kingsteignton)
Teignmouth Community School
The Ilfracombe Church of England Academy
The King’s School (Ottery St Mary)

Further education colleges in other LA areas:

City College Plymouth (Plymouth LA)
South Devon College (Torbay)
Duchy College (Cornwall)
Richard Huish College (Somerset)

School sixth forms in other LA areas, within Devon’s Relevant Area:

Brixham College
Budehaven Community School
Callington Community College
Churston Ferrers Grammar School Academy
Combe Dean School
Devonport High School for Boys
Devonport High School for Girls
Eggbuckland Community College
Hele’s School
Holyrood Academy
Launceston College
Lipson Co-operative Academy
Marine Academy Plymouth
Notre Dame RC School
Plymouth High School for Girls
Plymstock School
Plympton Academy
Scott Medical and Healthcare College
Sir John Hunt Community Sports College
St Cuthbert Mayne School
Stoke Damerel Community College
The Spires College
The Woodroffe School
Tor Bridge High
Torquay Academy
Torquay Boys’ Grammar School
UTC Plymouth

The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund

The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund provides financial support to help young people overcome specific barriers to participation so they can remain in education. There are two types of 16 to 19 bursaries:

A vulnerable bursary of up to £1,200 a year for young people in one of the defined vulnerable groups below:

In care.
Care leavers.
Those in receipt of Income Support, or Universal Credit in place of Income Support, in their own right.
Those in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit and Disability Living or Personal Independence Payments in their own right.

Discretionary bursaries which institutions award to meet individual needs, for example, help with the cost of transport, meals, books and equipment.

To be eligible for the discretionary bursary young people must be:

aged 16 or over but under 19 at 31 August 2025 or
aged 19 or over at 31 August 2025 and have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
aged 19 or over at 31 August 2025 and continuing on a study programme they began aged 16 to 18 (19+ continuing learners)
studying a programme that is subject to inspection by a public body which assures quality (such as Ofsted), the provision must also be funded by either a government funding agency or the LA.

Schools and colleges are responsible for managing both types of bursary. Young people who want to apply for support from the bursary fund should contact their chosen school or college to make an application.

The LA does not hold or administer either 16 to 19 Bursary.

More information about the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund.

Young parents – Care to Learn

For young parents under the age of 20, Care to Learn can help pay for childcare and related travel costs, up to £160 per child per week, while they are learning.

Care to Learn can help with the cost of:

childcare, including deposit and registration fees (a relative can be the carer for Care to Learn funding purposes but registered and living apart from the young parent and child)
a childcare ‘taster’ session (up to five days)
holding a childcare place over the summer holidays
taking the child to the childcare provider

Payments

Childcare payments go directly to the childcare provider. Before they can be paid, the:

childcare provider needs to confirm the child’s attendance
school or college needs to confirm that the young parent is attending the course

Payments for travel costs go to your school or college – they’ll either the young parent or arrange travel for them.

Attendance

Payments will stop if the:

young parent stops attending your course
course finishes
child stops attending childcare

Eligibility

Care to Learn is available if the young parent:

is under 20 at the start of the course
is the main carer for the child
lives in England
is either a British citizen or a national of a European Economic Area (EEA) country

and if the:

course is publicly funded (check with the school or college)
childcare provider is registered with Ofsted or the Care Quality Commission

Type of course

Care to Learn is only available for courses in England that have some public funding. This includes courses that take place in:

schools
school sixth forms
sixth form colleges
other colleges and learning providers, including foundation learning
a children’s centre

Young parents are also entitled to apply for an Under 19 Bus Only Ticket or those aged 19 and over can apply for the 19 – 25 card.

More information about Care to Learn.

Local Authority support for young people without special educational needs or disabilities

Devon County Council does not operate a universal assistance policy. There is an expectation that post-16 students will make their own arrangements to attend their settings, supported by their families where possible. This may involve access to a 16 to 19 Bursary to fund or part-fund transport costs.

Requests for assistance with transport will be considered by the LA on an individual basis by an assessment of need panel. Requests must make a case that it is not possible for arrangements to be made and this would be an insurmountable obstacle to continuing in education or training. The case must be made that the student:

cannot walk to and from the setting on distance or other grounds
has no access to private transport
cannot use public transport – on medical grounds or because there is no available transport or on financial grounds

LA support is limited to young people who are Devon resident for all or most of the time. This means they live within Devon County Council’s administrative area for most of the days when they will be attending the setting.

The following points apply:

Assistance with travelling expenses is available for one inward journey to school or college and one outward journey from school or college at the beginning and end of the official day.
Students must agree to comply with the code of conduct for Behaviour on vehicles and must sign the code before a ticket will be issued.
Transport is only provided from and to the nearest pick up point for public or contract transport.
The LA will determine the most appropriate travel arrangements. There will be a presumption in favour of shared travel arrangements. It will not be the LA’s responsibility to get a student to a pick-up point.
Where the journey time is lengthy or requires changes of vehicle as a result of the course chosen by the student, whilst assistance may still be offered, the parent will be responsible for managing that journey.
Students who move outside the area served by the LA part way through their course must apply to their new LA for assistance.
Transport is not provided for induction or taster days or work experience.
Transport is not provided for weekly or termly travel where a student lives away from home in order to study at an establishment beyond daily travelling distance.
The type of assistance that may be provided will be the most cost-effective for the LA and will be open to review (while it may be agreed to provide a financial allowance to a parent, should other students require support in the same area, it may become more cost-effective for the LA to offer vacant seats on a vehicle).

Contribution to LA costs required

Where the LA provides transport support for any post-16 student, there will be a contribution to costs, payable by the student or on their behalf.

For the 2025/26 academic year, this contribution is £800. A discount of £30 is applied where the contribution is paid in full. Payments can be made yearly, termly or half-termly. All young people are required to make the same contribution.

Reduction to contribution where a student lives in a low-income household

Students living in low-income households receive a reduction in their contribution.

Qualifying benefit	Evidence
Maximum Working Tax Credit	Full current year award statement
Universal Credit	Statement or Award Breakdown
Income Support (IS)	Letter confirming receipt of benefit
Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA)	Letter confirming receipt of benefit
Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (from the National Asylum Support Service)	Letter of confirmation
Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit	M1000 Award Notice
Child Tax Credit, provided a parent or carer is not entitled to Working Tax Credit and has an annual income (assessed by HMRC) not exceeding £16,190	Full current award letter
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)	Letter confirming receipt of benefit

Fuel allowance

The LA’s assistance will be in the form of a payment to the student or parent to cover the costs of providing their own transport where there is no public transport or LA commissioned transport available and it is expedient to do so.

This allowance will be net of the contribution that would be required and monthly in arrears.

Confirmation of attendance at the setting will be required.

Moped and cycle schemes

Wheels 2 Work South West operates to help young people to access work and training.

Local Authority support for learners with special educational needs or a disability

The transport requirements of post-16 students with special educational needs will be considered during the transitional planning process undertaken during years 10 and 11.

All students who have an education, health and care plan (EHCP) will have a Learning Difficulty Assessment (section 139a) in year 11 and, if staying on at school, this will be updated in their final year. Included in the Learning Difficulty Assessment is a section relating to transport.

The LA would expect to be consulted in the transitional planning process with regard to transport provision and parents are strongly advised to contact the LA to confirm that this has taken place.

The following points apply:

Where students have been placed at special schools or units by the LA, transport assistance will be provided in the same way as for pupils of statutory school age.
The eligibility criteria, as detailed above, will apply.
In cases where the student cannot walk to college, accompanied as necessary, because of his or her disability, transport will not be provided automatically.
Parents or students will need to submit an application form every year.
An exception to the upper age limit may be made where a student has been studying a specific course for those with learning difficulties and is required to attend beyond 19 in order to complete the course. Support would then continue only until the end of the academic year during which the student reaches their twenty-first birthday, provided that they remain on the same course at the same college.
A further exception is made for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities aged 19-24 attending an establishment funded directly by the Education Funding Agency (EFA), for example, Independent Specialist Providers for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, where a student is placed on a residential basis.
Payment of the required contribution applies equally to students with special educational needs.

Refunds

Contributions to costs are payable in advance. Should the young person no longer require assistance, there will be a refund of the contribution based on the remaining time before it is due to expire. Refunds are not paid for periods of less than a term.

Independent travel training

The LA offers additional help to young people through an independent travel training scheme (ITT). This may enable a young person to walk to and from their setting or to manage travel on public service vehicles. There is no charge for ITT.

Find out more about independent travel training.

Apprenticeships

Travel assistance is not provided to students undertaking work placements, apprenticeships or traineeships. In these circumstances, young people are advised to contact their employer or learner provider.

Those not in education, employment or training (NEET)

Travel assistance is not provided to young people who are NEET. Those students who are attending a post-16 education provider may seek additional support from the LA if transport could become a factor in them becoming NEET.

Local Authority support in other circumstances

In circumstances and where there is no closer, suitable provider for post-16 education, the LA will assist with transport to an establishment out of Devon. This may be the case where a student with an EHCP is placed at a specialist out of county provider.

Eligibility criteria for young people aged 16 to 19

See the Post-16 Education Travel Policy 2026 to 2029 for full details.

Assistance may be made available for post-16 young people who live in the Devon County Council administrative area and:

are under 19 on 31 August immediately preceding the start of the academic year
attend the nearest appropriate college for their post-16 education
live more than three miles from the college
are in full-time education

And where they provide satisfactory evidence to the LA that they have applied to their education setting for financial assistance, with details of

the level of support offered
the cost to them if they were to make the necessary travel arrangements
a medical condition or other circumstance that would prevent the parent making the necessary travel arrangements
their financial circumstances, for example, proof of receipt of means tested benefit
how transport is an insurmountable obstacle to attendance

The nearest appropriate college is the:

designated sixth form for the home address, or, where the designated secondary school does not have a sixth form
designated FE college for the home address
nearest sixth form or FE college

Eligibility criteria for young people aged 19 to 25 with an EHCP

See the Post-16 Education Travel Policy 2026 to 2029 for full details.

Assistance may also be made available free of charge for adults wholive in the Devon County Council administrative area, and

are aged between 19 and 25 on 31st August immediately preceding the start of the academic year
have an education, health, and care plan
attend the nearest suitable setting
are in full-time education
receive education at institutions either maintained or assisted by the Council and
providing further or higher education or within education sector; or
receive education or training at institutions outside both the further education sector,
and the wider higher education sector, but only where the Council have secured the provision of education or training at the institution in question, and the provision of boarding accommodation

The LA will have regard to:

the age of the adult
the nature of the route or alternative routes which the adult could reasonably be expected to take
what funding is available from the education setting – there will be an expectation that the learner or their carer has applied for all potential funding
whether there is a family member or carer willing to provide transport
whether the learner has a journey that cannot be undertaken on public transport or the learner has needs that means public transport is not suitable

Applying for LA transport support

Parents and students can approach the LA to request assistance when they believe that they are unable to make their own arrangements and either there is no assistance available from the college or the assistance that is available is not sufficient to enable the student to attend.

They should visit school and college transport or contact the Devon Customer Service Centre on 0345 155 1019 for a form to complete.

Requests for assistance should be made as soon as it is clear to the parent or student that assistance is required. This is likely to be in the late spring or summer term. There is no specific deadline although the earlier this is done in the summer term, the higher the probability that the request will be processed and the appeals procedure followed if necessary by the start of the autumn term.

Appeals

There are two tiers of formal appeal against a decision to withhold support from the LA:

A Transport Eligibility Officer Panel (TEOP) comprised of senior officers of the LA.
An appeal panel comprised of elected members of the LA.

Where students or their parents are unhappy with the decision about eligibility for assisted post-16 transport they should, in the first instance, contact the LA Transport Team on 0345 155 1019 and explain the problem fully.

The decision will be reviewed by a school transport officer and, if things can be resolved, this will be done as soon as possible. If not, an explanation will be provided.

If the parent remains unhappy they can lodge a complaint on the Devon County Council website or fill in a Transport Complaint Form (APP2) available from the School Transport Team.

Supporting evidence will be required, for example, a letter from a doctor to support a medical condition, or benefit evidence to support financial circumstances.

All information provided is treated in the strictest confidence. The complaint will be reviewed by a panel of officers and a letter will be sent to explain the panel’s decision.

Students and their families who remain unhappy can lodge an appeal to the Transport Appeals Committee, made up of elected members of the County Council.

More information about appeal arrangements can be obtained from the Clerk to the Transport Appeals Committee on 0345 155 1019.

Contact

Information is available anytime at school and college transport and through the Devon Call Centre on 0345 155 1019.

Information regarding colleges in neighbouring LA areas will be included in the post-16 transport policy statements from those LAs and from the colleges themselves. This includes the principal other LA FE colleges with students who are Devon residents: South Devon College and City College Plymouth.

Cornwall Council: Email transporteligibility@cornwall.gov.uk or call 0300 1234 222.
Dorset Council: Email dt@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk or call 01305 224537.
Plymouth City Council: Email school.transport@plymouth.gov.uk or call 01752 308770.
Somerset Council: Email transport@somerset.gov.uk or call 0300 123 2224.
Torbay Council: Email cstransport@torbay.gov.uk or call 01803 207688.

Concessionary fares, discounts, subsidies, passes or travel cards including any charges available for post-16 young people

Contact settings directly if not listed below and information should always be verified with settings in case of changes without notice.

Stagecoach South West Fares Schemes

The bus company provides comprehensive information on their website about student and education travel.

The 16-19 Railcard – a national scheme

This card offers discounted rail travel for young people.

Available to anyone aged 16 to 25.
Allows 1/3 off most rail fares across Great Britain, including Standard Anytime, Off-Peak, and Advance tickets.
Costs £35 for one year or £80 for three years (only available to those under 24 when applying).
Applications are made online at 16-25 Railcard website or in person at staffed rail stations.
ID and passport-style photo required. No evidence of study required.

The Devon and Cornwall Railcard – a regional scheme

This card offers discounted rail travel for young people who are residents of Devon (or Cornwall).

Available to anyone aged 16 or over.
Allows 1/3 off most rail fares across Great Britain, including Standard Anytime, Off-Peak journeys wholly within Devon and Cornwall.
Valid after 8:45 am on weekdays and anytime at weekends.
An accompanying adult also has 1/3 discount and up to four accompanying children aged 5 to 15 travel for £2 each.
Costs £13 a year.
Apply on the Great Western Railway website or at a staffed rail station.
Proof of address required.
ID and passport-style photo required. No evidence of study required.

Assistance from Devon sixth forms and colleges

Bicton College

0330 123 2523
transport@bicton.ac.uk

Bicton College works with the LA and Stagecoach to provide a bespoke transport service operating Monday to Friday during term time. Students can travel by bus, train, car, bicycle, or on foot.

College transport ticketing and travel management will be handled through the RideTandem app.

To qualify for college transport, a student must live more than three miles from the chosen campus. The cost of a travel pass will vary depending on who provides the travel pass to college due to different subsidies.

We have a bursary available to support most learners with the cost of travel, and if household income is below £25,000 per year, a travel pass will be fully funded through the bursary. Visit Financial support for students attending Cornwall College to see how bursaries can support students.

There are planned routes for students to use:

BC01 – Willand. Via Cullompton, Pinhoe and Cranbrook
BC02 – Matford Park and Ride. V
BC03 – Newton Abbot. Via Kingsteignton and Matford.
BC04 – Axminster. Via Honiton and Ottery St Mary
BC05 – Tiverton. Via Stoke Canon, Exeter city centre and Whipton

The College operates a Transport Assistance Scheme for non-residential students.

Full-time students over 16 and under 19 on 1 September
Further than three miles from College
Applications open in June 2025

16-18 Transport and Access to Education Bursary supports:

children in care
care leavers
young people 16-18 in receipt of Income Support or Universal Credit in his or her own right
young people 16-18 in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment and Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit in his or her own right.

Where the household income is less than £21,000, financial support is available up to £500 to support costs associated with study (including equipment). In additional students will also receive a travel pass where required. For other applications, financial support of up to £1200, including transport, is available.

16-18 FE Transport Bursary Fund supports students:

with a household income between £21,001 and £25,000 are eligible to have the full cost of their college travel pass paid by the transport bursary.
with a household income between £25,001 and £31,000 are eligible for subsidised transport, with a contribution of £250 payable by the student – this contribution can be made in termly instalments at £95 / £95 / £60 or in full.

Exeter College

01392 400100
bursary@exe-coll.ac.uk
travelscheme@exe-coll.ac.uk
Full information at Travel Support – Exeter College

Exeter College operates a subsidised travel scheme for use on public transport for full-time students who will be aged over 16 and under 19 on 1 September. Eligible students must live further than three miles from Exeter College.

Students who are offered a conditional place at Exeter College (and their first next of kin) and who meet the criteria above will be sent information on the scheme by the College over the summer.

Students who are interested in the scheme but have not received this information by the end of July should contact the College Travel Team.

Rail and non-Stagecoach bus fares

Household income	£50k+	£40k	£30 to £40k	£30k and below
Annual price (or pay by term as per below)	£743	£593	£278	Free travel
Term 1	£282.50	£232.50	£127.50	Free travel
Term 2	£282.50	£232.50	£127.50	Free travel
Term 3	£208	£158	£53	Free travel

Stagecoach Termrider fares

Household income	£50k+	£40k	£30 to £40k	£30k and below
Exeter Termrider autumn	£206.50	£156.50	£51.50	Free travel
Exeter Termrider spring	£206.50	£156.50	£51.50	Free travel
Exeter Termrider summer	£206.50	£156.50	£51.50	Free travel
South West Termrider autumn	£320	£270	£165	Free travel
South West Termrider spring	£320	£270	£165	Free travel
South West Termrider summer	£320	£270	£165	Free travel

Exeter Mathematics School

Lydia or Louise 01392 429020
enquiries@exeterems.ac.uk

Operates a flat cost subsidised travel scheme. This is £884 a year or £315 for the autumn, £325 for the spring term and £254 for the summer term.

Residential students pay the same as their journeys are longer if fewer.

The School manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund to support low-income families. Applications for this can be made either at the same time as the admissions application or later, providing funds remain. The Bursary can reduce the cost by 50% or 100%.

The School Travel Pass allows for one return journey on one particular route. This can include a feeder route to reach the main bus or train. The passes can be used at weekends and half terms.

Students could look to paying for journeys privately if this is cheaper and can also apply for the Exeter College network.

Petroc (Barnstaple)

01271 852422
studentservices@petroc.ac.uk

Petroc (Tiverton)

01884 235330
studentservices@petroc.ac.uk

The College operates the Petroc Transport Scheme for use on public transport for students who will be aged over 16 and under 19 on 1 September. Students must live further than three miles from the College

Students can apply for a Pass from June 2025 with information updated on the college website or by calling Petroc’s Student services Team. Evidence of income and travel costs is required.

To qualify for the Standard Bursary, household income must be below £35,000.

Parent or carer income is not considered for the Enhanced Bursary for:

students in care or care leavers
students receiving Income Support or Universal Credit
disabled students receiving ESA or Universal Credit and DLA or PIP

Support may cover bus passes, train travel, petrol costs, taxi fares (in exceptional circumstances).

In some rural areas, Petroc may operate minibus or shuttle services to help students reach campus. Availability depends on demand and location.

Petroc works with Stagecoach South West to offer discounted termly or annual bus passes.

The Travel Pass costs £648 for 2025-26 or, for students who qualify under the College Bursary scheme, will be free. The cost is reduced for students studying for 1 or 2 days a week. There is a £1 fee for the smartcard itself, paid to Stagecoach.

Students using Stagecoach buses, can purchase a North Devon Termrider Student ticket directly from Stagecoach.

Exemptions to the bursary policy can be considered on an individual basis and students are invited to discuss this with the College.

Devon sixth forms

All manage the 16-19 Bursary Fund which can be used towards travel costs. Where this is not sufficient to meet costs, parents can approach the LA for assistance. Some sixth forms operate limited transport routes themselves which require the payment of a financial contribution.

Students eligible for the 16-19 Bursary can apply to Devon County Council for the cost of school transport to be met from the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students. Please note this is not an additional payment but means that the cost of the student school transport pass is paid directly by the school and the 16-19 bursary grant is reduced by the relevant amount.

Bideford College

mail@bidefordcolege.org
01237 477611
The College manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

Colyton Grammar School

admin@colytongrammar.com
01297 552327
The School manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

Coombeshead Academy

transport@coombesheadacademy.org.uk
01626 201800 option 1
The Academy manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

Ellen Tinkham School

admin@ellentinkham.devon.sch.uk
01392 467168
The School manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

Exmouth Community College

admin@exmouthcollege.devon.sch.uk
01395 255660
The College manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

Ivybridge Community College

buses@ivybridge.devon.sch.uk
01752 69100
The College manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students. For students who do not live ‘in-catchment’, the College operates a number of bus routes for an annual fee, including from:

Buckfast
Diptford
Dartington
Harberton

Routes and timings are subject to review. The fee payable is £941 per year. This can be paid in instalments.

King Edward VI Community College

sixthform@kingedwardvi.devon.sch.uk
01803 869210
The College manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

Kingsbridge Community College

admin@kingsbridgecollege.org.uk
01548 852641
The College manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

Mill Water School

info@millwater.devon.sch.uk
01395 568890
The School manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

Newton Abbot College

info@nacollege.devon.sch.uk
01626 367335
The College manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

Okehampton College

admin@okehamptoncollege.devon.sch.uk
01837 650910
The College manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

Pathfield School

admin@pathfield.devon.sch.uk
01271 342423
The School manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

Queen Elizabeth’s

sixthformoffice@qe.devon.sch.uk
01363 778364
The School manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

Sidmouth College

enquiries@sidmouthcollege.devon.sch.uk
01395 514823
The College manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

South Dartmoor Community College

Enquiries@southdartmoor.devon.sch.uk
01364 654301
The College manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

South Devon UTC

info@southdevonutc.org
01626 240201
The College manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

Tavistock College

l.mabey@tavistockcollege.org
01822 614231
The College manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

Teign School

admin@teignschool.org.uk
01626 366969
The School manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

Teignmouth Community School

becky.gibbs@teignmouthschool.co.uk
01626 774091
The School manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

The Ilfracombe Church of England Academy

admin@ilfracombeacademy.org.uk
01271 869257
The Academy manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

The King’s School

rgerry@thekings.devon.sch.uk
01404 812982
The School manages the 16-19 Bursary Fund for its students.

Guidance from the Department for Education (DfE)

(Taken from DfE Post-16 Transport Policy Statement Template, within the Statutory Guidance)

DfE annual compliance checks

The DfE will conduct compliance checks from June onwards on all local authority post-16 transport statements. In order for a statement to be deemed compliant it must:

be available on the local authorities website
be clearly dated with the forthcoming academic year
have a working link to the web page housing it from the gov.uk postcode search
set out any arrangements available from educational institutions, including the 1619 bursary fund
set out any concessionary fares available from transport providers and other providers
detail the complaints process that a parent or young person should follow if they are not happy with the local authority’s decision

DfE will contact all local authorities with non-compliant statements and request that changes be made.

Frequently asked questions

Why isn’t post-16 transport free for everyone, in the same way as it is for school age pupils?

We expect local authorities to make reasonable decisions about what support should be available based on the needs of their population, local transport infrastructure and the resources they have available. It is, however, recognised that the cost of transport can be an issue for some young people and to help with this there is further support available. Information about what support is available locally is available from the local authority in their post-16 transport policy statement. The statement can be accessed on the LA website or through the postcode search at GOV.UK.

The Bursary Fund for 16-19 year olds has the flexibility to help meet transport costs for those young people who need this support most. You can find out more about the 16-19 Bursary Fund here.
In addition, most transport companies also give some kind of discount for young people such as discounted fares or subsidised travel passes.

Some education and training providers also provide subsidised or free transport for example college buses, and travel subsidies from private training providers.

What support is available for young people with special educational needs?

The post-16 transport duty also applies to young people with special educational needs aged up to age 25 (who have an EHC plan and started a course before their 19th birthday).

Local authorities’ post-16 transport policy statements must include specific arrangements for these young people to ensure they have the necessary support. The transport needs of young people with special educational needs should also be reassessed by their local authority when a young person moves from compulsory schooling to post-16 education so that the appropriate support is put in place in accordance with the LA’s post-16 transport policy.

How do the duties apply for people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) as they turn age 19?

The duty a young person is assessed under is dependent on when they started their current course. If a young person with SEND started the course before their 19th birthday then they are assessed under the 16-18 duty. If they have started a new course after their 19th birthday then they are assessed under the adult duty.

Young people will qualify for free transport under the adult duty where the local authority assesses that in order to attend education or training they require transport arranged by the local authority, such as a specialised vehicle or minibus.

If the young person’s requirements are a personal travel budget, mileage allowance or public transport pass then this does not need to be provided free by the local authority as they have not put the travel arrangements in place. However, in these circumstances the local authority has discretion to pay some or all of the travel expenses.

Young people can also receive free transport if they are attending institutions outside of the HE and FE sector and started after their 19th birthday in residential provision if the provision, boarding accommodation and transport were all arranged by the local authority. Again, in these circumstances the local authority has discretion to pay some or all of the travel expenses.

What support is available to young people who live in rural areas to get to college or another type of education provider?

It is the responsibility of local authorities to put in place transport arrangements to help young people aged 16 to 18 to access education or training, using funds they have available locally.

The transport provided by local authorities varies in accordance with local needs, for example it sometimes involves giving 16-18 year olds access to school transport or to bus travel for payment of a flat fee.

Most young people in rural areas have access to a discount or concession on local bus or train travel, either from their local authority or local transport providers. The government also supports local bus travel, including in rural areas, through the Bus Service Operators Grant.

Guidance makes it clear that local authorities need to look at the transport needs of those who live in particularly rural areas where the transport infrastructure can be limited.

Further sources of information

Associated resources (external links)

Sustainable transport

Sustrans is the leading sustainable transport charity that provides practical advice that can be passed on to parents and young people to increase confidence in walking and cycling.

Other departmental advice and guidance you may be interested in

Home to school travel and transport statutory guidance (for children of compulsory school age)
Guidance relating to home to school travel and transport for pupils up to the age of 16 and of compulsory school age is available from the Department for Education’s website.

Participation of young people statutory guidance
The purpose of this guidance is to identify the key responsibilities of local authorities in relation to raising the participation age and promoting the participation of 16- and 17-year-olds.