Home to School Transport Consultation

April 2023 update

This consultation has now ended.

In light of responses received to the consultation, officers reviewed options again and suggested a staged increase in the contribution rate. Devon County Council’s Cabinet, at their March meeting, reviewed the Officer’s report and all the consultation responses and resolved that the Education Transport Policy 2023-25 and the Post-16 Education Transport Policy 2023-25 be approved incorporating the changes as outlined below:

(a) that the level of parental contributions rise incrementally over the next academic years and the increase in contributions be effective from September 2023.

i.£690 in 2023-24
ii.£750 in 2024-25
iii.£800 in 2025-26

In order to give parents and young people as much notice as possible, it is proposed (subject to further consultation) that a contribution level of £900 apply for the academic year 2026-27

(b) that the increase in the level of parental contributions take place from September 2023;

(c) that future education transport policies be determined for three academic years at a time;

(d) that Cullompton Community College continue to be recognised as the catchment school for transport purposes in the Willand School catchment and not to recognise Uffculme School for school transport purposes; (see para 4.8 of report: EL-23-03 Education Transport Policy.pdf (devon.gov.uk)) and

(e) that Alphington Primary School, Exminster Community Primary School, Ide Primary School, and Kenn Church of England Primary School continue to be recognised and for Teign School, West Exe School, and Dawlish College be recognised as the catchment schools for transport purposes when the new Matford Brook Academy catchments are introduced and not to recognise Matford Brook Academy for school transport purposes ((see para 4.8 of report: EL-23-03 Education Transport Policy.pdf (devon.gov.uk))).

The full papers submitted to Cabinet and the minutes of Cabinet are available via: Agenda for Cabinet on Wednesday, 8th March, 2023, 10.30 am – Democracy in Devon (item no. 296)

Archived Information

The two Key Proposals under consultation only affect concessionary seat-users and post-16 passengers. The proposals do not affect children and young people who are eligible for free school transport. 

Introduction

The County Council currently arranges daily School Transport for over 15,000 children and young people.

Devon County Council provides free home to school travel for eligible children. The criteria to be entitled to free transport is available here: School and college transport – Education and Families (devon.gov.uk)

There is no statutory duty to provide transport for post-16 students which applies to all students over the age of 16 years of age, regardless of the education provision attended.

When a child or young person does not have a statutory entitlement to free home to school transport, sometimes we are able to offer transport through our concessionary seats scheme if they are available.  Concessionary seats are spare seats on school transport vehicles that are sold to pupils.

Currently Devon County Council charge £600 per annum (with a £30.00 discount if the full year cost is paid in full) for concessionary seat passengers and post-16 passengers.  This annual charge is a contribution towards the cost of the transport we provide.  The last time these charges were increased was in 2018 and we are now consulting on proposals to increase them from September 2023.

Devon County Council is consulting a wide range of stakeholders on these proposals and we would like to hear your views.  The changes, if approved, would apply to all new and existing passengers. Responses to this consultation will help to inform the Transport Policies being considered by Devon County Council’s Cabinet. The adopted policies and any changes will come into effect from September 2023. The charges will be reviewed annually based on inflation.

Key Proposal 1

Proposal to increase the contribution towards the financial costs incurred by Devon County Council in providing transport by increasing the charge for the use of spare seats by passengers without an entitlement – ‘concessionary seat passengers’ from £600 per annum to £800 per annum from September 2023. LAs are permitted to charge a contribution as part of the exercise of their discretion where a passenger does not have a statutory entitlement.

Key Proposal 2

Proposal to increase the contribution towards the financial costs incurred by Devon County Council in providing transport for post-16 passengers from £600 per annum to £800 per annum from September 2023.  LAs are permitted to charge a contribution as part of the exercise of their discretion where a passenger does not have a statutory entitlement.

The Transport Policy from September 2023 is proposed to also include:

Continued recognition of Cullompton Community College as the single catchment secondary school for the Willand School catchment area for the purposes of transport entitlement on catchment school grounds.

Continued recognition of Teign School, West Exe School, and Dawlish College as the single catchment secondary schools for the purposes of transport entitlement on catchment school grounds where a new catchment area is introduced for Matford Brook Academy.

Continued recognition of Alphington Primary School, Exminster Community Primary School, Ide Primary School, and Kenn Church of England Primary School as the single catchment primary schools for the purposes of transport entitlement on catchment school grounds where a new catchment area is introduced for Matford Brook Academy.