Summary of main objectives
The Post-16 Travel Policy Statement for 2022-23 provides information on the travel options available for Post-16 mainstream students resident in Bath and North East Somerset.
In an effort to reduce reliance on private car use and help develop the necessary skills for adult life, young people are actively encouraged and supported to travel independently to school/college or their place of work.
All Local Authorities in England have a duty to prepare and publish an annual Transport Policy Statement which complies with the requirements of section 509 of the Education Act 1996 as amended by Section 83 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 regarding adequate provision of transport to facilitate the attendance of learners of sixth form age. The Transport Policy Statement describes the transport support available to young people aged 16-19 years.
Travel support options available to 16-19 students
The travel support options available to all students aged 16-19 in learning or training are as follows:
Sixth form students attending Bath and North East Somerset schools may be able to purchase a concessionary place at a subsidised rate of £480* per annum (price as at September 2022) providing spare seats are available. Fare paying seats are available only at the beginning and end of the school day. The application form and scheme conditions are available on our website.
First Bus Student Tickets: Students may purchase discounted travel tickets from the First Bus Group. A number of student saver tickets are available. They usually require a student photocard.
Students may apply for a 16-25 Student Railcard.
There is also travel assistance available for young learners from families on low incomes, and for young parents. Expand the sections below to find out more.
Young learners aged 16-19 attending further education or training may be eligible to receive financial support under a government scheme called the 16-19 Bursary Fund. The Bursary Fund can help pay for essential education-related costs including travel costs. Schools and colleges are responsible for awarding bursaries and verifying eligibility of students. Institutions are free to determine the assessment criteria for eligibility for bursaries awarded on a discretionary basis. Vulnerable students, such as those in care, care leavers, young people in receipt of Income Support or Universal Credit and disabled students in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance, or Personal Independence Payments, are eligible for a bursary up to £1,200 for a full academic year.
Students are advised to contact their school, college or training provider’s Student Support Services to see if they are eligible to receive a 16-19 Bursary Fund/financial help. Contact details for education providers are set out below. You can find out more about the Bursary Fund on the GOV.UK website. We do not administer the Bursary Fund.
Young parents may be eligible for support with childcare and travel costs, and learning providers are encouraged to support young people to >apply for Care to Learn (C2L). You can find out more on the GOV.UK website.
How and when to apply
Post-16 students attending further education colleges are advised to contact the individual college concerned at the earliest opportunity to find out the full details and terms and conditions of the transport concessions on offer.
Bath College
City Centre Campus, Avon Street, Bath, BA1 1UP
Somer Valley Campus, South Hill Park, Radstock, BA3 3RW
Email: enquiries@bathcollege.ac.uk
You can find details of public bus and rail services, park and ride options, as well as the cost of college buses on the Getting to college page of the college website.