Now there's another wrinkle to add to the complexity which arises out of the changing education landscape of academies and colleges. Basically, some types of school can now set or extend their own catchment areas unilaterally. This means that children who otherwise would have gone to one school can now apply to attend another. Such changes can have consequences in terms of the bus leasing arrangements which then need changing, and then more importantly who pays for the additional costs of the transport to the newly "available" school.
This came up at the Children's Committee of the County Council today. The main point is to make sure parents understand that there is this potential issue and that the change or choice of school might not automatically bring with it county-council funded transport. 
It gets even more complicated for something like the University Technology College at Long Road (of which I'm proud to be a governor) because there can be one child attending who is under 16 and therefore eligible for county council transport subsidy, and an older child also at the school who is not. I've had to intervene to try to get this sorted out with help from the county in the past.
I've asked that the council really makes sure that parents in these situations understand the county position early in the process.
No comments:
Post a Comment