Transport Assistance for 16-19 yr olds in FE

Herefordshire Council provides transport assistance to students who choose to further their education after GCSEs. Provision of transport assistance is based on the following conditions:

• Students must live more than 3 miles from the college they attend, and council tax for their home address must be paid to Herefordshire Council
• Students must be over 16 years old and under 19 years old on September 1st 2011.
• The Council can provide assistance if the student is attending a full time course (i.e. 15 hours or more per week) at the Herefordshire school or college that provides the course the student wishes to study, or if the student is attending a college to study a full time course otherwise unavailable at a Herefordshire school or college (an exception is made for students who attend Ludlow college from certain areas)
• Transport assistance is provided on condition that a £168 contribution is made towards the cost of transport each term.

Information on the Transport Application Process for Post 16 Students

Please apply for transport before the end of July.  We will reimburse if you decide not to go to College.

Students are required to apply for transport at the start f their course using the Post 16 Transport Application forms, these must be completed in full. (Reminders will be sent to Year 2 students).

• It is essential that you include your telephone number, mobile number and e-mail address as this will speed up the process if we do have to contact you if we have any queries with your application form.
• Please staple one term's payment (£168) to the application form.
• On completing your application form please send it directly to the College/Sixth Form you will be attending. All applications must be signed by an authorised signatory from the establishment you will be attending.
• It is the students' responsibility to collect their pass from the College/Sixth Form reception/student services once the application has been processed.
• Please state clearly on your application where transport is required from and to.
• Rail travel requires a photocard.  If not already in possession of a photocard, 1 passport sized photograph will be required.  Please submit with this application form to avoid delays in processing.  If you have a photocard please submit the photocard no. on the top of your form.
• First/Midland Red travel requires 4 passport sized photographs.  Please submit these with the application form to avoid delays in processing.
• Photographs are not required for any other form of travel.
• Please allow 28 days for processing your application form.  Please ensure that you apply for transport assistance before the end of July.
• No refunds will be made for any expenses incurred whilst awaiting for your travel permit.
• If you live outside Herefordshire and do not pay your council tax to Herefordshire County Council, you should apply to the council to which you pay your council tax in the first instance.  Please see the list of contacts below.  If your own council refuse you transport, please send a copy of the refusal letter from your council, together with the Herefordshire application form using the above procedures.

Payment

• £168 per term.  There is no reduced rate.  Please contact the college if you are in receipt of a low income, they will be able to advise you on claiming Educational Maintenance Transitional Allowance and/or the Learner Support Fund.
• Cheques or Postal Orders must be made payable to Herefordshire Council.  Please do not send cash through the post.
• Autumn term payments should be made with your initial application and handed to the College/Sixth Form you will be attending.  First year students will be provided with Temporary passes covering the first two weeks of term, by the college on receipt of applications wherever possible. 

Please ensure that the payment is stapled to the application form before sending it in to the college/sixth form to be attended.

Transport available

• Please see the Transport Routes into Hereford document for your nearest boarding point or local service provider.
• These routes are for students attending all the Hereford Colleges including Holme Lacy College.  Students attending their local School Sixth Form College will be allocated a space on existing school transport.
• On the majority of routes the bus/rail travel permits allow students to travel at any time during the day before 6.00pm Monday-Friday term time only.  Those routes which do not have this flexibility are marked on the 'college route into Hereford' information leaflet marked with an N.

For more detailed timetable information on local services into Hereford please see the following:

• Public Transport: http://www.herefordbus.info/
• National Rail Enquiries: 08457 484950
• Traveline: http://www.traveline.info/ 0870 2002233

Timetable booklets can also be purchased from Tourist Information Centres, libraries and some retail outlets.

Lost or stolen travel permits

Stagecoach - Goldrider passes.  All replacement passes will be charged at the full cost.  The price for the academic year 2011/2012 is still to be confirmed. 

Other service providers/contractors.  All other replacement permits are £10.00, please apply direct to Herefordshire LEA office.  Please note that British Rail passes are ordered direct from the train company and can take up to three weeks to arrive.  We will not reimburse the cost of the fares whilst you are awaiting your pass to arrive.

Transport on the grounds of Special Educational Needs

Those students who are attending courses specific to their needs are not expected to make any contribution until they are over 25 years of age.  Therefore the appropriate box should be ticked on the application form to indicate Special Educational Needs.

Students requiring a Herefordshire Council Concessionary Travel Pass should apply directly to the public transport department who can be contacted on telephone number 01432 260948.

Please note that the student will only qualify for free transport if they are attending a needs specific type course, students who have Special Educational Needs who are attending mainstream courses will not qualify for free transport.

Useful contact telephone numbers

• Hereford Sixth Form College: 01432 355166
• Herefordshire College of Technology: 01432 352235
• Herefordshire College of Art: 01432 273359
• Holme Lacy College: 01432 273359 
• The Minster College: 01568 613221
• John Kyrle High School & Sixth Form College: 01989 764358
• John Masefield High School & Sixth Form College: 01531 631012
• Kington, Lady Hawkins Sixth Form: 01544 230441
• Worcestershire County Council: 01905 728358
• Powys County Council: 01597 826000
• Shropshire County Council: 01743 254384
• Gloucestershire County Council: 01452 425387

Acceptable standards of behaviour are expected at all times.  Expect to pay fares if you are not in receipt of your travel permit, if travelling on a local service.