Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of ending free school transport at 16-years old on the number of students continuing to study to age 18; and what estimate she has made of the quantum of costs per student for people aged over 16 not able to use free school transport.

The Department for Education’s latest participation figures suggest that the cost of travelling to education or training is not deterring young people from participating post-16. At the end of 2016, the proportion of academic age 16 and 17-year-olds (those young people under a duty to participate) in education or an apprenticeship rose to 91.1% - the highest level since consistent records began in 1994.

The statutory responsibility for transport to education or training for 16 to 18 year olds rests with local authorities and they are expected to make appropriate decisions bearing in mind local circumstances.

While arrangements made by authorities do not have to include free or subsidised transport, most young people do have access to a discount or concession on local bus or train travel, either from their local authority, transport provider, school or college. The £180 million 16 to 19 Bursary Fund is available to help disadvantaged young people to access education and training, and is often used to help with transport costs.