Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what consideration her Department has given to (a) travel time and (b) the availability of public transport for pupils travelling to secondary school when making decisions on (i) opening new and (ii) closing existing schools.

Home to school transport is a matter for the local authority. When publishing a specification for a new school in order to meet a need for additional places, local authorities will assess the transport needs of the pupils, including safe walking routes, transport infrastructure and journey times. Local authorities are also consulted on applications made to the Department to establish new free schools and are able to make representations about school transport should they wish to do so.

The decision on whether or not to close a maintained school is taken by the local authority. As part of this decision they must consider the implications for school transport. The local authority will also be consulted on any proposals to close an academy and will be able to make representations about school transport should it wish to do so. The Secretary of State will consider any representations made when making her decision.