Home to School and College Transport for Students of Sixth Form Age (Post 16)

Now 5 West Sussex College Principals call for a rethink of cuts to Post 16 student travel which is set to hit the poorest hardest.

Letter from 5 West Sussex College Principlals – 16-18 Bursary Fund

This week Members of West Sussex County Council Children’s and Young People Select Committee received a letter from five principals of further education colleges in West Sussex, pointing to the devastating effect of last months decision by the Tory Cabinet Member Peter Griffiths to remove travel support for young people over the age of 16 with family incomes of less than £16,190.

Though the letter is charitable about the ‘good faith’ of the council in assuming that support for the poorest students would be available from the 16-18 Bursary Fund, the five college Principals point out that FE colleges have a higher proportion of students with special needs who are guaranteed support, leaving almost nothing to support the transport needs of those families on low income.

Dr Colin Wilsdon, Lib Dem Spokesman for Children and Young People said:

“This is an example of a decision based on assumptions that were unsound that will seriously hit our most vulnerable students. Given that the Cabinet Member must surely not have intended this, I call upon him to reconsider this decision today to ensure that children from our poorest families are not deterred from gaining vital educational qualifications.” 

Deputy Group Leader Dr James Walsh added:

 “This powerful and well reasoned message from Northbrook College shows up the real harm that this cut will do to a whole generation of our students. It also vindicates the Lib Dem request for a call-in and re-examination by the Select Committee last month, which was rejected by the Tory chairman.”