Education Act 2002

3E+WAfter section 509 there is inserted—

“509AA Provision of transport etc. for persons of sixth form age

(1)A [F1local authority] shall prepare for each academic year a transport policy statement complying with the requirements of this section.

(2)The statement shall specify the arrangements for the provision of transport or otherwise that the authority consider it necessary to make for facilitating the attendance of persons of sixth form age receiving education or training—

(a)at schools,

(b)at any institution maintained or assisted by the authority which provides further education or higher education (or both),

(c)at any institution within the further education sector, or

(d)at any establishment (not falling within paragraph (b) or (c)) which is supported by the Learning and Skills Council for England or the National Council for Education and Training for Wales.

(3)The statement shall specify the arrangements that the authority consider it necessary to make for the provision of financial assistance in respect of the reasonable travelling expenses of persons of sixth form age receiving education or training at any establishment such as is mentioned in subsection (2).

(4)The statement shall specify the arrangements proposed to be made by the governing bodies of—

(a)schools maintained by the authority at which education suitable to the requirements of persons over compulsory school age is provided, and

(b)institutions within the further education sector in the authority’s area,

for the provision of transport for facilitating the attendance of persons of sixth form age receiving education or training at the schools and institutions and for the provision of financial assistance in respect of the travelling expenses of such persons.

(5)Those governing bodies shall co-operate in giving the [F1local authority] any information and other assistance that is reasonably required by the authority for the performance of their functions under this section and section 509AB.

(6)The statement shall specify any travel concessions (within the meaning of Part 5 of the Transport Act 1985 (c. 67)) which are to be provided under any scheme established under section 93 of that Act to persons of sixth form age receiving education at any establishment such as is mentioned in subsection (2) above in the authority’s area.

(7)The authority shall—

(a)publish the statement, in a manner which they consider appropriate, on or before 31st May in the year in which the academic year in question begins, and

(b)make, and secure that effect is given to, any arrangements specified under subsections (2) and (3).

(8)Nothing in this section prevents a [F1local authority] from making, at any time in an academic year, arrangements—

(a)which are not specified in the transport policy statement published by the authority for that year, but

(b)which they have come to consider necessary for the purposes mentioned in subsections (2) and (3).

(9)The Secretary of State may, if he considers it expedient to do so, direct a [F1local authority] to make for any academic year—

(a)arrangements for the provision of transport or otherwise for facilitating the attendance of persons of sixth form age receiving education or training at establishments such as are mentioned in subsection (2), or

(b)arrangements for providing financial assistance in respect of the reasonable travelling expenses of such persons,

which have not been specified in the transport policy statement published by the authority for that academic year.

(10)The Secretary of State may by order amend subsection (7)(a) by substituting a different date for 31st May.”