Transport Protocol

This policy pertains to transport for Chweched Powys Sixth Learners who need to access educational provision at Chweched Powys Sixth or partner centres other than their home centre, during the school day.

This is not a home to school transport policy.

Reviewed December 2022

Powys Post 16 Transport Policy Statement 2023/24

Transport policy statement for young people aged 16-19 in (full-time) further education.

Responsible Partners: Centres within the Chweched Powys Sixth and Powys County Council Passenger Transport Unit.

This policy is jointly owned by Schools Service and School Transport.

Document first release: December 2022

  1. Policy Statement and Objectives

Chweched Powys Sixth has developed this transport policy to enable all Learners to access a diverse curriculum offer whilst overcoming logistical and financial barriers.

Although Post 16 transport is discretionary, Chweched Powys Sixth is committed to providing appropriate in-day transport to all Learners who meet the Chweched Powys Sixth entry requirements.

Arrangements for Post 16 transport are reviewed annually and ratified by the Chweched Powys Sixth Strategic Management Board, in conjunction with Powys County Councils Passenger Transport Unit.

Chweched Powys Sixth’s transport policy supports travel by promoting a safe and sustainable transport system to assist with access to education.

This policy only pertains to transport of Learners who, for curriculum reasons, need to access provision during the school day at Chweched Powys Sixth or partner centres, other than their home centre. Home to school transport is not covered by this policy, and can be found by clicking here: Home to School Transport Policy.

  1. Chweched Powys Sixth centres:

North Powys:

  • Ysgol Bro Caereinion
  • Ysgol Bro Hyddgen
  • Ysgol Llanfyllin
  • Llanidloes High School
  • Newtown High School
  • Welshpool High School

South Powys:

  • Ysgol Calon Cymru
  • Ysgol Maesydderwen
  • Brecon High School
  • Crickhowell High School
  • Gwernyfed High School

Special Schools:

  • Brynllywarch Hall School
  • Ysgol Cedewain School
  • Ysgol Penmaes

Partner centres:

  • NPTC Group of Colleges – Newtown and Brecon
  • Powys Health and Care Academy
  • Black Mountains College
  • Cambrian Training
  • Mudiad Meithrin
  1. Eligibility:

Eligibility for travel between Chweched Powys Sixth centres is for all Learners who meet the Chweched Powys Sixth entry requirements:

  1. Must be over 16 years and under 19 years of age on 1st September
  2. Are a full-time Learner at Chweched Powys Sixth centres, or partner centre
  3. Need access to a course delivered at another Chweched Powys Sixth centre or partner centre which is not their home centre. 
  1. Limitations:

Chweched Sixth Powys Transport will only be provided to Learners for educational purposes to access learning at a Chweched Powys Sixth centre or partner centre that is a viable option within the travel time available (usually within the same region of the home centre, i.e. north or south). Transport will not be provided for other purposes, including but not limited to:

  1. social visits
  2. attending a before or after-school club
  3. revision sessions
  4. attending non-educational visits or residentials
  5. independent study that could be reasonably conducted from the Learner’s home centre

 

  1. Modes of transport:

The Passenger Transport Unit will decide upon the most appropriate, cost effective form of travel to be provided. However, this will be reviewed regularly and the mode of transport may differ or change accordingly.

The transport method may be via approved private taxi, which will collect and return Learners to their home centre site. Learners may also be expected to use existing school or public transport services that operate locally, if the timings of these routes are suitable.

The organisation and administration will be carried out by the Passenger Transport Unit in collaboration with Chweched Powys Sixth centres.

Arrangements will be made around individual Learner’s timetables to minimise the impact on lost learning time.

  1. Scheduling:

Transport will be provided between the Learner’s home centre and other appropriate Chweched Powys Sixth centres.

Timings of the transport will attempt to minimise the impact of lost learning time and will ensure, in so far as it is reasonably practiable to do so, equitable access for Learners regardless of their course choices.

To achieve this, schools will need to work closely with Powys County Council Passenger Transport Unit to determine realistic travel routes between centres for Learners to access their programme of study. Schools are responsible for notifying Powys County Council Passenger Transport Unit of their transport requirements for the following academic year.

Centres may also need to make amendments to their afternoon session timings to provide face-to-face learning that is equitable. This will be arranged on an individual basis, and subject to demand.

  1. Charges for Travel Assistance:

Although transport is discretionary, Chweched Powys Sixth and Powys County Council are committed to removing barriers to learning and therefore do not charge Learners for this discretionary service.

  1. Travel Passes:

Travel passes will be issued to Learners who require in-day travel assistance. Travel carried out prior to the pass being issued will not be authorised or paid for under the terms of this policy. This applies to both Learners and Chweched Powys Sixth centres.

Learners are responsible for the safe keeping of their travel passes and must present them when traveling between centres.

Learners will be issued with a Travel Pass to be used specifically on Chweched Powys Sixth Transport Services. Learners will be asked to present their pass to the driver to scan to enable the Council to monitor usage of the service to ensure that the appropriate size of vehicle is used. 

  1. Learners who live outside Powys but are full-time Chweched Powys Sixth Learners:

Chweched Powys Sixth in-day transport policy is available to Learners living outside of Powys to travel between Chweched Powys Sixth and partner centres,, provided they meet the  eligibility criteria  outlined in this policy.

  1. Learner standards of conduct:

Learners are expected to show maturity and independence during their Post 16 studies. As such, high standards of conduct are required when being transported to access learning. These standards of behaviour are no different to those outlined in the Chweched Powys Sixth handbook.

If Learners have any concerns, they must speak directly with the Sixth Form Lead at their home centre and work to resolve them in a calm and respectful manner. The same expectations are required of parents and carers too.

  1. Safeguarding:

In the interests of safeguarding, all Chweched Powys Sixth learners have access to in-day travel support where it is required to access learning at other Chweched Powys Sixth centres. Learners, parents, carers and Chweched Powys Sixth centres need to be clear that travel assistance to access learning in centres other than the home centre is arranged and provided by Powys County Council Passenger Transport Unit, and not by private arrangement.

  1. E-sgol face-to-face sessions:

Learners who choose to study online courses delivered through the medium of E-sgol are entitled to a face-to-face learning session once every six weeks.

Transport will be provided for these face-to-face sessions in accordance with the arrangements set out in this policy.

  1. Concerns about Chweched Powys Sixth transport:

If you have a concern regarding Chweched Sixth Powys transport, you are advised to try and resolve it informally by speaking with the Chweched Powys Sixth home centre in the first instance.

If you feel that your concern is still unresolved after this stage, you have the right to make a formal complaint.  Please click here to access the Comments, Compliments and Complaints pages on the Councils website to do so.

(This protocol is one within a series of protocols and should not be considered in isolation. Protocols may be reviewed and are subject to change)