Background
The information in this statement sets out the Rochdale 16-19
Transport Partnership policy on post-16 transport for the academic
year 2010/2011. The information in this statement is relevant only
for full time students who live within the Rochdale Borough Council
area and who were under 19 at the start of the academic year
beginning September 2010. This means that financial support will
continue to be made available to students who reach 19 whilst
continuing on a full time course.
We aim to show how transport is provided, what is provided, the
amount of financial support available and the eligibility criteria.
We also give advice on where and how to apply for any support, and
this may involve making references to relevant websites.
The funding to provide the support included in this statement is
from Rochdale Council, the Young People's Learning Agency, the
Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive, Connexions
and local schools and colleges with post-16 provision.
Collectively, these organisations comprise the Rochdale Post-16
Transport Partnership.
Learner Support Funds
The Learner Support Fund is to help students attending either
school or college who are, or whose families are on a low income or
in particular financial difficulty. If you get help from the Fund
you can use the money for transport or any other costs connected
with attendance at your course.
If you wish to apply for Learner Support Funds contact either
Student Services Section at the College that you are attending or
the Director of Sixth Form Studies at your school for further
details.
Financial support provided by the Transport Partnership
Rochdale Local Authority (LA)
Staying on at school or college is an investment in your future
and you can get some financial help with your transport costs.
The local authority will provide help with travelling
expenses if you live more than two miles from school or
college and your parents receive one of the following benefits
either:
- Income support
- Job seeker’s allowance (Income Based)
- Working tax credit and their income is under £16,190 per year
(2010/2011)
The amount of travelling expenses incurred is refunded at the
end of each term. Refunds are based on 40p per single journey even
if the actual cost is more. You can make an application for a
refund of travelling expenses from September 2010. Refunds are made
by
BACS
at
the end of each term, so it is necessary for you to have a bank or
building society account. Application forms are available from the
Access Team telephone 01706 925140 or email your full postal
address and enquiry to sen@rochdale.gov.uk
Students attending AS level and A2 level courses at schools in
the Rochdale Council area, Rochdale Sixth Form College or
Hopwood Hall College
Hopwood Hall College, Rochdale Sixth Form College and
schools in the Rochdale Council area are collaborating with the
provision of certain minority subjects. This means that although
you will be registered at a specific school or Hopwood Hall College
that on certain days your subject will be delivered in another
institution. On occasions when you are required to travel between
schools or college you will be transported to the school or college
and returned free of charge.
Students attending Colleges and Schools beyond the Greater
Manchester County area
There are no special arrangements for students attending schools
or colleges outside of the Greater Manchester County boundary.
Generally speaking students are not eligible for any lower fares on
bus services that cross the county boundary. However, if your
parent(s) receive any of the benefits mentioned in the paragraph
above, you can get a refund from the local authority of
40p for each single journey undertaken. You are also advised to ask
at the school or college that you attend about the provision of
subsidised school or college buses.
Students with disabilities or learning difficulties
The local authority provides transport free of charge
to school or college for students with disabilities and/or learning
difficulties in those cases where it is considered essential. This
provision is between home and the nearest school/college which can
address the particular needs of the young person. If a young person
chooses to attend a school/college with an equally suitable course
which is further away from home, then it is understood they will be
required to make their own travel arrangements to and from that
school/college.
If transport is provided this may involve the provision of
private hire vehicles or specialist vehicles. Any application for
concessionary transport of the kind will be considered by the
Access Team to establish that the provision of such transport is
necessary to enable you to travel between home and college.
Students in Year 11 at Redwood Secondary School or attending the
Post-16 provision at Redwood Secondary School may be provided with
independent travel training that will reduce the need to rely on
private hire vehicles. This training is related to home to school
travel and other educational provision including post-19 placement.
The training is provided during the school day with the consent of
parent(s). Over time such training will be extended to include
young people at other schools and sixth form colleges.
If you have a disability and/or learning difficulty and attend a
specialist residential college the local authority will
refund the full cost of off-peak public transport between home and
college at the beginning and end of each term and each half term
holiday. In some cases, the local authority provides
transport between home and the specialist residential college.
Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE)
Scholar’s Permit
If you are aged 16-19 and in full time further education at
school or college situated in the Greater Manchester area you
may be able to get a
GMPTE
Scholar’s Permit. This permit allows you to travel to and from
school/college at the standard concessionary fare (currently 80p)
inside Greater Manchester on buses and for half fare on trains and
the Metrolink tram.
The specified journey between your home and school or college
will be written on the permit. The permit can only be used on
weekdays before 6pm for the journey that is specified on it. You
can use your Scholar’s Permit to travel at other times, or between
other places for curriculum related studies, course related work
experience, and for medical appointments during school or college
hours by getting a Variance Voucher from your school or college.
You must present the voucher with your permit when you pay the
fare. If you do not have a Variance Voucher, stamped by your school
or college, you will have to pay the full fare.
The standard concessionary fare for each single journey is
currently 80p on buses. This means that if you catch more than one
bus to school or college you will pay 80p on each bus. On trains
and the Metrolink you will pay approximately half the adult fare.
When you buy your Metrolink ticket from the ticket machine on the
station, press the half fare button, not the concession button.
Remember, if you don’t have your permit with you when you travel
to school or college you will have to pay the full adult fare.
Application forms for Scholar’s Permits are available from
schools, colleges and
GMPTE
travel shops. The permit costs £5. If you lose it you will have to
pay £5 for a replacement.
System One Bus Saver Travel Cards (Young People and
Students)
If you make frequent use of bus services for journeys additional
to school or college travel you should consider The System One
Bus Saver Travel Cards. Information is available at the System One
website . You can get cheap fares on buses anywhere in Greater
Manchester if you are aged 16-21 by purchasing a System One Bus
Saver Travel Card for young people or students which are available
for either 7 or 28 days or for a full year. A 7 day pass costs
£13.50 and a 28 day pass costs £47.50. The annual pass costs
£500.00. Without such a pass you will pay the full adult fare on
any additional bus journey..
You can also use the System One Bus Saver Travel Cards up to the
age of 26 if you are attending a full time course at college or
university.
In addition users must have a System One 'Student' Photocard for
which a passport size photograph is required. You can obtain these
at any
GMPTE
Travelshop. Membership is free.
You can buy the System One Bus Saver Travel Cards from
GMPTE
Travelshops on bus stations and from Post Offices or ask at your
college if tickets are available there.
You cannot use the System One Bus Saver Travel Cards to pay for
journeys on the Metrolink tram or trains.
Disabled persons
If you are disabled, whatever your age, you may be able to get
free or discounted travel on buses, trains and the Metrolink or
travel vouchers which provide discounted taxi travel. For more
information please telephone 0161 242 6116 and ask for a
leaflet.
Complaints and appeals Process
If you wish to complain about or appeal against any aspect of
this policy or any decision made about an application for support
under the policy, you should in the first instance contact the Head
of Service, Learners & Young People Service, Rochdale Borough
Council, Municipal Offices, Smith Street, Rochdale OL16 1YD. If you
are unhappy with the response you receive you will be advised of
your further right of appeal along with the reply to your
initial complaint or appeal.
Maps
You can get maps of all bus routes, trains and Metrolink routes
from the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive
website. If you would like printed copies of a map to be sent
to you can telephone 0161 242 6040.
Details of bus, train and Metrolink
routes
Bus Services available to post-16 schools and colleges in the
Rochdale area
You can access the information via the
GMPTE
website and select Buses – School Services / Rochdale
Timetables.
The times of any services published are subject to alteration at
short notice in accordance with the requirements of the school or
college.
Public Transport Information
GMPTE
provide a whole range of public transport information, in fact all
the information that you will ever need to use Greater Manchester’s
public transport network.
The most immediate response is by telephone. The telephone
enquiry unit is provided jointly with the transport operators of
Greater Manchester and is staffed by local public transport experts
who have access to the most up to-date information.
Call them on 0161 228 7811 from 8am - 8pm seven days a
week.
If you need a written Timetable this is available from
Travelshops or request a timetable by telephoning 0161 242 6040
(you need to specify the timetable or bus route that you require).
You can also visit the
GMPTE
website. On the website you will find background information about
GMPTE itself and a Journey Planner which will help you plan your
journeys and provide you with a copy of the timetables you need
which you can personalise before you print them.
For even more detailed public transport route information, look
out for
GMPTE
’s
range of Maps. The range consists of a network map in 12 parts
covering the whole of the Greater Manchester County area in detail.
There is a city centre map showing the location of all bus stops
and which services use them, and also a high frequency map
detailing those routes across the county that have the most regular
service. Pick up your free maps from
GMPTE
Travelshops or by calling 0161 242 6040.
Greater Manchester Passenger Transport
Executive
The Rochdale Travelshop is located in Rochdale Bus Station and
is open as follows:
- Monday to Friday: 7am to 5.30pm.
- Saturday: 8am to 5:30pm
- Sunday: Closed.
All prices and values of financial support shown were correct
when this statement was published on 31 May 2010. Copies of this
statement can be found in local libraries and information
centres.
Travel Safe
Travelling on public transport is a safe activity on most
occasions, however the Greater Manchester Police offer this advice
to avoid putting yourself at risk from crime:
- Use timetables to plan your journey in advance to try to
minimise the amount of time you spend waiting at bus stops and
stations, especially at night.
- Avoid poorly lit areas such as footpaths, subways and
alleyways.
- Try to appear confident that you know your surroundings at all
times.
- If you are travelling alone let someone know how and where you
are travelling and contact them to let them know you have arrived
safely.
- Choose a seat in busy areas of the train, tram or bus. If there
are not many passengers, sit close to the driver or train guard.
Don’t be too proud to change seats if you feel uncomfortable.
- Keep your valuables out of sight, especially jewellery. Keep
your bags close at hand.
- Be aware of the people around you, where they are sitting or
standing and what they are doing.
- In the unlikely event that you are threatened or attacked,
don’t fight back, make as much noise as possible and run away, your
possessions can be replaced, your health and well being is much
more important. Report the incident to the police as quickly as
possible.
- If you are threatened on board a bus, tell the driver; on board
trains tell the guard or use the emergency handle. On Metrolink
trams use the emergency intercom.
- If you are using a private hire taxi, only use reputable
companies. Before getting in the taxi ask the driver to tell you
the name of the company and check the licence plate on the car.
Always sit in the back seat. If you have any doubt, don’t get in.
Never flag down a private hire car on the street. All journeys with
reputable private hire companies are booked in advance only.