Contact

SEN Assessment Team,
PO Box 70
Municipal Offices
Smith Street
Rochdale OL16 1YD

Tel: 01706 925140
Email: SEN Assessment Team

External links

Transport policy statement for students aged 16 to 19

Background

The information in this statement sets out the Rochdale 16-19 Transport Partnership policy on post-16 transport for the academic year 2009/2010. 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 2009. 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 Local Learning and Skills Council, 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 £16,040 per year (2009/2010)

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 2009. 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 or Hopwood Hall College

Hopwood Hall 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 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).

If you have a disability and/or learning difficulty and attend a specialist residential college the local authority refunds the full cost of 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 £12.75 and a 28 day pass costs £44.63. The annual pass costs £470.00. 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 there is a further right of appeal to the Learning and Skills Council. You will be advised of how to contact them 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 2009. 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.