Free transport for 16-year-olds at school or college could be scrapped by Pembrokeshire County Council to make savings - with discussions with the college yet to be held.
Around 1,300 students – mainstream and additional learning needs – currently have free transport to schools and colleges, including Pembrokeshire, Carmarthen and Cardigan colleges.
It also includes students unable to stay at school to do A Levels after they lost their sixth forms from school – Ysgol Bro Gwaun and Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi.
The possibility of introducing a £1 each way charge for post-16 education students not receiving free school meals was highlighted during budget discussions last year.
Provision of the transport is discretionary and has the potential to save £400,000 from the £5.7million school transport budget for 2019/20.
The total cost for in 2018/19 was £962,000, a report to Thursday’s schools and learning overview and scrutiny committee states, including a £414,000 contribution from the college.
Of the 349 mainstream pupils using transport 18 per cent receive free school meals so charging will save £108,748 w3ith potential savings of £33,341 to be made from 107 additional needs students.
The council also recently agreed to charge the same £2 a day for all pupils using contracted transport to schools outside their catchment areas.
The committee will discuss the proposal at its meeting on November 28.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel