Alteration of Mainstream Secondary School Transport Qualifying Distance - updated May 2024
| Title | Alteration of Mainstream Secondary School Transport Qualifying Distance |
|---|---|
| Council Resource | Education |
| Aims and Objectives | The council currently provides mainstream secondary school transport where a pupil lives more than 2 miles from their catchment school (and mainstream primary school transport where a pupil lives more than 1 mile from their catchment school). The statutory responsibility of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 is to provide school transport for: • any child aged under 8 years who lives more than 2 miles from their catchment school, and; • any child aged 8 years and over who lives more than 3 miles from their catchment school. Given financial challenges faced by the council and increasing costs in respect of transport services, the council is undertaking a statutory public consultation to seek views on the proposal to alter the distance that a mainstream secondary school pupil must live from their catchment school in order to qualify for free school transport from more than 2 miles to more than 3 miles. Other aspects of the policy remain unaltered, for example, the allocation of transport on medical or ASN grounds, or any road safety concerns raised by parents would still be assessed by undertaking a safe walking route check. The provision of mainstream primary school transport and transport to ASN (additional support needs) bases and schools will continue as is, only a change to secondary school transport is being considered in this proposal. Budget savings options which are currently under consideration for financial year 2024/25, for Education Resources, total £7m. In addition, due to rising costs, the annual spend on mainstream school transport has grown from £6m in 2021/22 to a forecasted £10m in 2023/24, an increase of £4m (66%). Against the annual school transport budget, the overspend is currently approximately £4m and this issue is having to be managed within the existing total education annual budget. This proposal would help protect from further cuts that would impact on schools directly. Intended Outcome:- Given the financial challenges, if fully implemented, it is estimated that this proposal could save approximately £2m per annum and would assist with the continued protection of resources prioritised on frontline learning and teaching. It would bring secondary school transport provision into line with statutory levels and the majority of other councils. The consequences of this would be that less pupils will qualify for free school transport (estimated at around 2,000 pupils), meaning families would have to make their own alternative arrangements. |
| Conclusion | There is potential for some of the groups covered by the protected characteristics (age, sex (gender), disability and religion) to be negatively impacted by this proposal. This is due to the fact that: • the transport provision in question is only provided to young people of secondary school age. • there is recognition that, as women are the primary caregivers, this proposal will likely affect their ability to balance making alternative travel arrangements with maintaining existing work commitments or accessing opportunities to increase working hours. • some adults within families may have a disability potentially making it difficult for them to accompany their child to school if no longer entitled to transport on distance. High level analysis indicates no negative impact on religion. Consistent application of policy whether secondary schools are denominational or non- denominational. If approved, we will continue to monitor the impact on numbers of pupils affected across different schools. Given the current and prospective financial challenges facing the council, the proposal, if approved, would help protect against further cuts that would cumulatively directly impact schools and other educational establishments. It would assist in bringing the council more into line with our statutory responsibility and with the policy of the majority of other councils. This proposal only relates to the qualifying distance for free mainstream secondary school transport. Other aspects of the policy remain unaltered, for example, the allocation of transport on medical or ASN grounds, or any road safety concerns raised by parents would still be assessed by undertaking a safe walking route check. The provision of mainstream primary school transport and transport to ASN (additional support needs) bases and schools are not affected by this proposal. We have considered this proposal under the Fairer Scotland Duty. This proposal is not a new strategy, however, it is an alteration to an existing policy and we do recognise that it will have a socio-economic impact for those with a low income, including women being the primary caregiver, for example by having to balance making alternative travel arrangements with maintaining work commitments or accessing opportunities to increase working hours; and parents with disabilities making it difficult to accompany their child to school, if required, where no longer entitled to transport. We have listed below some initiatives that will help to mitigate this impact: • All secondary school pupils are eligible to access the Under 22 Free Bus Pass Scheme. • Council will engage with bus operators to seek any potential opportunity for them to increase or adjust public bus routes, making under 22 bus passes more accessible. • Council to promote wider active travel and independence for example cycle routes, walking groups (may also improve health and wellbeing and social interaction), park and stride, parent led group transport. • Priority 1 offering of privilege places (where dedicated school transport may have spare capacity) to support families where adults may have disabilities. Wider access to others thereafter. • Signpost families to supports available through other agencies for example benefit entitlement. • All factors giving rise to additional support needs fall into the four overlapping themes of the learning environment, family circumstances, disability or health need, and social and emotional factors. Monitoring information will be collected through e.g. SPT and Education HQ, Support Services. Liaise with schools and roads colleagues pre and post implementation. The public consultation closed on 15 March 2024. All views, including that of Education Scotland, have been considered. A final consultation report will be prepared and published, with the council making a decision thereafter. The conclusion of this impact assessment is that there is potential for one of the groups covered within the protected characteristic of age to be negatively impacted by this proposal. This is due to the fact that the proposal relates to secondary school pupils only. Within the protected characteristic of sex (gender), while this proposal is not focused on a particular gender of school pupils, we recognise it has the potential to bring a negative socio-economic impact to parents with childcare responsibilities, particularly women. For example, by having to balance making alternative travel arrangements with maintaining work commitments or accessing opportunities to increase working hours. Within the protected characteristic of disability, all pupils who currently receive transport on medical or ASN grounds will continue to do so, and we will continue to assess any new cases on an individual basis. However, it may be difficult for some adults within families to accompany their child to school, if required, if no longer entitled to transport on distance. All factors giving rise to additional support needs fall into the four overlapping themes of the learning environment, family circumstances, disability or health need, and social and emotional factors. Within the protected characteristic of religion, there is no identified impact at this stage when looking at denominational /non-denominational schools, however there will be a requirement to monitor the impact on numbers of pupils affected across different schools, (denominational and non-denominational), if the proposal is accepted and preparatory work is undertaken. There are potential mitigation factors such as by promoting and encouraging the uptake of wider active travel and independence for example cycle routes, walking groups (may also improve health and wellbeing and social interaction), park and stride, connecting parents who may wish to car share or operate parent led group transport, and where possible by accessing the Under 22 Free Bus Pass Scheme. The council will also engage with bus operators to seek any potential opportunity for them to increase or adjust public bus routes, making under 22 bus passes more accessible. Privilege transport policy will continue, (i.e. where dedicated school transport may have spare capacity), with priority 1 offering of privilege places to support families where adults may have disabilities and wider access to others thereafter. Continue to signpost families to supports available through other agencies for example benefit entitlement. |
| Completion date | 22 May 2024 |
| Contact Email address | equalities@southlanarkshire.gov.uk |