Peterborough City Council - Mainstream school transport

Mainstream School Transport

Free School Transport for pupils who are under 15 on or before 31 August 2008.

To qualify for free school transport your child must live in the Peterborough City Council area and fulfil all of the following criteria:

Attend the nearest or designated school, which had places available at the time of application.
Live beyond the specified walking distance - 2 miles for primary pupils and 3 miles for secondary pupils.
The child is at least in the school year in which he/she will attain his/her fifth birthday.

The designated school for transport purposes is the school identified in the Guide for Parents on Admissions to Primary and Secondary Schools. These booklets are published annually and are available from The Department for Education and Children: Tel: 01733 863970.

Denominational Transport

Denominational transport for pupils who are 15 or under on or before 31 August 2008.

Is my child eligible for subsidised transport?

St John Fisher Application Form

The Kings School Application Form

Sacred Heart RC Primary School and St Thomas More RC Primary School Application Form

To qualify for subsidised transport your child must meet the same criteria as free transport AND:

Attend the nearest denominational primary or secondary school: which had places available at the time of application.
Be a baptised member of the denomination of the school she/he is attending:*
Attend the school for genuinely religious reasons and have a written statement confirming this from your Minister of religion or confirmation from the school:
Live beyond the specified walking distance from the school, which is two miles for primary school pupils and three miles for secondary school pupils. This is measured on the shortest unimpeded walking route:
The child is at least in the school year in which he/she will attain his/her fifth birthday.
Be able to complete the journey in 45 for primary pupils and 75 minutes for secondary pupils.

* For The King's School:

Have been admitted to the school under one of the following criteria:

A1- Looked After Children whose parents/carers are worshipping members of the Church of England
A3 Children of worshipping members of the Church of England including those worshipping at the Cathedral
A4 Cathedral choristers
A5 if their sibling (who should be in attendance at the school at the time of the closing date for applications) was admitted under one of the above three criteria currently numbered A1/A3/A4.

Is my child entitled to free denominational transport?

Free transport is available for your child if she/he meets the criteria listed above AND:

Attends St Thomas More RC Primary School or Sacred Heart RC Primary School
Your family is receiving Income Support or Income-Based Job Seeker's Allowance; OR · She/he has a brother or sister for whom you are paying a contribution for transport to denominational schools or for post 16 transport (only one contribution is made per family).

If you do not meet the above criteria and your child is entitled to free school meals, or your family is in receipt of their maximum level of Working Tax Credit you will need to complete a different application form (Transport Application for Low Income Families) applies to secondary aged pupils only.

Discretionary Transport

Discretionary Transport Application Form

Discretionary Transport for pupils who are 15 or under on or before 31 August 2008.

In certain cases, pupils and post 16 students who do not qualify for free or denominational transport may be allowed to travel on existing buses contracted by the City Council, if seats are available. Passes are issued strictly on a "first come, first served" basis and the City Council cannot guarantee to give advance warning if seats are no longer available at the commencement of each term. The issue of a pass for one term does not guarantee the issue of subsequent passes. Payment must be made prior to the commencement of each term's travel.

Payment will not be accepted in installments (other than those specified) and must be made prior to the commencement of each term's travel.

Discretionary transport is NOT available on all services contracted by Peterborough City Council.

Transport for Low Income Families

Is your child entitled to free school meals, or are you in receipt of your maximum level of Working Tax Credit? (Proof will be required with this application form)

Low Income Application Form

If so you may qualify for free school transport to one of three nearest suitable secondary schools which is more than two miles and less than six miles (measured by the shortest available walking route)

to a secondary school which is more than two miles and less than fifteen miles from the family home if that school has been selected because of a *religion or **belief.

Once eligibility has been confirmed on low income grounds, the pupil will be eligible for the whole of the academic year in which they are awarded transport assistance. Parents have a duty to inform the local authority of a change in their circumstances, as this may affect any free transport provision.

Definitions:

*Religion:Those religions widely recognised in this country, such as Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Rastafarianism, Baha'is, Zoroastrians and Jains. Denominations or sects within a religion can be considered as a religion or religious belief, i.e. Catholicism or Protestantism within Christianity.

** Belief:Equates to conviction e.g. Humanism and Atheism.

How can I pay?

You must enclose payment with application form, as we cannot issue a pass until payment has been made. You may send a cheque or a postal order made payable to Peterborough City Council. Please do not send cash. If you wish to pay by credit/debit card please contact the Integrated Passenger Transport Unit on the telephone numbers as below.

Free Transport - If you are applying for free transport because your family is receiving Income Support or income based Job Seeker's Allowance please provide documentary evidence of receipt of benefit. You may obtain a letter from the Benefits Agency or bring evidence of receipt of benefit to Passenger Transport:

Address	Integrated Passenger Transport Unit 3rd Floor Midgate House Midgate Peterborough PE1 1TN
Telephone	01733 317455 / 317457 / 317466