Mainstream School Travel Assistance Policy

This policy applies to all

• Community, foundation or voluntary schools;
• Community or foundation special schools;
• Non-maintained special schools;
• Pupil referral units;
• Alternative provisions and or Alternative provision academies
• Maintained nursery schools; or
• City technology colleges (CTC), City colleges for the technology of the arts (CCTA) or academies, including free schools and University Technical Colleges (UTC);
• Academies.

This policy does not apply to students attending independent and private schools.

4.1 Primary

The City Council will provide free school travel assistance for a child if they live within the boundaries of Peterborough Unitary Authority (i.e. the family’s council tax is paid to the City Council) and the nearest suitable school (nearest school may be in another local authority area)at which the child is registered is not within walking distance of home, measured by the shortest walking route, being:

• More than two miles for primary children up to and including year 3 (age 8) and
• Three miles for primary children in years 4, 5 and 6 (ages 8 to 11).

Primary school children from low-income families qualify for free school transport if they:

• Are aged 8 to 11 year
• Go to their nearest suitable school, and live more than two miles away from school.

*For the definition of low-income families see section 4.6 and Appendix 2.3.

4.2 Secondary

The City Council will provide free school travel assistance for a child if they live within the boundaries of Peterborough Unitary Authority (i.e. the family’s council tax is paid to the City Council) and meet one of the following criteria:

• The nearest suitable school at which the child is registered is not within walking distance of the child’s home, i.e. more than three miles for secondary children measured by the shortest available walking route.
• Where the child lives further than the maximum distances referred to above and is registered at the designated school (as designated by the City Council for transport purposes) measured by the shortest available walking route.
• Where the school attended is not the nearest suitable school (or designated school (as designated by the City Council for transport purposes) from the child’s home address, and is further than the qualifying walking distances (referred to above), and the Admissions Team can confirm that at the time of transferring to the school there were no available places at the designated school or at any school nearer to the child’s home.

General Information relating to Admissions and Transport Assistance

• Parents who intend to apply for travel assistance are to list their nearest and/or catchment school on their school admissions application as one of their preferences. Information regarding which school is your catchment/ nearest can be found on the Admissions page on the Peterborough Council website. If parents do not include their nearest school as one of their preferences when applying for a school place, there will be no transport entitlement to any school.
• If you live in a rural area within Peterborough and your child’s catchment/nearest or designated school within Peterborough is oversubscribed. Please check neighbouring authority schools. For the purposes of school transport there may be a nearer school in a neighbouring authority.
• On-time Transitions applications - For every child that applies by the statutory deadline an offer will be made on National Offer Day. If a place cannot be offered atone of your preference schools, The Admissions Team will allocate the next nearest school with space available and you will be eligible for transport to that allocated school if you put your nearest school/designated school as one of your preferences .If parents later refuse that space and apply to a school that is further away, there will be no transport entitlement.
• For late transition application and in-year applications- If you apply after the deadline, your admissions application will be considered within the next allocation of school places after your application is received. If there are no spaces at the nearest or designated school and your child is directed to the next nearest school with spaces, if the offered school is over the statutory walking distances there will be an entitlement to transport.
• Where a child has been directed to a school as neither their catchment/nearest or designated school has a space available the expectation will be that the child remains on the waiting list for their catchment/designated or nearest school, the parent will be advised in writing when to reapply to the Admissions Team and the Passenger Transport Operations Team on an annual basis. When a space is offered at the child's catchment or nearest school entitlement to school transport assistance to the alternative school will cease, exceptional circumstances may be considered for example where a child receives additional support or is in examination years.

Secondary-aged children from low-income families* qualify for free school transport if they:

• Attend a school between two and six miles (measured by the shortest available walking route) and there are not three or more suitable nearer schools.
• Attend the nearest school chosen on the grounds of religion or belief, and the school is between two and fifteen miles away from their home address.

For the definition of low-income families see section 4.6 and Appendix 2.3

Important points to note in addition to the above:

• Assistance with transport will only be given to and from the nearest pick-up point for public or other transport; it is not to be assumed that ‘home to school’ necessarily means door to door (unless the child is not capable of getting to the nearest pick-up point).
• A parent or carer is responsible for ensuring their child’s safety to a bus pick-up point including the crossing of any roads.
• The maximum distance children will be expected to make their own way to a pick-up point is one mile, unless determined otherwise by the City Council.
• Wherever possible, transport assistance is provided through the issuing of a cycle allowance, bus pass for use on public transport or other contracted route.
• The normal arrangements for transport provide for a return journey to and from school at the beginning and end of each statutory school day (see below). For journeys on public transport, there may be a restriction on the hours of use of the tickets issued.
• Transport is not provided for taster days or transition part time timetables.
• A child’s home address is the address of their main residence. Where a child lives with separated parents who have shared responsibility, the home address is considered as the one that the child lives at for most of the calendar week. Where a child lives for an equal amount of time with each parent, the home address will be considered as that of the parent who receives child benefit in respect of the child concerned. Where this is inconclusive, the address registered with the child’s GP or the school will be used. Evidence may be required to support the transport assistance application.
• Transport assistance will only be provided from the “home address”, and it is parental responsibility to ensure that a child can get to and from school when residing at an alternative address. We will check full address data for a sample of applicants each year, to ensure this is the child’s main residence.
• Where transport has been provided in error, transport will continue for up to 6 weeks (one half term) after the error is discovered, in order to allow parents time to make alternative arrangements.

 4.3 Statutory school days and standard school times

Statutory school days (normally 190 days per annum) do not include any additional learning provision provided during school holidays.

Standard school times do not include extra-curricular activities before or after the normal school day, e.g. the provision of breakfast clubs, additional learning provision, early starts or late finishes for school trips or after school clubs or societies. Similarly, transport will not be arranged for travel between institutions during the school day to offsite locations.

4.4 Parental preference

Where parents choose to send their child to a school which is neither the nearest suitable school to the family home nor the designated school, parents are responsible for home to school transport arrangements including the costs.

4.5 Permanent family move, continuity of education (Years 10 and 11 only)

 Where families permanently relocate, free transport or assistance with transport costs will be provided from the new home (parental or foster) to the existing school if the child meets all of the following criteria on the date of the family relocation:

• The child is undertaking public examination courses in Years 10 (after the first term where the child is in Year 10) and 11.
• The child or the family have not elected or chosen to move, but have been moved by another agency (e.g. housing association), because of circumstances beyond their control.
• The new home is within the City Council boundary.
• That the child and their family have moved to their new home after the first term where the child is in Year 10.
• The new home to school distance is greater than three miles, and the journey on existing transport does not exceed 75 minutes each way.

Please note: This provision will only be made until the end of the course (end of year 11) and does not apply for those electing to continue to study at the school for Years 12 and 13.

4.6. Low-income families

 Primary school children (aged 8 to 11 years) from low-income families qualify for free home to school transport if they go to their nearest suitable school and live more than two miles away from school.

Secondary school children (aged 11 to 16 years) from low-income families are entitled to free home to school transport if they:

• Attend a school between two and six miles (measured by the shortest available walking route) and there are not three or more suitable nearer schools, or
• The nearest school chosen on the grounds of religion or belief is between two and fifteen miles away from their home address.

4.7. Children of disabled parents

In some circumstances, the City Council will provide transport support where a parent or carer is unable to accompany their child to school because of their disability. Applications should be made to the Passenger Transport Operations Team. Decisions will be made on an individual basis by the Transport Panel.

In certain cases, children who are not eligible for transport assistance under the terms of this policy as stated above, may be able to purchase a spare seat on existing transport services contracted by the City Council only (i.e. not on public transport). These arrangements can only be agreed when advanced payment is received on a termly or half termly basis. Seats are not available on transport provided by public transport operators. A parental contribution will be required, which is subject to an annual review.

Passes for a spare seat on existing transport are issued - subject to availability - 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 start of each half term.

The issue of a bus pass for a term or half term does not guarantee the issue of subsequent passes.

It is the responsibility of the child’s parent or carer to remember to pay in advance each term for discretionary passes.

Applications may take up to fifteen working days to process and children may not board the bus until the pass is received.

Discretionary transport is not available on all transport services contracted by the City Council.

The route and timetable of an existing transport contract will not be adapted to accommodate any applications for discretionary transport.

The City Council may alter, withdraw or amalgamate a transport service at short notice without reference to the children travelling on that service who have discretionary passes. Under these circumstances the City Council will not provide alternative transport for children who are not eligible for transport assistance.

The offer of a seat may be withdrawn in the event of any serious misbehaviour on the part of the child concerned.

6.1 Fair Access Protocol

In accordance with the Fair Access Protocol and only where a child has been permanently excluded from school or is at risk of exclusion, a new school placement will be decided at Fair Access Panel and parents will be given information on how to apply for transport assistance.

The Fair Access Panel will ensure that they consider a school or educational provision, where a place is available, which is local to the child’s home wherever possible.

Mileage criteria will apply.

Transport will only be considered when this is a City Council led decision processed through the Fair Access panel, any placements decided outside of this process will not be considered for transport assistance.

 6.2 Children attending an alternative provision

 If, as part of either the Fair Access process or Behaviour Panel a child is placed at an alternative provision transport may be considered. If transport is to be provided it will be on the understanding that:

• Assistance with transport will only be given to and from the nearest pick-up point for public or other transport; it is not to be assumed that ‘home to school’ necessarily means door to door (unless the child is not capable of getting to the nearest pick-up point).
• A parent or carer is responsible for ensuring their child’s safety to a bus pick-up point including the crossing of any roads.
• The maximum distance children will be expected to make their own way to a pick-up point is one mile, unless determined otherwise by the Education Department.
• Wherever possible, transport assistance is provided through the issuing of a cycle allowance, bus pass for use on public transport or other contracted route.

A school may find on occasions that they are not able to provide the full curriculum timetable and make arrangements with another service provider to provide alternative education.

Where this occurs, the school arranging the alternative education provision will be responsible for the payment of any associated transport costs for the child to attend that provision.

Where this is a City Council led decision, the transport will be funded by the City Council.

For the purposes of the Home to School Transport, the policy for ‘looked after children’ is the same as for children for whom the City Council is not the Corporate Parent. Where a child in care is placed by another local authority is attending their nearest suitable school they will be treated in the same way as a Peterborough City Council student, however should they be attending a school or college which is not their nearest or designated school recoupment of travel costs from the local authority in which they under the care of will be sought.

When a child fails to utilise transport provision without justification for three consecutive days transport is to be suspended pending investigation as to cause. This will only be reinstated where an undertaking is given and the family makes an agreement that the child will use the transport provision in place in the future.

If the child then fails to use the transport again a decision may be made to suspend the provision for the remainder of that term at the discretion of the City Council.

Where this suspension is invoked it will be the parent’s responsibility to transport the child to their educational placement.

9.1 Children with medical conditions

Children may be eligible for assistance with transport to their nearest, specialist or designated school in circumstances, where a medical condition seriously affects their ability to walk or cycle to school whilst the condition persists.

Applications should be made to the Passenger Transport Operations Team. An assessment of eligibility for transport assistance will be made by the Transport Panel.

Such assistance will be at the discretion of the City Council and may also require further verification by the consultant looking after the child.

 9.2 Children with sensory impairment

In exceptional circumstances, children with a sensory condition which requires particular specialist provision only available at specified schools within the City Council area may be eligible for assistance with transport.

Such assistance is at the discretion of the City Council and will require verification by the medical consultant looking after the child (if relevant) or the manager of the appropriate sensory service.

The maximum distance children will be expected to travel to make their own way to a pick-up point, will be one mile for primary and secondary children, unless determined otherwise by the City Council.

For the purposes of determining eligibility for travel assistance, within Peterborough, distances are measured using the Council’s digital mapping system, by the shortest available walking route from outside the child/young person’s home, to nearest open gate at the school. The route may include footpaths, bridleways, bridges, under-passes, and any other pathways as well as recognised roads.

For routes beyond the maximum statutory walking distance of 3 miles, where there is no expectation that a child/young person would walk the distance, measurements are undertaken by the shortest road route. See glossary for further details. Distances to schools outside of Peterborough are measured using a combination of local maps and on-line resources.

If a parent claims that the walking or cycling route to school is unsafe, an assessment of that route will be considered by the Passenger Transport Operations Team in association with the Network Management Team. Any safety assessments will be made with the assumption that children will be accompanied by a responsible adult. Reference will also be made to the availability of public transport and safe cycling routes.

The following factors will be considered, but other factors will not be excluded if found pertinent to the assessment of the safety of the walking route:

• If a public footpath totally separated from roads is available, it must normally be made up with a hard all weather surface, i.e. tarmac, gravel etc. to be acceptable as a route.
• The presence of suitable refuges adjacent to a road (e.g. a verge).
• The volume, speed and type of traffic.
• Visibility, i.e. sharp bends with a high hedgerow or bank.
• The accident record of the road during times of high usage by school children.

The safety of a walking route may also be considered if the responsible adult available to accompany a child to school is registered disabled (see section 3.7). An adult’s disability does not automatically preclude the ability to accompany their child to school. The route will be assessed by the Passenger Transport Operations Team and, if necessary, with the advice of a professional working for one of the agencies representing people with the disability in question.

Entitlement to transport on safety grounds may be withdrawn if there are changes to the nature, structure and alignment of the route to school, resulting in a route that is now deemed to be safe. For example, if an existing route, deemed unsafe due to the density of traffic, is bypassed resulting in a quantifiable change in the nature of the road hazards, transport may be withdrawn if a child lives less than the qualifying distances (see sections 4.1 and 4.2). 

Where a parent disputes the assessment of an available route the appeal process should befollowed see point 20.

The City Council may use its discretion to provide transport assistance for children affected by a school closure or by a reorganisation of schools.

Only children in attendance at a school affected at the time of closure or reorganisation who live within the catchment area for the school may, at the discretion of the Service Director for Education, be provided with transport assistance to the new school for as long as they continue to live within the area of their previous school. The level of assistance will be determined by the Service Director for Education during the review process and can be reviewed at any time. 

Occasions arise where the behaviour of children on home to school transport is not acceptable. Any child who misbehaves in a manner which causes offence to others is likely to have breached the behaviour guidelines. 

A copy of The Student Behaviour Guidelines is sent to all parents along with the issue of a bus pass by the Passenger Transport Operations Team. This contains advice for the child and parents regarding child behaviour and any subsequent disciplinary action. 

Any reported breach of these guidelines will be investigated by the Passenger Transport Operations Team and, if upheld, disciplinary action including suspension or permanent withdrawal of transport will be imposed on any child involved. 

In such situations, the parent or carer will be responsible for ensuring subsequent attendance at school and the costs of any transportation required. The decision whether to permanently withdraw transport will be made following consultation between the Passenger Transport Operations Team, the Head teacher of the school, and the Education Department.

When considering applications for assistance with transport the City Council will take account of transport provision, distance, journey times and the efficient use of resources. 

13.1 Cycle allowances

An allowance of £100 per term will be paid) to parents of children who are entitled to free transport but wish to cycle to school instead.

Such allowances will only be payable where the cost of transport would exceed the amount of the cycle allowance. Allowances will not be payable to children travelling on any other form of transport.

13.2 Personal Transport Budgets

Personal Transport budgets will be approved for students who meet eligible criteria for travel assistance where cost effective and in the best interest of the child. Personal Transport Budget may be reviewed and withdrawn if are deemed as no longer cost effective or suitable. A standard personal transport budget will be calculated using the shortest route measured from home address to the school address.

For example where the home to school distance is 5 miles, a personal transport budget will be calculated as follows:

Personal Transport Budgets do not affect any other benefits as the payment is made in relation to the child/young person, not the parent/carer and so should not affect your benefit or tax situation. If you have concerns that it may impact on your tax situation, you may want to seek your own advice from a tax expert in relation to your personal circumstances. 

Passenger assistants will only be provided if deemed necessary. Drivers and passenger assistants must be approved by the City Council and have satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. Approved drivers and passenger assistants will be issued with a photo identity badge which they are required to always have with them whilst carrying out their professional duties. Consideration will be given to:

• The nature and length of the journey
• The child’s special educational needs
• The age of the children using the transport
• The number of children using the transport
• Where there are more than sixteen children aged under seven years travelling together on a vehicle 

The City Council has a duty to provide safe and non-stressful journeys to ensure children can gain maximum benefit from the education they receive at school or college. Transport services are monitored on a regular basis and also in response to any incidents which may occur. Action will be taken to ensure the safety of the children and to resolve any operational issues.

The maximum journey times for day attendance at school each way are:

• 45 minutes for primary aged children
• 75 minutes for secondary aged children

Where parents insist on a child attending a school to which the journey time exceeds these limits, the City Council will not be responsible for making or meeting the cost of travel arrangements.

Where an application for home to school transport provision is approved in error, the City Council will withdraw the provision as follows:

• Where the child is in the final two years of a public examination course, on completion of that course.
• In all other cases, at the end of the half term in which the error is found.

The City Council recognises that exceptional emergency situations may arise that are not covered by this policy or outlined below. These will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis following receipt of an application detailing all aspects of the emergency. If the City Council agrees to provide travel assistance, this will usually be for a maximum of 3 academic terms. After that time, the Council expects the parents/carers to make and fund their own transport arrangements or apply for a place in a school local to their new address. 

18.1 Temporary house moves

The City Council will consider requests for temporary travel assistance when a family finds it necessary to move into temporary accommodation with no prior notice due to circumstances beyond their control, for example as a result of domestic abuse, following a house fire or involvement with housing needs.

Other eligibility criteria will still need to be met, for example distance criteria, along with whether the accommodation is short or longer term and whether there are school places available at the catchment school to the temporary address and the effective use of resources.

The council will consider school transport applications with the Armed Forces Covenant in mind:

• Making sure officers and panels identify at an early stage if the Covenant is relevant to an application.
• Take into consideration where a family have had to move for Service reasons.
• Take consideration of the why the Service person might not be available to assist with transporting the child to school, due to the unique obligations and sacrifices of separation and hours of work
• If possible fast-tracking applications to ensure children of Armed Forces are not missing education. 

Any parent who has been refused assisted school/college transport may appeal to an Appeals Committee (Service Issues) if they wish to challenge the decision. Appeals are heard in a two stage process. The reason for appealing will need to be 1 of the below options:

(1) the refusal is not in line with this policy.

(2) the transport arrangements offered.

(3) that there are exceptional reasons to depart from this policy.

20.1 Stage One: Review by the Team Manager, Passenger Transport Operations

A parent has 20 working days from receipt of the home to school transport decision to make a written request to the Team Manager, Passenger Transport Operations asking for a review of the decision.

The written request should detail why the parent believes the decision should be reviewed and give details of any personal and /or family circumstances the parent believes should be considered when the decision is reviewed.

Within 20 working days of the parent’s written request the Policy and Strategy Manager, Passenger Transport Operations Team will review the original decision and send the parent detailed written notification of the outcome of their review, setting out:

• The nature of the decision reached;
• How the review was conducted
• Information about other departments and /or agencies that were consulted as part of the process (if applicable);
• What factors were considered;
• The rationale for the decision reached;
• Information about how the parent can escalate their case to stage two (if appropriate) 

20.2 Stage Two: Review by an independent appeal panel 

If parents/carers or children wish to appeal against a transport decision made by the City Council, within 20 working days from receipt of the home to school transport decision which the appeal is made, they should contact:

Passenger Transport Operations Team

People and Communities

Peterborough City Council

First Floor

Sand Martin House

Bittern Way

Fletton Quays

Peterborough

PE2 8TY

Tel: 01733 317455

Email: educationtransport@peterborough.gov.uk

Within 40 working days of receipt of the parents request an independent appeals panel made up of Local Authority elected members will consider written and verbal representations from both the parent and officers involved in the case. The panel will provide a detailed written notification of the outcome of the stage two appeal (within 5 working days), setting out: 

• The nature of the decision reached;
• How the review was conducted;
• Information about other departments and /or agencies that were consulted as part of the process (if applicable);
• What factors were considered;
• The rationale for the decision reached;
• Information about the parent’s right to put the matter to the Local Government Ombudsman (see below). 

Local Government ombudsman – parents have a right of complaint to the Local government Ombudsman, but only if there is evidence of a failure by the council to comply with the procedural rules or if there are any other irregularities in the way the appeal has been handled. If the complainant considers the decision of the independent appeals panel to be flawed on public law grounds, the complainant may also apply for a judicial review. 

One of these reasons must be set out in the application for appeal. Unless there is an emergency or extenuating circumstances, appeals will normally be held monthly during term time. 

20.5 Safety of route site visit

The panel may decide to visit a site or review a route before or during an appeal hearing, which may assist in their decision. Where a visit to a site or route is to be arranged, the following maybe invited to attend dependent on the circumstances of the claim:

• All other transport appeal panel members.
• Elected Members representing the relevant ward.
• The parent/carer or their representative.
• Representatives of the Service Director for Education, as appropriate.
• Relevant independent City Council staff.

Passenger Transport Operations Team

Children and Young People’s Service

Telephone: 01733 317455

Email: educationtransport@peterborough.gov.uk

Website: www.peterborough.gov.uk/schooltransport

School Admissions Team

Children and Young People’s Service

Telephone: 01733 864007, Monday - Friday 9am - 2pm

Email: admissions@peterborough.gov.uk

Website: www.peterborough.gov.uk/admissions

Travelchoice Team

Telephone: 01733 747474

Email: Travelchoice@peterborough.go.uk

Traveline

Telephone: 0871 200 22 33

Website: www.traveline.org.uk

A2.1 Local authority

The local authority i.e. the City Council, which for this policy is Peterborough City Council.

A.2.2 Home

A child’s ‘home’ for the purposes of this policy is the place where s/he is habitually and normally resident (as defined by the Department for Education Home to school travel and transport guidance: Statutory guidance for local authorities). Assistance with transport will only be given to and from the nearest pick-up point for public or other transport to the child’s home. It is not to be assumed that ‘home to school’ necessarily means door to door (unless the child is not capable of getting to the nearest pick-up point or the arrangements put in place include a planned pick up from home).

A2.3 Low-income family

A low-income family is one where the child lives within the boundaries of Peterborough Unitary Authority i.e. the family’s council tax is paid to Peterborough City Council and whose children are entitled to free school meals or whose parents receive the maximum Working Tax Credit (section 3.6 refers). Proof of benefit is required.

A2.4 Religion or belief (as directed by the Department for Education)

This also refers to a lack of religion or belief (see section 3.8)

• 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. belief in single sex education where that belief is based on the parent’s religious views.

A2.5 Not included as beliefs:

• A wish for a child to attend a particular category of school, i.e. grammar or grant-maintained schools.
• Preference for a particular type of management or government which does not affect the curricula or teaching at the school.
• A belief that a child should be educated privately.
• A wish for a child to attend a school where they will be taught in a particular language.
• Objection to rules requiring that a school uniform must be worn.
• Content of school curriculum (e.g. sex education) provided that the curriculum does not amount to indoctrination incompatible with a parent’s religious or philosophical convictions.
• Objections to the curriculum, where special arrangements made by the school or authorities(such as allowing children to be withdrawn from class) ensure the curriculum is not forced on them contrary to their convictions.
• Belief that a child should receive a particular type of educational provision.

A2.6 Nearest suitable school (sections 3.1, 3.2 refer)

The ‘nearest suitable school’ is the nearest City Council maintained school (Community, Voluntary Aided, Foundation, or Academy) to the child’s family home, by the shortest safe walking route (measured from the gate or access to the child’s home to the nearest gate or access to the school), which offers an appropriate full time education suitable for the child’s age, ability and aptitude and any special educational needs he or she may have and at which the City Council is able to arrange admission. A child's nearest suitable school may be in another Local Authority area.

For secondary children from low-income families*: the nearest suitable school can be one of the three nearest suitable schools between two and six miles from the family home, or to a school or institution up to fifteen miles where the education provided is in accordance with their religion or a belief. The two mile lower limit will be applied for transport purposes.

If the City Council is unable to offer a place to one of three nearest schools between two and six miles then the City Council may offer a fourth or fifth school, as appropriate up to the six mile limit, as long as there are not three nearer suitable schools with places available.

Information in regards to school place preferences during the normal Admissions round, provided by the Admission Team (as at National Offer Day) will be used to determine whether a place could have been allocated at nearer schools.

*For definition of low income families see A2.3 above.

A2.7 Designated School – catchment area school

The ‘designated school’ (for transport purposes) is the relevant catchment school identified in the City Council’s Admissions booklet, which is published annually on the Admissions webpage for Peterborough City Council.

Please note that not all Peterborough addresses have a catchment school.

A2.8 Statutory walking distances

Home to school distance is measured by the shortest available safe walking or cycling route from the gate or access to the child's home to the nearest gate or access to the school, along which a child, accompanied by a responsible parent or carer as necessary, may walk with reasonable safety.

The route is not necessarily the shortest distance by road, but could include footpaths, bridleways and road side verges.

If there is no safe walking/ cycling route the local authority is required to provide free transport, no matter the distance, where the child is attending their nearest or designated school.

A2.9 Parental choice

Parents may choose to send their child to a school which is neither the nearest suitable school to the family home, nor the designated school (sections 3.4 refer).

A2.10 Emergency situations

Are for example families made homeless as a result of social problems, house fires, eviction etc. or children with no financial support from parents or carers (this list is not exhaustive and each case will be reviewed on their own merits).

A2.11 Panels

• Transport Panel; this panel is made up of Statutory Assessment & Monitoring, Passenger Transport Operations Team and SEN Finance and Transport Officer.
• Appeals Panel; this panel is made up of Elected Members.

A2.12 Immediate family member:

May include brother, sister, either grandparent, aunt or uncle.

A2.13 Directed/Direction

A Direction is when the Admissions team are unable to offer a place at any of the preferred preference schools and are then required to offer a place at the next nearest school with available places at the time that your child’s application is considered. This is referred to as a ‘directed’ school offer. If the school to which a child has been directed is over the 2 or 3 mile qualifying distance (according to the year group concerned) then free transport is normally awarded.

A2.14 Armed Forces Covenant

Armed Forces Covenant: guidance and support - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The designated school is the relevant catchment school identified in the City Council’s admissions booklets for parents and carers, which are published annually and are available on the City Council’s website. Please refer to these booklets for primary and secondary schools and the main policy document for criteria for eligibility for home to school transport. Please note that not all Peterborough addresses have a catchment school. 

Primary Schools

The designated or catchment schools are available on the City Council website on the Primary school admissions - how we allocate primary school places page.

Exceptions are Sacred Heart RC and St Thomas More RC primaries and The King’s (The Cathedral) School which do not have defined catchment areas. All Saint’s CofE School has a catchment area based on its Ecclesiastical Parish and is detailed in the annual Admissions booklet. St Augustine’s CofE School bases its catchment area on that of Brewster Avenue Infant School.

Secondary Schools 

The designated or catchment schools are available on the City Council website on the  Secondary schools admissions criteria and catchment areas webpage

Exceptions are Stanground Academy, City of Peterborough Academy, Thomas Deacon Academy, Greater Peterborough UTC, St John Fisher RC School and The King’s (The Cathedral)School which do not have defined catchment areas.