On Friday 10th June, Dr Neil Hudson MP for Penrith and The Border hosted a virtual roundtable event attended by schools and local government representatives to discuss the issue of access to post-16 transport to rurally isolated students.
In attendance were representatives from Samuel King’s School, Nelson Thomlinson School, William Howard School, Appleby Grammar School, Kirkby Stephen Grammar School, Ullswater Community College, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Cumbria County Council, Carlisle City Council, and Allerdale Borough Council.
The Raising of the Participation Age legislation in 2013 made it mandatory for young people to continue in education, employment, or training until the age of 18. However, there is currently no statutory right to provide post-16 transport. The lack of post-16 transport has had a huge negative impact on rurally isolated areas. Dr Hudson has raised this with Councils, Central Government and spoke on this issue in the House of Commons this week in the Levelling and Regeneration Bill Debate.
During the meeting, schools raised the various problems they are facing such as having a large rural catchment area but being unable to provide transport to students, the Spare Seat Scheme not being adequate as students are not certain whether they will have a space, and the pressure on families financially and mentally. The local representatives from Carlisle, Allerdale, and Cumbria Councils said they recognised the challenges the schools raised.
Dr Neil Hudson MP said after the event: “I am pleased I was able to host this roundtable and allow the schools the opportunity to raise their concerns directly to Cumbria County Council about post-16 transport provision. The issue of post-16 transport is huge and is a real roadblock for young people. It is really disheartening that those young people who want to pursue courses that will open doors to their future career goals are being boxed into a corner. This is an issue I am absolutely passionate about, and I personally find it very tragic that students from Penrith and The Border are being denied access and opportunity. I have raised this with the Ministers for Transport, Education and Levelling Up and again in the chamber this week on a debate about Levelling Up.
I really hope that after this meeting, local government will take into consideration the points the schools made, and I look forward to hosting another meeting soon. We need solutions that should be on our young people’s timetables, not bureaucratic government timetables. This in an imminent issue. For young people in areas like Alston, Brampton, Penrith, Kirkby Stephen, Wigton and Appleby to be making life changing decisions to not take up the next stage of their education or training due to lack of transport is an absolute travesty that flies in the face of equality of opportunity. I will continue to urge both local and central government to provide support to our young people at this crucial stage in their life.”
