Education Act 1996

[F1509AA [F2[F3Local authorities] in England: provision] of transport etc. for persons of sixth form ageE+W

(1)A [F4local authority] [F5 in England] shall prepare for each academic year a transport policy statement complying with the requirements of this section.

(2)The statement shall specify the arrangements for the provision of transport or otherwise that the authority consider it necessary to make for facilitating the attendance of persons of sixth form age receiving education or training—

(a)at schools,

(b)at any institution maintained or assisted by the authority which provides further education or higher education (or both),

(c)at any institution within the further education sector, F6...

[F7(ca)at any 16 to 19 Academy, or]

(d)at any establishment (not falling within paragraph (b)[F8, (c) or (ca)]) [F9at which the authority secures the provision of education or training under section 15ZA(1)] F10... .

(3)The statement shall specify the arrangements that the authority consider it necessary to make for the provision of financial assistance in respect of the reasonable travelling expenses of persons of sixth form age receiving education or training at any establishment such as is mentioned in subsection (2).

(4)The statement shall specify the arrangements proposed to be made by the governing bodies of—

(a)schools maintained by the authority at which education suitable to the requirements of persons over compulsory school age is provided, and

(b)institutions within the further education sector in the authority’s area,

for the provision of transport for facilitating the attendance of persons of sixth form age receiving education or training at the schools and institutions and for the provision of financial assistance in respect of the travelling expenses of such persons.

(5)Those governing bodies shall co-operate in giving the [F4local authority] any information and other assistance that is reasonably required by the authority for the performance of their functions under this section and section 509AB.

(6)The statement shall specify any travel concessions (within the meaning of Part 5 of the Transport Act 1985 (c. 67)) which are to be provided under any scheme established under section 93 of that Act to persons of sixth form age receiving education at any establishment such as is mentioned in subsection (2) above in the authority’s area.

(7)The authority shall—

(a)publish the statement, in a manner which they consider appropriate, on or before 31st May in the year in which the academic year in question begins, and

(b)make, and secure that effect is given to, any arrangements specified under subsections (2) and (3).

(8)Nothing in this section prevents a [F4local authority] from making, at any time in an academic year, arrangements—

(a)which are not specified in the transport policy statement published by the authority for that year, but

(b)which they have come to consider necessary for the purposes mentioned in subsections (2) and (3).

(9)The [F11Secretary of State may, if he] considers it expedient to do so, direct a [F4local authority] to make for any academic year—

(a)arrangements for the provision of transport or otherwise for facilitating the attendance of persons of sixth form age receiving education or training at establishments such as are mentioned in subsection (2), or

(b)arrangements for providing financial assistance in respect of the reasonable travelling expenses of such persons,

which have not been specified in the transport policy statement published by the authority for that academic year.

F12(9A). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(10)The Secretary of State F13... may by order amend subsection (7)(a) [F14to change the time by which the statement must be published] .]

[F15(11)Subsection (9) is subject to section 509AE (complaints about transport arrangements etc for persons of sixth form age in England).]

Textual Amendments

F1S. 509AA inserted (20.1.2003 for E., 1.9.2003 for W.) by Education Act 2002 (c. 32), s. 216(4), Sch. 19 para. 3 (with ss. 210(8), 214(4)); S.I. 2002/2952, art. 2; S.I. 2003/1718, art. 5, Sch. Pt. II

F6Word in s. 509AA(2)(c) omitted (1.4.2012) by virtue of Education Act 2011 (c. 21), s. 82(3), Sch. 13 para. 9(13)(a); S.I. 2012/924, art. 2

F8Words in s. 509AA(2)(d) substituted (1.4.2012) by Education Act 2011 (c. 21), s. 82(3), Sch. 13 para. 9(13)(b); S.I. 2012/924, art. 2