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Vacant seat scheme

For students who are not entitled to free Home to School Transport, the Vacant Seats Scheme allows students to travel on certain Warwickshire County Council services after all entitled travellers have been accommodated. This replaces the old Concessionary and Contributory transport schemes.

Eligibility

Vacant seats will be allocated to students based on the categories below. The categories are listed in order of priority (highest first):

  • Category 1. Those students living in an area previously covered by the Contributory Transport Scheme*, or students who have purchased a Vacant Seat in the previous academic year.
  • Category 2. Warwickshire residents who have not previously travelled under the Vacant Seats Scheme.
  • Category 3. Non-Warwickshire residents who have not previously travelled under the Vacant Seats Scheme.

* Schools previously covered under the Contributory Transport Scheme are: Aylesford School, Trinity Catholic School, Gun Hill Infant School & Herbert Fowler Junior School.

Vacant Seats will be allocated subject to the following terms and conditions:

  • Should the place be required for an entitled traveller, the service is withdrawn, or the route altered, the pass will be withdrawn. One terms notice will be given, except for students travelling by taxi, where a minimum of one weeks notice will be given.
  • Where a pass is withdrawn after payment has been made, a refund will be made based on the number of days travelled.
  • Vacant seat passes are not available on public transport services.
  • Vacant seats for students can only be allocated once all entitled travellers have been accommodated. Parents should therefore make alternative arrangements until they have received confirmation that a vacant seat is available.
  • The distance from home to school will be calculated based on the shortest available walking distance.
  • A parental contribution is required for the vacant seats scheme. If this contribution is not received, students will not be able to travel.
  • Students of sixth form/college age should not apply using this application form. A separate form is available from the Education Transport office.
  • Passes can only be used at the start and end of a school day at normal school hours. Timetables are normally supplied with bus passes.

If you have any questions about Home to School Transport, or Warwickshire County Council's Home to School Transport Policy, please contact the Education Transport Office: 01926 742059 or 01926 742051 (Mon - Thurs 8.30 - 5.00; Friday 8.30 - 4.30) or email educationtransport@warwickshire.gov.uk

Cost

The rate of parental contribution is as follows:
Student lives: Contribution
more than 3 miles from the school £220 per term or £660 per annum
less than 3 miles from the school £110 per term or £330 per annum

Students or families in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits listed below are considered to be from a low income family and qualify for a reduced charge;

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Job Seekers Allowance
  • The Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit
  • The Maximum Level of Working Tax Credit
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Child Tax Credit (below the relevant threshold of £16,190 as of May 2011)
  • Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Reduced cost for low income families
Student lives: Contribution
more than 3 miles from the school £110 per term or £330 per annum
less than 3 miles from the school £55 per term or £165 per annum

Payment

Payment can be made by cheque, postal order or credit/debit card. As of September 2011 payment by Standing Order is available for annual pass purchases.

If you wish to pay by this method, please tick the appropriate box on the application form. You will then be sent an invoice for the full amount along with a standing order mandate by our Finance department. Payment will be over 8 months starting in October and will be as follows;

Standing order payments
Student Monthly cost
Student lives more than 3 miles from the school £82.50 per month
Student lives less than 3 miles from the school £41.25 per month
Student lives more than 3 miles from the school from a low income family £41.25 per month
Student lives less than 3 miles from the school from a low income family £20.62 per month

Application Form

If you would like to apply for help with transport, please complete an application form from the ‘Downloads and documents” section.