School admissions

Applying for a place in a Hampshire school

Transport to school

Help with transport to school

Your child will qualify for free transport from near your home to school, if:

  • he/she attends the catchment school or one that is nearer to your home, and
  • for children under the age of 8, the distance travelled between home and school is more than two miles, or for children aged 8 and over, the distance travelled between home and school is more than three miles,

or

  • he/she is entitled to free school meals or you receive the maximum level of Working Tax Credit, and
  • for children aged 8–11, he/she attends the nearest suitable school and the distance travelled between home and school is more than two miles, or
  • for children aged 11–16, he/she attends any one of the three nearest suitable schools and the distance travelled between home and school is more than two miles, but not more than six miles.

If, having expressed a preference for your catchment school, the school is unable to offer your child a place, free transport will be offered, subject to the distance requirement, to the next nearest school with a place available.

All distances referred to above are measured by the shortest available walking route.

Privilege seats

If your child does not qualify for travelling expenses, you may apply for them to be a ‘privilege’ passenger on school transport. This will depend on whether there are spare seats and only applies if the vehicle is contracted by Hampshire County Council to transport children. We may withdraw the privilege place at short notice if it is needed for a child who qualifies for free transport.

There is a flat-rate charge for privilege seats, which is the same for all children whatever their age or the distance travelled.

How parents can apply for assistance with transport

Pupils without a statement of special educational needs

Application forms are available from school or from the Passenger Transport Group (PTG) The PTG decides on whether a pupil is entitled to transport.

Pupils with a statement of special educational needs

Parents need to contact the relevant special educational needs (SEN) team for the area the school is in. The SEN service assesses the entitlement for pupils with a statement of SEN.

In both cases the PTG makes the transport arrangements for entitled children. There are two sections, one for mainstream schools and one for special schools and units.

Contact

The Passenger Transport Group, Environment Department, Ashburton Court West, Winchester SO23 8UD

Mainstream – entitlements/arrangements

Tel: 01962 846924, 01962 845391, 01962 845332

Special educational needs – arrangements

Tel: 01962 846993, 01962 845787, 01962 845970

What if I move out of the area?

You will have to arrange and pay for the travel if you want your child to remain at the same school. However, we may help pupils in Years 10 and 11 who have already started their GCSE courses to stay at the same school by offering help with transport costs (normally, this is a season ticket on public transport). If the journey from your new address is unreasonably long, you should apply for a place at a nearer school.

Transport to church schools

The County Council will assist with travelling expenses to the nearest denominational school with a place if

  • the child has been baptised or otherwise received into the faith of the foundation of the school, and
  • for primary pupils, the distance between home and school is more than two miles (Year R to Year 3) or three miles (Year 4 to Year 6) and less than six miles, or
  • for secondary pupils, the distance between home and school is more than three miles and less than 10 miles.

We would normally expect you to contribute £1 per day to your child’s travel costs. If your child is entitled to free school meals you will not have to pay this charge. You may not have to pay if you are on a low income or with more than one child travelling to a denominational school. You can get details of the scheme and application form from the Passenger Transport Group (see above).

  • If your child (aged 11–16) is entitled to free school meals or you receive the maximum level of Working Tax Credit, the County Council will arrange free transport to the nearest school preferred on the grounds of religion or belief, where the distance travelled is between two and 15 miles.

School reorganisation or change of catchment area

The normal entitlement policy will apply to children affected by the closure or reorganisation of schools, or redesignation of catchment areas by the County Council. This means that:

  • new pupils will have their entitlement decided with reference to the new school location/catchment area
  • existing pupils will have their entitlement re-assessed only if they have to move to a new school location. If they remain at the same school location, the existing entitlement decision will remain in force until they leave the school.