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08
Sept 2022
Pateley Bridge mum’s fear over £660 sixth form bus cost
A mother in Pateley Bridge has raised concerns about the cost of getting children to sixth form on the bus.
Sariah Broadhead’s son attends St. Aidan’s Church of England High School in Harrogate.
Nidderdale High School, the only secondary school in Pateley Bridge, does not have a sixth form so her son has to travel for his education.
Ms Broadhead has to pay £660 a year for a bus ticket — something she has had to do for her three other children in the past.
The price of the ticket has become an increasing concern as the cost of living crisis bites. She said:
Children up to Year 11 are entitled to free travel to their nearest school if they live more than a three-mile walk away.
Pupils can use commercial buses or special services provided by North Yorkshire County Council.
However, although the age for leaving education has increased to 18, no provision has been made for free school transport for over 16s.
Parents can buy a yearly ticket from the county council but this also costs £650 for the year.
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Sariah Broadhead has to pay £660 for her son's bus pass (photo: Sariah Broadhead).
This has proved to be a problem in Nidderdale because there are no school buses into Harrogate.
Instead, Ms Broadhead’s son has to take the Harrogate Bus Company’s 24 service.
The company does not provide annual tickets for the route, forcing her to buy a pass which covers the whole of the north of England.
Mrs Broadhead believes the situation has left her “in a catch-22”. She added:
In response, a Harrogate Bus Company spokesman said:
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