Post-16 Transport to Education and Training: Transport Policy Statement 2026/27 - 1. Introduction

Under the Raising the Participation Age agenda, from September 2014, Students have been required to be in education, or training until their 18th birthday. This could involve mixing full-time work with study, following an apprenticeship, continuing full-time in school or college, or combining part-time training with volunteering. However, there is no change to compulsory school age and no extension to the entitlement to free transport beyond this (end of Year 11). 

Walsall Council is required by statute to set out what travel assistance is available from the Council and from other bodies to help young people (Students) aged 16-18 (and older in some cases) to attend their school, further education college or training provider. In compiling this Policy, the Council has had regard to the ‘Post-16 transport and travel assistance to education and training’ January 2019 statutory guidance which has been issued to local authorities by the Department for Education.

There is no automatic entitlement to free home to school or college transport once a student is over 16 years and beyond statutory school age. Walsall Council no longer provides actual transport for post-16 students (other than in exceptional circumstances) and therefore the responsibility for providing or securing appropriate transport arrangements rests with the student and or their parents/carers. 

Post-16 students with an Educational Health and Care Plan (EHCP) may be entitled to travel  assistance. This is no longer free of charge. Travel assistance may also be extended above the age of 19 to enable the student to make further progress each year and for Students who start their course after the age of 19. 

Students aged 16-18 at the start of the academic year (1 September), and living within the West Midlands metropolitan area, are eligible for discounted travel tickets. Walsall Council makes payments each year to TfWM (Transport for West Midlands), the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority, so that concessionary fares are available for Students. Information is provided in this Policy below about the range of concessionary fares and other sources of help that are available to Students. 

All applications must be renewed and reassessed annually and will not be carried over from one academic year to the next.

This policy statement has been updated in 2026 to reflect changes that apply for the academic year 2026/27.