Questions at Any Time to Cabinet Portfolio Holders

The meeting dealt with one question from Councillor Bev Baynham to Councillor Jackie Charlton, Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys. It asked about school transport for Powys pupils who attend secondary schools in England. The Council gave a response with figures for each area. The minute records no decision.

1. Transport for Powys pupils attending secondary schools in England

   Decided

   The minutes record no decision on this item.

   Why

   Councillor Bev Baynham cited the review of the John Beddoes catchment area and the proposal to close Gladestry School, and asked how many buses, of what size, take Powys pupils to schools in England. The response said one 25-seat bus (Sargeants service 43) serves Lady Hawkins School with one learner from New Radnor and none from Presteigne or Gladestry, and a 60-seat bus (service WP260) takes 21 learners from Churchstoke to Bishop's Castle Community College. It said no services run from Knighton or from the Gwernyfed catchment area, and that 54 pupils in Years 7 to 11 travel from Powys to English secondary schools. The Council added that costs for Shropshire learners, and for six Herefordshire learners at Powys schools, are recharged to those councils, and that it will keep the arrangements under review.

   Based on the minutes

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1. 1

   Question from: County Councillor Bev Baynham Subject: School Transport

   Minute

   Response: Thank you for your questions regarding the transport arrangements for Powys pupils attending secondary schools in England. The information set out below reflects the current arrangements identified for the locations specified, including the relevant services, vehicle capacities and the number of learners presently recorded as travelling from each area. The Council’s response to each question is provided below. • How many school buses and of what size are transporting pupils to Lady Hawkins School from: a. Presteigne area — One 25-seat vehicle operates as Sargeants service 43. There are currently no learners recorded as travelling from the Presteigne area on this service. b. New Radnor and Gladestry area — The same 25-seat vehicle operating as Sargeants service 43 serves this area. One learner is currently recorded as travelling from New Radnor, while no learners are currently recorded as travelling from Gladestry. c. Llandrindod Wells — There is no mainstream learner transport service from Llandrindod Wells to Lady Hawkins School. One additional learning needs transport service operates from the John Beddoes catchment area to the specialist centre at Ysgol Calon Cymru. • How many school buses, and of what capacity, transport pupils to Bishop’s Castle Community College from: a. Knighton area — No service is currently operated from Knighton. b. Churchstoke area — Service WP260 is operated using a 60-seat vehicle. It currently carries 21 learners from three stops within the Churchstoke area. c. Montgomery area — There are currently no learners or stops recorded within the Montgomery area. • How many school buses, and of what capacity, transport pupils from the Gwernyfed catchment area to Fairfield High School? — No services are currently operated from the Gwernyfed catchment area to Fairfield High School. • How many secondary-age pupils in Years 7 to 11 are transported from Powys to attend a secondary school in England? — The current county-wide total is 54 learners. Additional cross-border arrangements: Shropshire learners travelling to The Marches School and Bishop’s Castle Community College are transported on the X76 public service bus, with the associated costs recharged to Shropshire Council. Transport is also provided for six Herefordshire learners attending schools in Powys where capacity is available, with the associated costs recharged to Herefordshire Council. The Council will continue to keep these arrangements under review, taking account of pupil numbers, available capacity, operational requirements and value for money. Its priority remains to ensure that eligible learners can access suitable education through transport arrangements that are safe, efficient and financially sustainable, while working constructively with neighbouring local authorities where cross-border provision is required.

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