A selective school is a grammar school. In Essex, these are:
- Chelmsford County High School for Girls
- King Edward VI Grammar (Boys) School, Chelmsford
- Colchester County High School for Girls
- Colchester Royal Grammar School (Boys)
You may apply for transport to any selective school even if it is not in Essex (e.g. Southend, Westcliff) and your application will be assessed.
If your child has been offered a selective school place and you think you may qualify you can apply for transport in the following ways: - apply online
- contact us on 0845 603 2200 to request a paper application form
Policy
Essex County Council will make provision for the transport of children to selective schools if they reside two miles or more from the school as measured by the nearest available route and if the family is in receipt of Income Support or has an annual taxable income less than £16,190 before deductions.
Free transport will also be provided for those children for whom the selective school is nearer than their designated (catchment) secondary school to the home address, as measured by the nearest road route for those who live at least three miles from the school.
What transport is provided?
Free transport may take the form of a seat on a contract bus, a ticket for a public bus or train or, in some circumstances, the reimbursement of fuel costs for the use of a car.
Children of secondary school age who are entitled to transport will be provided with a travel pass. Failure to produce a valid pass will mean your child is unable to travel.
Fuel allowance
Essex County Council is able to offer parents/carers a payment in advance in order for them to take their child to school/college only when the cost of reimbursement is less than the cost of Essex County Council providing transport.
We can also offer a fuel allowance to those students who pass their driving test and drive themselves to school/college if they are entitled to join the scheme.
The mileage rate is paid at 45p to cover fuel costs for return journeys at the start and end of the standard school day. Please indicate on the application if you would like to be considered for advanced fuel reimbursement.
Where 45p is in excess of the cost of the county council providing transport we would consider an alternative rate of 17p per mile. Please be advised that where the charge is payable, you will not need to make payment (if applicable). Instead the charge will be deducted from the reimbursement.
Route measurement
The qualifying distance will be measured by the nearest available route. That is a route between the home address and the designated school that can be walked by a child, accompanied as necessary by an adult, in reasonable safety.
The route and its availability will be determined by Essex County Council.
Alternative options
If you are not entitled to free transport from Essex County Council, there are transport services available via the
Consortium for Selective Schools in Essex (CSSE) should you wish to purchase a ticket directly from them.
For further information please contact the CSSE on 01245 348257 or visit
www.csse.org.uk