Schools: Transport
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what data her Department holds on the number of pupils who have experienced difficulties attending school due to the a) cost or b) availability of dedicated school transport.
Answered by Department for Education
While the department does not hold the specific data requested, since September 2024, schools have used new attendance codes to record absences caused by issues related to transport arranged by the child’s local authority or school. Such absences accounted for 0.15% of missed sessions in the 2024/25 academic year. This data is published at: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/pupil-attendance-in-schools/2026-week-29-end-of-25-26-ay.
In September 2024, the department’s ‘Parent, Pupil and Learner Voice’ survey asked parents to what extent access to transport was a barrier to attending their preferred school. Access to transport was defined to include factors like the affordability, geographical closeness and physical accessibility of transport services. The findings are published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/parent-pupil-and-learner-voice-omnibus-surveys-for-2024-to-2025/parent-pupil-and-learner-voice-september-2024#sec-htst.
The government is taking action to improve access to local transport services. The Bus Services Act 2025 puts the power over local bus services back in the hands of local leaders across England enabling them to ensure local bus services meet the needs of local communities.
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