Somerset County Council
Consultation on the Proposed Changes to the Transport
Area for Kingsmead School, Wiveliscombe
Autumn Term 2014
Somerset County Council
Consultation on the Proposed Changes to the Transport
Area for Kingsmead School, Wiveliscombe
Autumn Term 2014
Somerset County Council wishes to consult on whether to offer children for whom
Kingsmead is the nearest Somerset school at 11 years of age free transport to
Kingsmead School as well as their catchment school.
1. Background
Somerset County Council has an Education Transport Policy which details the
following:
1.1 Somerset County Council has a legal duty to provide eligibility for assistance in
providing home to school transport for children of statutory school age for:
(i)
Children who attend schools beyond the statutory walking distance
(ii)
Children with Special Educational needs and/or disabilities or mobility
problems
(iii)
Children whose route to school is deemed to be unsafe
(iv)
Children from low income families **
In accordance with The Act (Education Act 1996), in each case walking distance is
measured by the nearest available route between the home and the school, which
may include footpaths, bridleways and other pathways, as well as recognised roads,
and are calculated using GPS digital “Ordinance Survey MasterMap” mapping
software. MasterMap data is captured to a high degree of accuracy, at a map ratio
of 1:1250 in urban areas and 1:12500 in rural areas, with a maximum margin of error
of +/- 1 metre.
** Low Income Criteria
Entitlement to pupil premium funding is defined as:






Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The Guarantee Element of State Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have
an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not
exceed £16,190.
We regularly review benefit information to make sure your child still qualifies for
reduced rate or free transport.
1.2 Somerset County Council chooses to:
Provide transport in some areas to schools which are not the nearest school but are
the schools which serve that community.
The Dulverton community is served by Dulverton Middle School until the age of 13,
and then West Somerset College at Minehead until the age of 18. Due to the large
geographical area Minehead is not necessarily the nearest school for pupils at the
age of 13; however, Somerset County Council funds free transport to enable pupils
to access the Middle and Upper schools. Somerset County Council recognises that
this is a very large rural area and is therefore considering the effect of transport on
choosing a school place.
1.3 Kingsmead School at Wiveliscombe is the nearest Somerset school for a number
of children at age 13 that live in the Dulverton area. At the request of the Local
Authority, Kingsmead School has consulted and decided to change its admissions
arrangements enabling children from the Dulverton Middle School catchment to be
considered within the Admissions criteria for a place at Kingsmead School at age 11.
Please see appendix 1 – Area Map.
1.4 From September 2015 the Admissions criteria area for Kingsmead School will
include two additional areas:
Area A –This shows the current catchment for All Saints’ C of E First School in
Dulverton. The majority of children living in area A live nearer to either Kingsmead
School in Wiveliscombe (Somerset) or Tiverton High School (Devon) than to West
Somerset College in Minehead.
Area B –This shows the current catchment for Exford C of E First School. The
majority of the children living in area B live nearer either West Somerset College in
Minehead (Somerset) or South Molton Community College (Devon) than to
Kingsmead School in Wiveliscombe.
Please also note that the community of Hawkridge is nearer to South Molton
Community College, the community of Exton is nearer to West Somerset College
and the community of Brushford is nearer to Tiverton High School.
1.5 Whilst Dulverton Middle School is the nearest Somerset school for pupils at 11
years of age living in areas A & B when pupils transfer at 13 years of age,
Kingsmead School is the nearest Somerset school for most children in area A.
These children have the legal right to free transport to their nearest school. The
Local Authority also offers free transport to West Somerset College in Minehead in
addition as it fits with the Middle and Upper school education provided in the area.
Responding to the consultation
The Local Authority wants to hear your views and you can respond to the
consultation by:
o Completing the tear off questionnaire section of this document and sending it
to:
Julia Ridge, Strategic Manager Schools Commissioning, C402c, County Hall,
Taunton TA1 4DY.
o Completing the on-line consultation questionnaire at:
http://www.somersetconsults.org.uk/consult.ti/kingsmead_school_transport_area/ans
werQuestionnaire?qid=3331427
The closing date for response is 16th January 2015.
What happens at the end of this consultation period?
All responses will be considered and the decision will be made following the
analysis by 20th February 2015.
The Local Authority will communicate its plans following the assessment of the
responses to the consultation.
Should you require this document in another format (language, large print,
easy read) please call Debbie Reed, Schools Commissioning Team on
01823 355804 or email Dreed@somerset.gov.uk
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Feedback Form
Somerset County Council is Consulting on the Proposed Changes
to the Transport Area for Kingsmead School, Wiveliscombe to
enable children to receive support with transport from 11 years of
age.
The Dulverton community is served by Dulverton Middle School until the age of 13,
and then West Somerset College at Minehead until the age of 18. Due to the large
geographical area Minehead is not necessarily the nearest school for pupils at the
age of 13; however, Somerset County Council funds free transport to enable pupils
to access the Middle and Upper schools. Somerset County Council recognises that
this is a very large rural area and is therefore considering the effect of transport on
choosing a school place. Whilst Dulverton Middle School is the nearest Somerset
school for pupils at 11 years of age living in areas A & B when the pupils transfer at
13 years of age, Kingsmead School is sometimes the nearest Somerset school for
most children in area A. These children have the legal right to free transport to their
nearest school.
Please consider and answer the questions below:
1. As Dulverton Middle school is the local school for areas A & B do you feel that
sufficient free transport is already provided by the Local Authority at the age of
11?
Yes
No
Don’t know
2. Should the Local Authority offer families on low income who live in area A
the opportunity for transport to Kingsmead school at 11 years of age?
(Families not on low income may have the option to purchase a seat on
school transport subject to the outcome of these changes)
Yes
No
Don’t know
3. Should the Local Authority offer families on low income in area B the
opportunity for free transport to Kingsmead School at 11 years of age?
(Families not on low income may have the option to purchase a seat on
school transport subject to the outcome of these changes)
Yes
No
Don’t know
4. Should the Local Authority offer all families in area A free transport to
Kingsmead at 11 years of age?
Yes
No
Don’t know
5. If you have any comments on any of the above questions please enter them in
the box below.
6. Please let us know if you are:
Parent
Teacher/school representative
Other - please specify
7. If you are a parent please confirm if you live in:
Area A
Area B
Neither
Prefer not to say
Please return the feedback form to: Julia Ridge, Strategic Manager – Schools
Commissioning, Kingsmead Consultation, County Hall, Taunton, TA1 4DY by 16th
January 2015.