When a student moves into Post-16 education, they may need to think about how they will travel to their chosen Post-16 provision and any travel costs associated with their journey.
Suffolk County Council (SCC) does offer Post-16 travel to school sixth forms and colleges for eligible students, however there is a charge for using this service.
Therefore, we would urge parent/carers and students to explore all the travel options available when considering their Post-16 pathways and planning their journeys to their chosen Post-16 provision.
We hope the information below will assist parents/carers and students to identify the most suitable and cost-effective travel options available to them.
Schools/College own transport arrangements
Some schools and colleges provide their own transport for students. Details on the travel options available can be explored using the below drop-down menu
Travel Options
If your college or school sixth form is not listed, we would advise you to contact them directly to ask about any travel options available to you.
The Journey Planner is also available to help you plan your journey to college/school sixth form.
Further information on rural transport services can be found through Connecting Communities.
Students could consider investigating options with moped hire companies such as: www.scoots-hire.com or www.kickstartmopeds.org.uk
Local bus or rail services
Local bus or rail services in the area operate to many schools, colleges and sixth form centres. Most bus or rail operators offer discounted tickets for students, with weekly, monthly, termly and annual tickets often available.
Our journey planner can be used to check if any applicable local services operate to your chosen Post-16 establishment.
Additionally, you are able to find links to local bus and rail operators websites on our contact page.
Travel Costs Assistance
Some Post-16 students may qualify for a bursary to assist with their travel costs; we would advise parents/carers and students to contact their college or school sixth form for further information.
Some Post-16 students may also be eligible for financial assistance from the 16-19 Bursary Fund.
What is the best option for me?
The following questions will help you to determine the best travel options available to you:
Suffolk County Council Post-16 Travel
Suffolk County Council (SCC) has a Post-16 Travel Policy which may support some Post-16 students if they are eligible under the policy criteria, however it is important to understand that this may not be the most appropriate or cost-effective option for many students. SCC Post-16 travel is not funded, and all students are expected to pay for any travel offered as per the Discretionary Terms and Conditions.
It is also important to note that the routes allocated to eligible students through the Post-16 Travel Policy may be on local public transport routes and students will be expected to get to the nearest main road pick-up point/bus stop to access the travel offered; this would include getting to the nearest village or town for some students.
The cost of SCC Post-16 travel for the 2026/27 academic year is £1,050 for a mainstream student and £780 for a student who has SEND.
For post-16 students whose family is in receipt of targeted free school meals, a 50% discount will be applied to the charge of a seat for post-16 travel.
If you wish to apply for SCC Post-16 travel for September 2026, you will need to apply between 1 March and 31 May 2026. If an alternative course is secured after 31 May 2026, you will need to submit a new application as soon as possible.
If your application is approved, you will be sent a termly invoice. Post-16 travel will be provided after we have received your payment.
Please only proceed with your application if you agree to pay this termly cost if travel is approved. If you fail to pay this termly cost, Post-16 travel will be withdrawn as per our Discretionary Terms and Conditions.