Concerns raised over rural transport services

According to a report from Rural England, three out of five young people in rural areas do not have adequate public transport to get to secondary school.

The State of Rural Services report reveals a lack of public transport in education, and raises concerns about gaps in access to broadband in rural areas.

The report finds that Local authority funding for buses in rural areas has fallen by 25 per cent in the past four years, while around half of people in smaller villages do not have access to any public transport.

David Hughes, chief Executive of the Association of Colleges, said choices about education should be based on what was the best option and "not just making the decision based on the cheapest bus or train fare".

Kirstie Donnelly, managing director of City & Guilds, said the study raised significant concerns:

"The sad reality is that we are seeing signs of a reduction in learning opportunities for many young people across the country, with access to post-16 education under threat from college mergers or closures resulting from the ongoing area-based reviews.

"As this report shows, learners in rural areas already face a number of obstacles in accessing training or apprenticeships.

"It's crucial that policymakers consider how they can help people overcome them, rather than creating new barriers."

Download the report here