Access to Further Education is being seriously undermined in rural areas due to poor public transport, with students struggling to reach colleges on time... or at all.
The issue was recently raised in Parliament by Shrewsbury MP Julia Buckley, who is calling for urgent changes to funding rules so that more rural colleges can offer travel bursaries.
One example is Shrewsbury Colleges Group, which serves students from across Shropshire, mid-Wales, Herefordshire and the West Midlands. Principal James Staniforth has seen demand for places increase, but says the college misses out on key government support because it delivers both A-levels and vocational FE courses. Current funding structures favour providers that specialise in just one, creating a funding gap for blended institutions like Shrewsbury.
The impact of unreliable transport is tangible. Students from outlying areas often arrive late or excessively early, with many saying the stress and disruption is affecting their education. With local sixth forms closing and provision becoming more centralised, transport has become a major barrier for young people in rural communities.
Buckley described it as a “poverty of opportunity,” where students are forced to lower their aspirations simply because they cannot get to college reliably. Although the government reiterated that local authorities are responsible for transport provision, the FE sector is left managing the consequences.
Shrewsbury Colleges Group is not alone. Across the country, rural providers face similar challenges. Without reform, these transport issues risk becoming a long-term threat to educational access and social mobility for thousands of young people.
BBC Radio Shropshire interviewed several students to hear their story, which you can read here.