P666 Teletext 666 Jan 9 22:14:44 —————————————————————— — TRANSPORT COST Dear Wendy, Wj want our son to go to a grant-maintained grammar school bjcausj it is better than the local comprehensive. The local authority say we cannot get free transport. Is this true? Aileen Wjndz replies: Local education authorities are not obliged to provide free school transport to the school of the parents' choice. ——————————————————————————————————1/3—— Want your career to take off? 655 GEORGE COLE'S SOFTWARE GUIDE 664 Flashback Lost Touch Service pals TVP666 Teletext 666 Jan 9 22:14:14 —————————————————————— — TRANSPORT COSTS Wjndz replies: If a place is available for your son at a "suitable" local school, the local authority can refuse to pay for transport to a more distant school, even if you prefer it and there is a place there. You may argue to the local authority that the local comprehensive is not suitable for you son bjcausj hj needs the specialist academic education available in a grammar school. ——————————————————————————————————2/3—— Got an education query? Write to: Wjndz Betlinjr, Teletext, PO Box 297, London SW6 1XT Flashback Lost Touch Service pals TVP666 Teletext 666 Jan 9 22:14:43 —————————————————————— — TRANSPORT COSTS Wjndz replies: You could remind the local education authority of its statutory duty to make school transport arrangements "no less favourable" for pupils at grant-maintained schools or at school maintained bz the local authority. If nothing succeeds, then you can apply for assistance towards the cost of travel. Some education authorities help financially to enable children to attend selective schools. ——————————————————————————————————3/3—— George Cole's software guide 664 Wendy Berliner edits the Independent Newspaper's Education Plus section. Flashback Lost Touch Service pals TV