The 2025/26 Further Education Transport Appeals process is now available. To submit an online appeal, see categories of appeal information below.
How can I appeal a decision to refuse transport assistance?
If you want to lodge an appeal, you must have formally applied for transport assistance and had your application refused*. There is only one right of appeal and it is your responsibility to provide appropriate and sufficient evidence to substantiate your grounds for appeal.
*If lodging an appeal, you will be asked to provide the unique reference number provided when you made an application for transport assistance.
How can I make a complaint?
We aim to provide the best possible service at all times, but we recognise that sometimes things can go wrong. When this happens, we will do our best to put things right.
You can make a comment or complaint in person, by telephone, in writing or online and the Transport Division will investigate the issue and aim to resolve this as quickly and effectively as possible. Where this is not possible, the Education Authority’s Complaints Handling Procedure sets out the formal process for making a complaint.
Be advised that as per the Education Authority’s Appeals Guidelines; only one appeal can be submitted therefore please ensure that you have provided ALL relevant details. The decision made by the Authority is final.
Please ensure you have read the Appeals guidelines before submitting an application for appeal.
The categories of appeal are listed below:
Categories of Appeal
Distance
The qualifying distance to Further Education College is 3 miles.
We use a GIS system to accurately measure distances. Appeals on these grounds if you made a formal application and our system determined that you live at least 2.9 miles from your nearest Further Education College.
We do not accept measurements from other mapping systems e.g. Google Maps, Bing Maps, AA Route Finder or vehicle odometers. The Authority will only therefore recalculate distance on the basis that your home is plotted incorrectly on the map.
Timeframe
The Authority will endeavour to provide a written update on the outcome of your appeal within 20 working days.
If your Distance appeal is unsuccessful there is no further right of Appeal on these grounds to the Education Authority.
If you feel that the appeals procedure has not been administered correctly you can contact us through the comments/complaints process.
Until you receive formal notification from the Authority regarding the outcome of an appeal all transport arrangements remain a parental responsibility.
Nearer College
I was refused admission to my nearest Further Education College.
You can appeal on these grounds if:
- You have evidence that you applied and been refused admittance to ALL your nearest college(s); or
- You have moved house since you last applied for transport and been formally refused admission to your nearest college. (Written evidence from each college outlining that you have applied for, and been refused admission, must be submitted with your appeal).
Details of all your nearest College(s) are included in the email you received from the Authority at the time of application.
Timeframe
The Authority will endeavour to provide a written update on the outcome of your appeal within 20 working days.
If your Refused Admission appeal is unsuccessful there is no further right of Appeal on these grounds to the Education Authority.
If you feel that the appeals procedure has not been administered correctly you can contact us through the comments/complaints process.
Until you receive formal notification from the Authority regarding the outcome of an appeal all transport arrangements remain a parental responsibility.
Road Safety
You can appeal an assessment of eligibility on the grounds that an element of the journey to college should be excluded from the distance calculation due to an exceptional road safety hazard. Be advised that you must meet the eligibility criteria in order for your appeal to be considered i.e. the student must be attending their nearest college. Transport assistance would only be awarded if the subsequent exclusion meant that the distance to the college attended exceeds the statutory walking distance.
It is important to note that assessments:
- Under Department of Education Transport Circular, parents/students can be expected to assist with the first 3 miles of the journey to college. Therefore, the EA will not consider appeals relating to this part of the journey.
- In accordance with the DE Circular 1996-41 the Authority “will not be expected to introduce new bus routes or services for individuals or small groups of pupils where the cost of such transport would result in unreasonable public expenditure”.
- Assessments are undertaken in line with Road Safety GB guidelines. Parents/students are encouraged to read this guidance prior to submitting an appeal, for example the absence of street lighting or a footpath does not automatically constitute an exceptional road safety hazard.
Timeframe
Road Safety assessments can only be conducted during term time when Further Education Colleges are operational. The Authority will endeavour to provide a written update on the progress of your appeal within 20 working days. However, this timescale may not be feasible for Appeals submitted during school closures or during peak periods i.e. September/October and in this instance the Authority will provide an update as soon as practically possible.
If your Road Safety appeal is unsuccessful there is no further right of Appeal on these grounds to the Education Authority.
If you feel that the appeals procedure has not been administered correctly you can contact us through the comments/complaints process.
Until you receive formal notification from the Authority regarding the outcome of an appeal all transport arrangements remain a parental responsibility.
Exceptional Circumstances
The requirements for the Education Authority to provide transport assistance are set out in the Department of Education’s Circular 1996/41 – School Transport
Paragraph 8 of the above Circular recognises that transport assistance can be provided in cases which it considers to be exceptional.
It is not possible to provide an exhaustive list of those circumstances that are considered exceptional; however, grounds such as enforced relocation, severe mental health concerns or persistent/serious bullying by a fellow student who uses the same service would be considered. The domestic or working arrangements of a family cannot be considered.
When making an appeal parents/students must provide sufficient written evidence that demonstrates the exceptional nature of the case. Each appeal is considered upon its individual merits and the Education Authority reserves the right to request additional information and/or to conduct further investigations or inquiries.
Timeframes
The Exceptional Circumstances Panel convenes on a monthly basis to consider all applications and deliver a decision as quickly as possible. Insufficient information at the time of submission will delay consideration of your appeal.
A written outcome will normally be sent to you within 10 working days of the Panel.
Please note that if upheld the EA is not required to make special provision over and above existing transport policy where this would result in unreasonable expenditure of public funds.
If your Exceptional Circumstances appeal is unsuccessful there is no further right of Appeal on these grounds to the Education Authority.
If you feel that the appeals procedure has not been administered correctly you can contact us through the comments/complaints process.
Until you receive formal notification from the Authority regarding the outcome of an appeal all transport arrangements remain a parental responsibility.