11 January 2010 

Freedom pass expands out of Kent 

Students from Kent will soon be able to use the highly successful Kent Freedom Pass to go to schools outside the county. 

Kent County Council’s Cabinet today decided the popular scheme should be expanded for local students travelling beyond the county boundary. This will take effect from September 2010. 

The Kent Freedom Pass is the first of its kind in the country and other areas are looking to see how well it works. More than 21,000 passes have been issued since the scheme was introduced in June 2007. 

For a £50 upfront annual fee, students in years seven to 11 can travel free anytime, anywhere. About 600,000 journeys a month are being made for journeys to school, leisure and social activities. 

Of the school journeys, about 30% previously travelled to school by car, helping to reduce traffic congestion and encourage use of public transport.

Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Highways Nick Chard said : “This is a trailblazing Kent initiative. The success of Kent Freedom Pass shows that we are prepared to take action to tackle difficult problems. Students in our secondary schools asked for this, and we have delivered it. “I am pleased that we are now able to extend the scheme for children who reside in Kent but go to school outside the county. There are 2,252 children attending schools outside Kent , in Medway , Sussex and London , who will benefit from this Cabinet decision.” 

A call for Kent Freedom Pass to be made available to all secondary school and college students was turned down for various reasons. Cabinet was told students in years 12 and 13 could be eligible for travel assistance, and there were changes coming in education for older students which would also have a bearing. 

For details of travel assistance, got to www.direct.gov.uk, or www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-learning