Transport - Sixth Form Travel Issues

Traveling By Bus

The map below indicates bus routes into and around Braintree, for journeys to the Braintree Sixth Form Centre (Notley Road, Braintree, CM7 1WY).

Bus Routes

Bus Routes (All routes stop in Braintree Town Centre at the Bus Park or at the Railway Station)

Route Number Area
9 & 10 Great Bardfield
9 & 10 Finchingfield
21 Black Notley
34A & 509 Great Notley
70 & 70X Coggeshall & Bradwell
72A Whitham
89 Great Yeldham
89 & 352 Halstead
133 & 509 Dunmow
352 Little Waltham & Great Leighs

At present the 21 ‘First Bus’ service leaves Braintree Bus Park during the week at 07:55 to arrive outside Braintree Sixth Form at 08:04. The next service leaves the Bus Park at 08:25 to arrive at 08:35 (5 minutes after lesson 1 begins.). The Scheduling Department of First Bus has been advised of the increased demand there will be in September. If they make any changes to their schedules, we will publicise them on the website.

For full timetable details see www.nationalrail.co.uk or call 08457 484950.

Financial Assistance for Travel

If you live further than 3 miles from the Braintree Sixth Form Centre and the Centre is your nearest 6th form college you may be entitled to free public transport. To qualify for free travel your parents must be claiming certain benefits including Child Tax Credits and/or Working Tax Credit or have a total income of less than £15,495 per annum. If neither of these criteria apply to you and you still live further than 3 miles away from the Centre, you may be asked to make a contribution towards travel of £485 per annum. Please call 01245 245900 for further information or to apply for Post 16 travel assistance.

Other Financial Assistance Available

For students who are not supported by the above, Essex County Council offer other ways of supporting students:

Thebuscard: For a £10 charge, 16- 24 year olds can benefit from child rate fares on many VillageLink and other services.

Scholar’s Season Ticket: Under 19s can buy a termly or annual ticket. These offer discounts of 10% and 20% off the cheapest child rate return fare. It can be used on most Essex County Council subsidised local bus services. It cannot be used during college holidays.

Spare Seat Scheme: This might prove useful if there is already a school service taking secondary school pupils to the Notley site.

Traveling on foot

Directions from local catchment areas in Braintree

From Tabor Science College area:

  • Southbound along Panfield Lane;
  • Turn right into Aetheric Road;
  • Turn left into Pierrefitte Way
  • Turn left on to the High Street;
  • Turn right in to St Michaels Road;
  • Turn right in to Notley Road

Approx 33 mins

From Alec Hunter Humanities College area:

  • South bound along Cressing Road
  • Turn left into Chapel Hill;
  • Turn right into Mill Hill;
  • Leading into Skills Hill (NB No 21 bus available here heading south bound from Skitts Hill; Leave bus at John Ray School, Notley Road);
  • Turn right into Orchard Drive;
  • Turn left into Stephenson Road;
  • Turn right into Buckwood road
    Turn left into Notley Road

Approx 39 mins

From Honywood Community Science School area:

  • No 70 bus from Gurton Road, Coggeshall;
  • Leave bus at Braintree Railway Station Bus Park;
  • Turn left into Manor Street;
  • Turn left into Fairfield Road;
  • Turn right into South Street;
  • Turn left into Notley Road;

Approx 40 mins

Traveling by Car or Motorbike

Students who wish to attend the Sixth Form on motorbikes, scooters or any other motorised one or two wheeled vehicles will need to have written permission from the Director of Sixth Form to bring their vehicle on site. Permission will be conditional upon satisfying the Sixth Form that:

a) the student has a valid license
b) the student can use the equipment responsibly
c) the vehicle is roadworthy and properly insured

A part of the planning consent for the Sixth Form was the assurance that we would not provide parking spaces for Sixth Form students who wish to drive, as this would lead to increased traffic on local roads. The Sixth Form therefore is unable to give permission for students to drive in to the Sixth Form.

Sixth Form students who wish to drive on site, either driving to school and allowing someone else to take the car home, or vice versa, will need written permission from the Director of Sixth Form and permission will be conditional upon satisfying the Sixth Form on the same three criteria as those identified above for motor bikes and scooters.

The Sixth Form strongly recommends that students with a newly achieved license do not carry other students in a vehicle without both sets of parents being aware and agreeing to the journey.

The Local Authority provides transport assistance to post 16 students under conditions which include:

  • The student must live at least 3 miles away from the Sixth Form centre
  • The student must be attending the nearest place at which the course is available
  • The student must be attending a full time course of 450 hours per year (ie a minimum of 3 A levels or equivalent classes and courses).

There is an annual contribution to travel costs (£485 in 2008) unless the family is eligible to have the charge waived on the grounds of income. Costs can be spread through monthly instalments. For further information see the local authority website: www.essexcc.gov.uk/studentsupport or www.getonthemove.org.uk