Context
Education under the age of 18 is meant to be free in Wales - yet for thousands of learners, the cost, complexity and unreliability of travel means it simply isn’t. From rural communities with no viable bus routes, to learners with Additional Learning Needs (ALN) navigating inconsistent and fragmented financial support, transport is quietly pushing young people into educational poverty. Too many learners are forced to choose courses, colleges or even whether to stay in education at all based not on aspiration or ability, but on whether they can physically afford to get there. Learner travel has become one of the biggest barriers to post-16 participation - and without a national solution, the system is perpetuating unfairness and inequality by design.
Today (3 March 2026) the Welsh Government is hosting a learner travel workshop focused on post-16 education. This briefing note for MSs is accompanied by a short film featuring college learners from across Wales, who share the daily realities of travelling to college - from cost and rural isolation to ALN support and unreliable services - bringing to life the barriers that learner travel continues to create.
Background
Learner travel is consistently one of the biggest barriers that college learners face when they begin their college education, or work placement. Welsh Government research tells us that for 41% of 16 to 24-year-olds, transport costs are the primary obstacle to enrolling onto new courses, training or employment opportunities1.
The inconsistency in funding arrangements across different local authorities leads to a ‘postcode lottery’ for learners, with some colleges and families bearing the brunt of rising transport costs, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with ALN. An increasing number of learners are experiencing educational poverty because they can’t afford to travel to their chosen college. Learners from both rural and urban communities are facing shared barriers to accessing further education, with access and availability presenting significant challenges.
Coleg Cambria learner, Matilda Croft, told us she lives an hour and a half away from her college, and originally had to take multiple public buses before the college started paying for her transport,
“The college were so kind to allow me direct transport because I struggle with catching multiple buses, especially if they’re running late, and because there’s no bus stop near to my house, missing the connecting bus would mean I couldn’t attend college.”
These disparities threaten to undermine the effectiveness of routes into post-16 education and training, as travel should never be the factor that prevents young people from pursuing their chosen pathways or achieving their potential. Addressing these travel challenges is crucial to ensure equitable access to education and skills development across Wales.
In 2024/25 colleges in Wales faced an increase of more than £3.2million in learner travel costs - an additional burden they cannot continue to absorb year after year. With costs rising annually, the pressure on college budgets will only intensify. This is why, in our manifesto, Growth, Opportunity, and Fairness, we are calling on the next Welsh Government to introduce national support for learner travel, ensuring all learners are treated fairly, regardless of whether they travel by public bus, college-funded transport or rail. The NUS Wales manifesto supports this, calling for the next Welsh Government to act to make transport affordable, accessible, and reliable for all learners.
Travel for learners with Additional Learning Needs (ALN)
Although travel is mentioned within the ALN and Education Tribunal (Wales) Act 2018, there are no specific requirements for post-16 travel. Whilst the Learner Travel Measure (2008) acknowledges learner travel funding levels are determined by both local authorities and colleges, this results in inconsistent provision. As a result, access to ALN travel support varies significantly depending on the college, local authority and the level of funding or specialist equipment required.
There is a clear need for greater transparency and communication between local authorities and colleges when assessing ALN learner applications for specialist transport. In some cases, applications are rejected without consultation with the college, leaving families to absorb the costs. Colleges have also called for a more structured and uniformed approach by schools and local authorities to better prepare ALN learners with the skills and confidence needed to use public transport, prior to progressing to college.
Some colleges also report that ALN learners choose school sixth forms over college, purely because transport support is more readily available. This reflects an inequity in provision, as many local authorities offer free travel to school sixth form learners, but not to those attending college.
£1 Bus Scheme
ColegauCymru welcomes the Welsh Government scheme for young people aged 21 and under to pay £1 for a single bus fare in Wales. The scheme recognises the growing pressure on colleges to support learner travel, including travel to work placements that form part of a programmes of study.
While the scheme provides some support, it does not go far enough. Many college campuses are in rural areas with no access to public bus routes, and in other areas, bus timetables do not align with college schedules meaning learners risk missing the start of their teaching session. In addition, many learners rely on rail travel in order to access college, which is not covered by the scheme.
Cardiff and Vale College Student Governor, Ariana Mendes, told us,
“The £1 bus scheme is great, but it needs to be extended to trains. Many students still rely on multiple modes of transport, and this can force learners to change their college choices...Travel options shouldn’t dictate which college a learner can attend.”
Coleg y Cymoedd learner, James Jones, added,
“The £1 scheme has saved me a lot of money…but when there’s no buses, or when they’re full and pass by, it still doesn’t work - I simply can’t get to college.”
Apprenticeships and Sixth Form travel
Apprentices receive no dedicated travel subsidies, as they are classified as ‘employed’ rather than learners. As a result, public transport providers can only offer standard young-person discounts, not free travel.
During the Cross-Party Group for Further Education and Skills meeting on 20 January 2026, learners on our post-16 participation panel highlighted the inequity in provision: school sixth form pupils receive free transport, whilst there is no guaranteed provision for college learners. This discrepancy creates an unfair barrier to further education.
Read more on the insightful panel discussion: College learners share views on participation challenges at the Senedd.
Conclusion
Cost and access to transport remain the biggest barriers to education for too many learners in Wales. While steps toward a more affordable national offer are welcome, real change demands a consistent, long-term learner travel solution - one that covers college and work placement journeys, aligns with ALN duties, and is backed by reliable network capacity.
Wales must commit to a fair, national approach that treats access to education as a right. This can only be achieved through a coordinated, cross-government approach, working with local authorities and fully engaging FE colleges. Any future learner travel offer must clearly include post-16 education, covering both college learners and apprentices travelling to work placements. A Wales-wide solution would lift learners out of poverty, support wellbeing, widen participation and strengthen the future workforce - delivering fair travel and a fair future for Wales.
Further Information
Watch the video Fair Travel, Fair Future
ColegauCymru Manifesto for the Senedd election 2026
Growth, Opportunity and Fairness
Amy Williams, Policy Officer
Amy.Williams@ColegauCymru.ac.uk
