BUS FROM WITHIN CATCHMENT

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I stay in Almondbank and my child goes to Pitcairn primary, the parents would like to know if the kids will get a bus to school as they are only going to be 11/12 years old. And it’s not very far from Almondbank but still long enough when they have to walk to and from school in the winter etc. 

Home to school transport is not provided based on the age of pupils.  Transport entitlement is determined by factors such as distance from school and road safety considerations of the route to be travelled.  Secondary school pupils who live more than 3 miles from their catchment secondary school are provided with a statutory entitlement to free home to school transport. 

Although Almondbank is less than 3 miles from Bertha Park High School, there is currently no safe walking or cycling route for pupils to travel from Almondbank to Bertha Park High School.  Therefore, free home to school transport will be provided for these pupils on road safety grounds and parents should ensure they have submitted an application for transport.

Transport will be provided until such time as suitable infrastructure to facilitate a safe walking route as part of the footpath networks may be developed to provide this in the future as part of the wider Bertha Park development.

Concerned regarding getting to and from school.  It have heard that the pupils are to walk.  I personally am not comfortable with the idea of my still 11 year old who has never been allowed further than the village in Almondbank suddenly having to find his way in to and home from school in Perth safely.

What are the plans are regarding children within catchment? If they are expected to walk/cycle or is there transport being laid on? Please supply some info.

All catchment pupils living more than 3 miles from Bertha Park High School will be provided with free home to school transport.  Catchment pupils who live within 3 miles of the school will be provided with transport where there is currently no safe walking route to school.  A safe walking route is determined by national criteria.

Will the school buses currently running to the Academy simply continue, but to Bertha Park?

No - the school transport vehicles serving Bertha Park High School will not serve Perth Academy.  There is not sufficient time for both schools to be served by the same vehicle.

Children get a taxi (provided) from the house to Bankfoot to get the bus into Perth Grammar School. We trust this will be similar for our Son attending Bertha Park? Many thanks.

It is likely that a taxi will be allocated to travel into Bankfoot to connect with the main bus to Bertha Park High School.  The only alternative arrangement may be that the main bus would serve where you live if possible and your son would board the bus there.  The taxi/bus is the most likely outcome.

Will the Bridge of Earn bus route stay the same as it is at the moment or will Kintillo Road be factored in?

Pupils from Bridge of Earn, Forgandenny, Forteviot, Logiealmond, Methven and Bankfoot will be provided with free home to school transport on distance grounds.  Pupils from Almondbank and Ruthvenfield will be provided with free home to school transport on road safety grounds. 

The school transport for entitled pupils to travel to and from Bertha Park High School will be subject to a competitive tendering process.  The bus operators, exact times and routes of the awarded tenders will be known by early July.  All parents of entitled pupils who have applied for transport for their child will be advised in writing of the bus operator, route and timings during the summer holidays which is the case for all pupils’ school travel arrangements for the new school session. 

The severe weather arrangements for school transport which apply to all schools in Perth and Kinross will also apply to Bertha Park High School.

Will there be a bus put on for the Bridge of Earn children and who is likely to get the contract?

Will there be a school bus from Forgandenny going through Bridge of Earn to Bertha park?

Will the current bus arrangements in mornings and afternoons continue but to Bertha Park rather than Perth Grammar? Particularly from Bridge of Earn?

Will there be a bus from rural Logiealmond straight to and from Bertha Park? What is the bad weather plan, please?

Will transport be provided for Methven pupils via Almondbank? Or will a bus service be provided for Almondbank pupils?

Times of buses?

BUS FROM OUTWITH CATCHMENT

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If my child does get a space at Bertha Park then could I take her to a bus stop where the school bus is already picking up instead of taking her all of the way to the school myself?

Pupils who are not entitled to transport may apply for a concessionary transport place.  Concessionary transport will only be considered where there are vacant seats on the vehicle and where the pupil lives within 3 miles of the contracted pick-up point.   Parents must be aware that even if this is allocated, concessionary transport may be withdrawn at very short notice should the number of entitled pupils increase.  Concessionary transport must be applied for annually and there is no guarantee that transport will be offered in following years.

Will there be transport from Tulloch area to the school?

There will be no school transport serving the Tulloch area as Tulloch is not within the catchment area for Bertha Park High School.  There will not be a direct local bus service from Tulloch to Bertha Park High School to coincide with school start and finishing times.

My child currently attends a feeder primary school, in P7. Our home address is currently outwith the school catchment area and we would very much prefer him to attend Bertha Park with his peer group.  I am aware that PK policy is that parents of a child outwith catchment are responsible for travel to and from school, However, would we be allowed to convey him to Bridge of Earn each day and him travel to school with his friends and class mates from there?

Pupils who are not entitled to transport may apply for a concessionary transport place.  Concessionary transport will only be considered where there are vacant seats on the vehicle and where the pupil lives within 3 miles of the contracted pick-up point.   Parents must be aware that even if this is allocated, concessionary transport may be withdrawn at very short notice should the number of entitled pupils increase.  Concessionary transport must be applied for annually and there is no guarantee that transport will be offered in following years.

How will my child get to school as I’ve got to get my younger child to a different primary school so wouldn’t be able to take him.

Parents who make a successful placing request for their child to attend Bertha Park High School are responsible for all arrangements and all costs relating to their child’s transport to attend the school.  There will not be a direct local bus service to Bertha Park High School to coincide with school start and finishing times. 

PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO BPHS

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For any after school clubs will there be PKC buses for children to travel on from Bertha Park into Perth or any surrounding areas?

Perth & Kinross Council does not provide transport for travel home from after school clubs from any secondary schools.

If there are after school activities / sports will our children be able to get a later bus?

Will there be a bus route from the city centre out to Bertha Park, especially to fit around school times? I ask this as a family out with catchment but I imagine there will also be catchment students who have after school activities or appointments after school that are in town, therefore would not be returning home.

Perth & Kinross Council does not provide transport for travel home from after school clubs from any secondary schools.  There will not be a direct local bus service to Bertha Park High School to coincide with the start and finish times.  There may be a local bus service serving Bertha Park housing estate, possibly commencing later in 2019.  It is likely to be an hourly service at most, but will not be travelling between the city centre and school at school start and finish times.  The reason for this is that the purpose of the service will be to transport Bertha Park residents into the city centre so it will either not operate at school times or operate in the opposite direction. 

Just wondering if there will be a bus service to the school from the Crieff road area? I know there are bus stops on the new road that goes past the crematorium so just wondering if there will be buses going that way to the school.

There will not be a direct local bus service from Crieff Road area to Bertha Park High School to coincide with school start and finishing times

Just seeing if there will be a public transport put to get to the school

There will not be a direct local bus service to Bertha Park High School to coincide with school start and finishing times.  There may be a local bus service serving Bertha Park housing estate, possibly commencing later in 2019.   It is likely to be an hourly service at most, but will not be travelling between the city centre and school at school start and finish times.  The reason for this is that the purpose of the service will be to transport Bertha Park residents into the city centre so it will either not operate at school times or operate in the opposite direction. 

As my child is not in catchment he will be counting on a public bus to get to school.  Will there be a bus route in time for the August start, how frequent will it be and will the timetable ensure my son gets too & from school in a timely manner taking into consideration any after school activities or clubs? Thank you for your time!

Hi. I would like to know there will be buses from town to Bertha park / Bertha park to town? Just normal route bus? Because lots of kids have clubs and activities after school and need to be in town on time.

My son was originally in the catchment area because he went to a feeder primary in P6 and P7 and at the beginning of first year, he moved house but still remains in the Bertha Park cohort at the Grammar school.  I am concerned that there will be no transportation from the city centre to the school.  Can you clarify please? 

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL

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From Almondbank is there going to be a path with lights put in place to link Bertha Park to Almondbank? I think this would encourage kids to walk and cycle for keeping fit rather than busses 

Home to school transport is not provided based on the age of pupils.  Transport entitlement is determined by factors such as distance from school and road safety considerations of the route to be travelled.  Secondary school pupils who live more than 3 miles from their catchment secondary school are provided with free home to school transport on distance grounds. 

Although Almondbank, Ruthvenfield and Huntingtowerfield is less than 3 miles from Bertha Park High School, there is currently no safe walking or cycling route for pupils to travel from these areas to Bertha Park High School.  Therefore, free home to school transport will be provided for these catchment pupils on road safety grounds and parents should ensure they have submitted an application for transport. 

Transport will be provided until such time as suitable infrastructure to facilitate a safe walking route as part of the footpath networks may be developed to provide this in the future as part of the wider Bertha Park development.  A safe walking route is determined by national criteria.

No pupils are expected to walk through fields and building sites to attend school.

Will there be transport for pupils from Almondbank as there is no lit pathway at present to Bertha Park even though it is under 2 miles walking distance

Is there going to be a safe route for the kids to walk and with street lighting and will there be a bus put on for the school.

Can you please advise what school transport will be provided from Ruthvenfield and if no transport is provided them please advise of the route that you deem safe for my two children to walk along to get to the school.

There is no safe walking route from Ruthvenfield

Travel from Almondbank. I'm not confident that it is a safe walk.

My son stays in almondbank, I know Bertha park is not far for him to walk but I don’t like the fact of him walking through muddy fields in the dark, will there be a path in place with street lighting?

My concern is there is no safe walking route from Huntingtowerfield to BP, can you please advise what options are available for our children to get to school safely

My concern is my son walking to school from almondbank if no bus is provided, it’s only about 20 mins walk however it’s through fields Would there be any plans to put a walkway path with lights for kids?

We live in Pitcairngreen is our daughter is expected to walk to school? As the school is 3.5 miles away by car. We feel it is extremely unsafe for her to walk as there is no lit footpath and it is also routed through woodland and fields and extremely remote.

There appears to be no Safe walking routes to school

Other

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We see and hear incidences of poor behaviour on the buses to and from other schools.  How is this to be prevented / contained for those using buses to and from Bertha Park. 

All buses contracted to serve Bertha Park High School will be fitted with CCTV cameras.  Any reports of inappropriate will be reported to the school and dealt with in accordance with their protocols.

Will there be travel support for pupils with more than one address. One which might be outwith the catchment area?

Transport is not provided from more than one address for any pupils.  No transport will be provided for pupils travelling from outwith the catchment area.

Will transport automatically be provided for P7 catchment pupils to attend S1 at Bertha Park High School?

No – parents who wish their child to be provided with free home to school transport will need to submit an application.   Applications for transport for pupils who will be moving into S1 in August 2019 must be submitted no later than 10 May 2019.

Online applications can be made on the link below:

https://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/17284/Schools-transport-and-trips