A NORTH East college says it has to provide its own back up transport to ensure pupils can sit exams this summer due to buses failing to run.

Darren Hankey, principal of Hartlepool College, said he was not alone and he was aware of other colleges across the region and further afield having to do the same.

On Tuesday, Mr Hankey had to jump in his car to pick up a pupil in east Durham who was unable to get to the college for a GCSE maths exam when a bus failed to show up.

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He said: “Since we’ve come back this year it has certainly been an issue day to day.

“I don’t want to criticise the bus companies because they have been through a lot and numbers are still down but day to day there are issues in terms of students getting to college.

“We have problems day to day but when it comes to exams we really want to make sure they can get in. What we do is with some students where we know they will have issues getting in we put on extra mini buses.

“With the student yesterday, she went to get the bus and it didn’t show up. She had the foresight to go home and call us and I was able to jump in my car to go and get her.”

He added: “If that hadn’t happened she might not have got there and sat the exam and that would have had an impact on her life chances.”

Bus companies have been struggling with driver shortages since the pandemic, with cancellations becoming more frequent.

The Northern Echo:

Mr Hankey said: “On a day to day basis we get a handful of people impacted and come in late. We don’t put on our own transport for that but for exams we do.

He added: “It’s not a unique position we are in – other colleges in the Tees Valley and North East are doing similar things.

“We want out students to be able to sit the exams they have been working hard for."

Calling for further investment, Mr Hankey warned that if young people are not able to access public transport it limits their opportunities.

He said: “I don’t think its controversial to say there needs to be more investment in buses. I think it’s a key part of levelling up. Young people and adult learners need it to access opportunities and get work as well.

“If young people don’t have access to a good and regular bus service then it limits their opportunities.”

The Tees Valley Combined Authority was awarded £310million from the Government’s Sustainable Transport Settlement fund, of which £40m will be spent on the bus network

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “There’s no point in creating thousands of new job opportunities and access to skills and training if nobody can physically access them, that’s why we’re investing heavily in our transport infrastructure.”

He added: “I’m working very closely with regional bus companies to ensure that they provide the services our local people rightly demand. The bus network is getting a £40million boost, with work to improve key corridors to help with efficiency of services as well as revamping bus shelters, with work underway shortly.

“Furthermore, we’re helping those that don’t own a vehicle or aren’t close to public transport links, have great opportunities too, we’ve recently expanded our £3.5million Wheels 2 Work scheme – which gives people access to electric bikes and bicycles to help them get to and from work – and also the Tees Flex on-demand bus service, so no one is left behind across Teesside, Darlington or Hartlepool.”

Last month, Arriva announced plans to cut services in Darlington and parts of Teesside from June 12 to try and provide a more reliable service as it struggles with driver shortages and cancellations.  

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An Arriva spokesperson said: “Whilst we don’t run bespoke services for Hartlepool College, we do run several services into the centre of Hartlepool from the north and west and these can be used by students attending the college.

“Like many other bus operators throughout the country, in recent months we have struggled with staffing issues (linked to Covid 19) and a shortage of driving staff, which unfortunately do lead to some journey cancellations.”

 

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