Settle College to fund free transport after 28 per cent pupil drop

Figures in the North Yorkshire Council post-implementation review show that Settle College’s Year 7 cohort fell from 93 pupils in 2025/26 to 67 in 2026/27 — a reduction of 26 pupils, or around 28 per cent.

Following the publication of the review this week, the school’s governing body has announced that it will fund transport for eligible pupils from communities including Bentham, Ingleton, Burton in Lonsdale and surrounding catchment areas.

The scheme will apply to pupils starting in September 2027 whose applications are submitted by October 31, and will continue for future intakes.

The college has also said eligible families of pupils who joined Year 7 this month and are currently paying transport costs will be reimbursed.

Headteacher Gareth Whitaker said governors had acted because any changes resulting from the council review would not take effect in time for September 2027 admissions.

“We want families to be able to choose their local school without transport costs becoming a deciding factor,” he said.

The council review found that the proportion of the school’s Year 7 pupils eligible for free home-to-school transport had fallen from 63.8 per cent in 2023/24 to 47.8 per cent in 2026/27.

At the same time, the proportion of transported Year 7 pupils using paid travel arrangements rose from 1.4 per cent in June 2025 to 18.6 per cent in May 2026.

Mr Whitaker is due to address councillors when the post-implementation review is considered next week to explain the impact on schools and rural communities.

The college will also explain the new transport offer at its open evening on Thursday, October 1, from 6pm to 8pm.

The review says Settle was the exception among four secondary-school case studies, with cohort sizes at the other schools remaining broadly stable.

It adds that the fall at Settle could be linked to greater awareness of the new transport policy in its second year, although it stresses that other admissions factors may also be involved and says further monitoring is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.

The report also suggests the policy may be influencing parental choice.

The proportion of Settle College’s Year 7 cohort choosing the school when it was their catchment school but not their nearest school fell from 31.9 per cent in 2024/25 to 17.2 per cent in 2025/26 and 13.4 per cent in 2026/27.