Compulsory education 'costing islanders thousands'

"It's pretty inconvenient," says 18-year-old Jacob Mallon of the 19-hour journey between his home in the Isles of Scilly and the college he has been attending for the past two years.

It is a trek he made up to 12 times a year, involving a plane, a bus, a hotel, a train and a taxi and it is not only inconvenient - it is also costly.

The islands are one of only two local authority areas in England with no sixth-form provision and as a result, his family say they are now in £20,000 of debt after sending their son to a state-run boarding college in Winchester.

The Isles of Scilly Council says other options are available, including cheaper host families but campaigners are concerned about the safety of children living in unregulated accommodation.

In 2015 it became a legal requirement for young people in England to stay in education, training or employment until 18.

In recent years, there have been between 15 to 32 Scilly children in each post-16 year group, with two year groups completing their sixth form education at any one time.

Children in the City of London - the only other local authority with no post-16 provision - can get a bus or tube to a nearby provider but island children have no choice but to travel to the mainland.

Where they live during this time is causing tensions between the council and parents - and it can also come as a culture shock to the young islanders.

"I have to get the boat or the plane, if I get the boat it gets in quite late so I have to stay the night in Penzance, then it's a six or seven hour train to Winchester," says Jacob, who has just finished his college studies.

Before starting college, the longest time he had spent off Scilly was about two weeks: "I'm used to walking down the road and knowing everyone but on the mainland, I don't know anyone and it's a bit weird."

Accommodation options include staying with host families, costing about £9,000 a year; boarding, with the nearest state boarding costing £16,500 per year - or imposing on mainland family and friends.

This does not include travel or other incidentals and families say the sums have been increasing "exponentially" as the cost of living goes up.

Parents can get a grant - increasing this year to £9,635 - to help with travel and accommodation costs.

Jacob's mother Samantha Mallon says: "Any raise in the money is welcome, but it's still so far short of what we need and it's not addressing the safeguarding issues."

Mother-of-two Jenny Bhadha is preparing to send her 15-year-old to the mainland in September.

"I do not feel happy or safe moving him into a family home that we've never met and don't know from Adam," she says.

Mrs Bhadha says she considered breaking up her family to move with her son to Devon – the fees for boarding accommodation simply out of the question.

Her son will be staying with a family friend in Plymouth while attending college there.

In January, former councillor Anita Bedford said she was resigning from the Isles of Scilly Council over the matter.

"I felt that the number one goal was to protect the organisation [council] at any cost," she says.

"I actually listened to councillors and officers saying, 'this is just a few precious mums who want to send their children to private boarding at the cost of £30,000 a year paid for by the taxpayer' - that was being spun, not just in meetings, but it was being spun within the community."

She adds her own time in host family accommodation "was not a good experience" and as a consequence, she funded her two children to go to state boarding.

"We wanted that environment, not just for the education, but that 24-hour wraparound," she says.

The council says it takes safeguarding of children and spending public money "very seriously", adding Ms Bedford's reasons for resigning were personal to her.

Statistics show Scilly has one of the highest proportions of 16 and 17 year olds not in education, employment or training.

"If [the council] can't afford to fund it... then they should be going back to the government which has made education up until 18 compulsory," Mrs Mallon adds.

"Parents shouldn't be subsidising the council or the government for what is their statutory duty."

The council says it will continue to make representations to central government to increase the level of funding and will write to the nearest state schools who offer boarding to ask for a discount for Isles of Scilly children in light of their "unique circumstances".

It gave its full support to host families saying they provide a "warm, welcoming and supportive home environment".

The Department for Education says it has increased funding to £8,000 for the coming year and adds: "This government is mission-driven to break down barriers to opportunity through our Plan for Change.

"We are committed to ensuring our post-16 education system gives young people the best life chances, whatever their background or postcode."

Additional reporting by Mark Edwards and David Dixon