by political editor Paul Francis

Students over the age of 16 could pay up to £380 for a subsidised bus pass under plans being considered by Kent County Council - the equivalent of £10 a week.

The plans will be considered by county councillors today at a meeting where campaigners will have the chance to press the case for help.

More than 12,000 people have signed an e-petition to ask KCC to introduce a travel pass for students over the age of 16 - forcing the council to debate the issue today.

A report to be tabled to the same meeting outlines two proposals. Each would also allow students unlimited travel at weekends and for journeys other than those to get to and from school.

Under both, students could pay nothing towards the costs of a pass at one level but others may pay as much as £380.

Both options would mean the county council meeting the full costs of a pass - about £750 - and then schools and colleges offering different subsidies depending on each student’s circumstances.

Education chiefs say one option would be for KCC to buy the passes, then sell them to schools and colleges, who would then decide which students would qualify and how much they should pay.

As many as 4,000 students, including those training with employers, could qualify - at a cost of about £3m to cover subsidies.

Cllr Sarah Hohler (Con) KCC cabinet member for education, said: "The £380 is still half what it would cost us and given that it would allow unlimited travel it would still be good value for money, at about £10 a week. We know this is something that students are really keen on."

Concern over the issue of post-16 school transport has risen in the wake of the government’s decision to abolish educational maintenance allowances, grants that many students used to meet travel costs.

KCC provides a Freedom Pass offering unlimited travel for pupils but it is only up to the age of 16.

It also has discretionary arrangements for helping just over 1,000 students with special needs and supports a further 490 pupils with learning difficulties under a statutory scheme.

A report suggests that the scheme could be introduced in September 2012 depending on the outcome of three trial projects assessing different options.