Plan to end home to school transport could hit faith students

School children who attend faith schools could be hit the hardest if Council proposals to end discretionary home to school transport get the go ahead.

In the Council’s latest saving proposals they outline ending discretionary home to school transport for all children with effect from 1 September 2013. The change is aimed at children attending mainstream schools, not special schools.

Currently, 1,448 pupils receive discretionary bus passes from the council, 1,141 of these pupils attend faith schools.

If the proposals get the go ahead they are likely to save the council about £250,000 a year.

The discretionary areas are: support to pupils attending a faith school rather than the nearest school; extend the qualifying distance for 8-11 years olds from 2 miles to 3miles; support to children moving into the borough, but the child continues at the current school; and support where a child moves address within the borough and they remain  in their present school if in the last year of primary school or within 2 years of a public examination.

Councillor Dale Mulgrew is calling for the proposal to be modified to reflect the faith needs of the borough.

He said: "As this proposal in the main unfairly affects one particular catchment group, it has to be amended to reflect a fairer deal for the faith families of Rochdale and I call on the Labour Cabinet to look at this again."

"In other Greater Manchester authorities there is an exemption for faith pupils, so why cannot Rochdale follow suit? Otherwise, a two tier system is created. Families just above the low income eligibility will be deprived access to their preferred faith school because of the extra cost they will have to bear. This potentially could create an education apartheid by the Labour cabinet which would be outrageous in 2011."
Councillor Teresa Fitzsimons echoed Councillor Mulgrew’s concerned. She said: “I am very concerned.

“As a Conservative opposition spokesperson and a past Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families I think this is a very discriminatory proposal.”

Councillor Fitzsimons said she expressed her concerns to the Executive Director of Children, Schools and Families before the proposal went to Cabinet members earlier this week. She now says she is concerned that parents might not have the time or understanding to attend consultation meetings. 

Cheryl Eastwood, Executive Director at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We’re asking for views on new proposals to end discretionary home to school transport for children attending mainstream schools from September 2013. 

“At present we provide extra transport services, over and above our statutory duties.

“If the proposals are approved we would of course provide transport for children who are entitled to it by law and exercise our discretion to provide it in the case of exceptional need or circumstances.

“We are writing to parents this week to explain the proposals, and organising drop in sessions where people can feedback. 

“Anyone wishing to comment can also have their say at www.rochdale.gov.uk/yourviews or call in to their library, council customer service centre or township office.”

Children could still qualify under statutory arrangements if they are from a low income family and the school is among the nearest to them, or if it is the child’s nearest school, but beyond the statutory walking distance.