Stagecoach criticised by school over timetable

Ursuline College in Westgate-on-Sea has had to change its timetable to meet new government requirements

A headteacher has said the refusal of bus operator Stagecoach to change its timetable will lead to buses becoming dangerously overcrowded.

The Ursuline College in Westgate-on-Sea, Kent, has had to extend the school day by 15 minutes to meet new government legislation.

Head Dannii Lancefield said this meant pupils travelling by bus now have long waits, having missed the service they previously caught, with the bus operator unwilling to alter its timetable.

Stagecoach said it cannot do this due to the effect it would have on buses serving other schools in Thanet, but is looking at an option to find an earlier service.

Ms Lancefield said: "This is a safeguarding issue.

"We will have children waiting for an hour at the bus stop, we're going to have overcrowding and it's dangerous."

She told BBC Radio Kent representatives from Stagecoach's Westwood depot came to see the situation for themselves on Wednesday.

"The issue played out in front of us. The first bus that came, only five students could get on it because that was at capacity, the second bus, only 13 students could get on.

"We had nearly 70 students at each bus stop nearly an hour after school who were still unable to get a bus.

"Our parents spend £550 on a bus pass for their children, and they don't want them standing around on a busy road for that length of time."

Ms Lancefield said the college had been negotiating with Stagecoach and the rail operator Southeastern since November.

She said she "could not praise Southeastern enough" for adding a 15:15 service from Faversham to Ramsgate on week days to avoid pupils having an hour's wait at the unstaffed Westgate-on-Sea station.

Headteacher Dannii Lancefield is concerned buses will become dangerously overcrowded with children

A spokesperson for Stagecoach said: "There are a range of bus options for students travelling to and from Ursuline College.

"The college enquired if one specific bus that carries a small number of students to Minster could be altered to accommodate the change to their finishing time.

"Unfortunately it was not possible to do this in time for September because the bus serves other schools in Thanet which would have a knock-on impact for them.

"We are looking at options to be able to accommodate an earlier bus, but in the meantime there is a bus at 1555 that serves the bus stop outside the college for students heading home to Minster.

"We will have one of our inspectors at the school bus stop checking loadings. Where there are issues we work closely with the Public Transport Team at Kent County Council to find solutions."