Schools boss brands school bus changes 'appalling'

The council believes 796 pupils will be affected by the change

The CEO of an academy schools' trust says a decision to reduce free school transport is "appalling".

Councillors voted on Tuesday to scrap the rule that allows children in central Bedfordshire to get free buses to any school that includes their home in its catchment area.

From next year, the concession will only be offered for children who go to their nearest school.

Steve Kelly from the Pyramid Schools Trust said the decision "does not stand up to any scrutiny", but a senior councillor said the present system was unfair and costly.

Central Bedfordshire Council says limiting free transport to children attending their nearest school will reduce the number of pupils using school buses by 796 and will reduce the number of buses needed by 77.

The move was agreed by a meeting of the council's executive on Tuesday - four members voted in favour and there were no votes against.

Cllr Steve Owen said the current policy was unfair and costly

Steve Owen, the children's services portfolio holder for the independently-run authority, said: "The present policy is unfair and costly and needs changing.

He added that the change would "save around £23 million over the next ten years - it's a lot of money".

He also suggested that disadvantaged families "would be looked after as well as those from better-off families where they've got maybe more cars to take their children around."

Steve Kelly from the Pyramid Schools Trust said the decision "did not stand up to scrutiny"

Steve Kelly, the CEO of the Pyramid Schools Trust which runs some schools in the area, said: "Appalled is probably not too strong a word for the way I'm feeling at the moment.

"This decision is so ill-informed, the alleged financial gain that’s being claimed just doesn’t stand up any scrutiny [and] they haven't considered the impact on children."

He added that the decision would cost the trust around £2m in funding each year, as some parents would not be able to afford to pay for transport.

Nick Martin from the Sam Whitbread Academy said the three tier education system in the town would mean a lot of parents were affected

Nick Martin, the principal of Sam Whitbread Academy in Shefford, feared a lot of parents would be affected.

He said: "Because we are middle schools and upper schools [in Shefford], we have a much wider catchment area than some primary and secondary schools."

Both Mr Kelly and Mr Martin criticised the consultation, which attracted 796 responses to a questionnaire and 96 attendees at events, but Mr Owen said the consultation was a "well designed and well carried out, thoughtful process - it's reached everybody".

The change will take effect from next September and there are exemptions for children with special needs and those who have siblings at the school they are applying for.