Parents in Stone could be hit with a £380 bill to get their children to school as Staffordshire County Council looks to cut school transport subsidies.
Changes to the way ‘discretionary home to catchment school transport’ is paid for are currently being consulted on by the county council.
It currently provides free school transport to some pupils who live over two miles from their catchment primary school, and over three miles from their catchment secondary school.
The county council is now proposing to share the cost of discretionary transport between parents and the county council – and says about 3% of Staffordshire’s schoolchildren will be affected.
Statutory transport to a pupil’s nearest school that is over two or three miles will still remain free of charge.
Families who meet the low income criteria may also be entitled to free transport to secondary schools.
County council figures show the percentage of pupils at Stone schools who currently get free discretionary transport support:
- Alleyne’s High School – 11%
- Christ Church Academy – 16%
- Walton Priory Middle School – 23.3%
- Pupils at Christ Church First School, Manor Hill First School, Oulton First School, St Dominic’s Catholic Primary School and St Michael’s First School do not currently receive discretionary catchment transport from the county council.
County Councillor Ben Adams, cabinet member for learning and skills, said: “The current system is subsidised entirely by council taxpayers, but only benefits a small percentage of schools and pupils. At the moment, 92% of all pupils make their own travel arrangements and a further 4% are statutorily entitled to transport or already pay a contribution to their transport costs. With all public spending coming under severe pressure and all services under scrutiny, we feel it is no longer possible to justify this significant cost on the grounds that it is the way things have always been done.
“The proposal is for half of the cost to continue to be subsidised by the county council, but parents will be asked to pay a contribution equivalent to just £2 per day per pupil. This proposal will only affect pupils when they change schools or move address from September 2014.”
County Councillor Adams continued: “The majority of pupils in the county will not be affected by this change as they already make their own travel arrangements. We will continue to provide free transport to any pupil who attends their nearest school if they live more than three miles away, or two miles away for primary aged children. This is especially important in a largely rural county like Staffordshire, and these children and young people will not be affected. Families on low incomes will also be protected as they may be eligible for free transport.”
Around 3,950 out of the 117,500 pupils attending schools in Staffordshire are given free discretionary transport to their catchment school and would not be affected by the proposal unless they moved school or address.
A consultation on the proposals got under way on 4th June and finishes on 12th July. Click HERE for more information and to take part in the consultation.
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