Knock-on effect of scrapping subsidies
From today, faith schools will no longer receive subsidies to pay for school buses.
In south Norwich, which is home to two Catholic schools, this raises issues for the wider community in terms of congestion.
The decision to cut a discretionary subsidy for faith school transport was made earlier this year, saving Norfolk County Council £220,000 a year. Alison Thomas, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services said at the time: ”We recognise that this will have an impact on families who choose to send their children to faith schools but difficult decisions have had to be made in the light of the most challenging budget in our history.”
Parents at two local Catholic schools learnt just days ago that a school-run shuttle service has also been scrapped, serving St John’s RC Infants on Heigham Road and St Thomas More RC Junior School on Jessopp Road. Rachel Everett, a school governor said: “Parents are really stuck now, coming from around and outside the city, but who have children at both sites.”
A last minute meeting was held earlier this week, where parents asked for help from their local councillors and their MP.
County councillor, Marcus Hemsley (Green, Wensum) raised their concerns: “I’ve been told the council has no money and that they’d have to take money from somewhere else to fund it. You’ve got the situation where parents will be putting 4 year olds in taxis until they think about different solutions.” In a statement, Alison Thomas added: “In the current climate, where resources are scarce, we are not in a position to carry on using other parents and taxpayers’ money to subsidise travel to faith schools, which is a parental preference.”
But removing subsidies for faith school transport will impact on the wider community on what are already congested roads, as more parents are forced to come by car. Marcus Hemsley added: “Losing the buses will have a knock-on effect on residents.”
Later this month, two public meetings will be held on plans to move the two schools onto one site from as early as next September. Jessopp Road residents have already raised concerns with local councillors about speeding and congestion during the school run. Both schools – and the local authority – need to take this opportunity to work with the local community to find a solution, both to the congestion created by losing the school buses… and in the longer term if the two schools merge.
Public meetings: 20th September at 7.30pm at St John’s RC Infant School and on 21st September at 7.30pm at St Thomas More RC Junior School. The consultation period will end on 14th October 2011.
Comments to “Knock-on effect of scrapping subsidies”
@Rachel – I have the opposite problem! I would prefer my children were NOT taught ANY religious dogmas, which I believe to be falsehoods. But I live 25mins drive from Norwich, and my local high school and all nine local feeder primaries are all faith based schools. I have some sympathy for those who chose a school on the understanding of travel funding, but please note that I would get no funding to send my children miles to a non religious school, so why should you get funding to do the opposite? I am left with the choice of allowing my children to be taught a religion I believe to be false, or withdrawing them from assemblies, RE, etc. altogether, and risking their isolation and alienation for being ‘different’. Surely the solution to this problem is for ALL state funded schools to be neutral in terms of religion and belief, and for parents who wish for their children to be instructed in a particular faith or belief to arrange this themselves, for example by sending them to Sunday school, or Camp Quest, or whatever?
Comment
Can I comment on Alison Thomas’s statement when she says that faith schools are a case of personal preference. Firstly, it is a matter of faith. Secondly, how does she explain the problem of other local schools being over-subscribed? Also, parents sent their children to these schools on the UNDERSTANDING that there was a bus service. Children who are settled and established in the schools shouldn’t have to be moved because the LA suddenly withdraws bus subsidies.