Second stab at making school transport system acceptable
Monday, 2nd July 2012.
Proposals to change the way home-to-school transport is provided in the parts of Suffolk with free schools have been reviewed following public consultation.
Responses from over 300 people and nine public meetings, which mainly raised concerns that original proposals would limit school choice, have been used to refine the plans to make them more workable.
New proposals, to be presented to Suffolk County Council’s cabinet on Tuesday, July 10, still use geographical areas to decide to which school an eligible child will be entitled to free transport.
The areas have, however, been redrawn to use primary school catchment boundaries, meaning transport issues would not cause children to be split up as they progress to secondary school. Local exceptions have also been written into the proposals.
If implemented, the new plans would mean that in the Haverhill/Clare/Sudbury area Transport Priority Areas (TPAs) would be used, but adjusted to follow primary school catchment boundaries.
Cllr Graham Newman, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for education and young people, said: “Home-to-school transport is an issue in which many parents have a very understandable interest and, for some, it is a critical consideration when expressing preferences for their child’s schooling.
“The introduction of free schools in Suffolk means that we have to look at the way we decide to which school, or schools, an eligible young person gets free transport.
“Public consultation is all about giving people the opportunity to say what they think about proposed changes.
"We’ve listened very carefully to the arguments that have been made and, I firmly believe, we’ve been able to improve the proposals.
“I’m confident that we’ve found a workable solution that will both make transport decisions fair for everyone whilst at the same time protecting taxpayers’ interests.”
If approved, the proposals would apply from September 2013.
Students are eligible for free transport to the nearest schools with available spaces, or their catchment area school, if they are:
· Under eight years old and live more than two miles from the school;
· Over eight years old and live more than three miles from the school.
Responses from over 300 people and nine public meetings, which mainly raised concerns that original proposals would limit school choice, have been used to refine the plans to make them more workable.
New proposals, to be presented to Suffolk County Council’s cabinet on Tuesday, July 10, still use geographical areas to decide to which school an eligible child will be entitled to free transport.
The areas have, however, been redrawn to use primary school catchment boundaries, meaning transport issues would not cause children to be split up as they progress to secondary school. Local exceptions have also been written into the proposals.
If implemented, the new plans would mean that in the Haverhill/Clare/Sudbury area Transport Priority Areas (TPAs) would be used, but adjusted to follow primary school catchment boundaries.
Cllr Graham Newman, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for education and young people, said: “Home-to-school transport is an issue in which many parents have a very understandable interest and, for some, it is a critical consideration when expressing preferences for their child’s schooling.
“The introduction of free schools in Suffolk means that we have to look at the way we decide to which school, or schools, an eligible young person gets free transport.
“Public consultation is all about giving people the opportunity to say what they think about proposed changes.
"We’ve listened very carefully to the arguments that have been made and, I firmly believe, we’ve been able to improve the proposals.
“I’m confident that we’ve found a workable solution that will both make transport decisions fair for everyone whilst at the same time protecting taxpayers’ interests.”
If approved, the proposals would apply from September 2013.
Students are eligible for free transport to the nearest schools with available spaces, or their catchment area school, if they are:
· Under eight years old and live more than two miles from the school;
· Over eight years old and live more than three miles from the school.
Comment on this story
[board listing] [login] [register]
You must be logged in to post messages. (login now)