Revd Edwin Counsell
Going a church school could be an “unrealistic dream” for many if proposals to stop funding pupil transport go ahead.
The Revd Edwin Counsell, education advisor for the Church in Wales, is warning that families would be denied the chance to send their children to a church school and that church schools themselves would be seriously disadvantaged by local councils withdrawing funds for school buses.
So far one council, Neath Port Talbot, has already decided to withdraw free transport for secondary school pupils who go to a faith school. Two others, Bridgend and Conwy, are also considering the measure. A public consultation is due to begin in Bridgend next month about proposals to save the authority more than half a million pounds a year.
In Flintshire, the council has also decided to withdraw the funding unless pupils can prove their beliefs with a baptism certificate. Wrexham council has withdrawn funding for free transport for all schools that are not the closest to where they live.
There are 162 Church in Wales schools, including three secondary schools and one secondary school which is a joint Church in Wales and Catholic school.
Mr Counsell said, “I am deeply concerned that this short-sighted attempt to save money will have a huge impact on the ability of parents in Wales to make an informed choice to send their children to a Church school. In the longer term, decisions like this could seriously disadvantage the Church school sector.
“Church in Wales schools are firmly established within the education system in Wales. Unfortunately, we can’t provide a Church school in every community, so children may have to travel a little further if their families make that choice. The Learner Travel Measure (2008) encourages local authorities to make transport available to the nearest suitable school to a pupil’s home, with Welsh medium and denominational schools available as realistic choices.
“The Measure asks that denominational provision should be a realistic choice; but these proposals will make it an unrealistic dream for many parents seeking the best for their children.
“The proposals that are starting to come forward from some local authorities are trying to use that piece of legislation in a way that it was never intended – yes, it is at their discretion to transport children to Church schools, but there is a clear expectation that they should go the extra mile for all children.”
