Derbyshire County Council reduces subsidies for faith school attendees

Derbyshire Country Council is planning to charge parents whose children attend “faith schools” outside the catchment area for the use of the school buses.

Previously parents have had the £900,000 annual cost picked up entirely by other Council tax payers – including those who can’t even get a place in these schools for their own child.

The Council ran a consultation exercise among parents, transport operators and governors. More than 3,000 responses were received, including 12 petitions opposing the changes. But as is usual with these consultations, it was a cosmetic exercise only and the Council took absolutely no notice, imposing the charges anyway. From the beginning of the academic year in 2010, all but the least well-off parents will have to pay £268 per primary school child and £295 for secondary school students to travel to faith schools.

A Council spokesman said transportation to faith schools had historically been subsidised by the authority when children travelled over two miles if aged under eight and over three miles if they were aged over eight. The means-tested system cost the council around £900,000 annually. He said: "The transport is still subsidised but it will save the council about £350,000 a year to charge this way. Because it is not coming in until 2010, it gives parents time to make informed choices about where to send their child to school.”

The new charges will be introduced as part of the authority's target to save £7.3 million each year.

15 August 2008