Hull council latest to scrap free pupil transport to religious schools

Posted: Thu, 23rd May 2013

Hull City Council is to cease discretionary funding transport for pupils attending "faith schools" from September 2014. The change will save £339,000 in 2014-15 according to council figures.

Local Education Authorities have a statutory duty to provide free school transport for pupils of school age who live beyond walking distance to their nearest school. The walking distance to school is three miles for children over the age of eight years.

The current policy provided free school transport to pupils significantly beyond the statutory duty, however, as required by law, the council will still give free travel to pupils on low incomes or with special educational needs.

Many local authorities facing major pressure on their budgets are now either cutting (or proposing to cut) free or subsidised transport to faith schools in an attempt to save money. The free school bus policy had not been changed since 1996, according to the council.

Tags: Faith schools