Now is the time to end “faith school” transport discrimination

Local authorities around the country are examining their budgets in the light of Government subsidy cuts. One area that is under scrutiny is the discretionary funding of free and subsidised transport for pupils attending “faith schools.”

The latest authority to bite the bullet and end this discriminatory and almost certainly illegal practice is Staffordshire County Council. It has just announced that new pupils starting at primary and secondary “faith schools” from September next year will not get the free travel unless they are legally entitled to it, for example on grounds of parental income, or where there are exceptional circumstances.

A concessionary rate, yet to be determined, will be payable for those pupils from September next year but the subsidy will be phased out by 2015 for secondary schools and 2017 for primary schools, leaving parents to bear the whole cost. The council says the current system of free transport for pupils at faith schools is unfair as not all pupils are entitled to it. The National Secular Society contends that it is not only unfair, but legally questionable, representing as it does religious discrimination of the most blatant kind.

Some 1,590 Staffordshire pupils receive free transport to 29 Catholic schools or to St Peter’s CE Collegiate School in Wolverhampton at a net cost of more than £1m.

The report says: “The withdrawal of this discretionary policy would mean that future transport requests would be assessed under a home-to-school transport policy which provides free transport to the catchment or closest school where the pupil is beyond walking distance.

“This would mean that school pupils will be treated equally, regardless of their religion or belief or lack of it. This would be a fairer and more equitable transport policy and would also realise significant savings in transport costs over time.” Councillor Ian Parry, cabinet member for children and families, said: “I believe this decision is fair to all – the taxpayer and the families currently receiving the subsidy.

Catholic parents are threatening the council with legal action, but NSS Executive Director Keith Porteous Wood said: “We have argued for many years that these subsidies to so-called faith schools are discriminatory and against the law. All local authorities should stop them immediately. Not only would they save the council taxpayer a substantial amount of revenue, they would also end this unjust and, questionably legal practice.”

The National Secular Society is looking into the cost to local authorities around the country of these subsidies and will report on its findings shortly.