Students out in the cold as free bus places axed

SIXTH-FORM pupils are having to walk more than two miles down an unlit country lane after being told they cannot have a place on a school bus that picks up in their East Staffordshire village during the pandemic.

Sixteen- to 18-year-olds from Church Leigh who attend the sixth form at Thomas Alleynes School in Uttoxeter used to be able to buy a seat on the school bus which picks younger pupils up for school.

But this has been temporarily stopped by the county council during the covid crisis to conform with social distancing rules.

But the move means some older children have to walk down the lane, which has no street lights and is dark in winter, to catch a service bus on the main road, say villagers.

Now Church Leigh residents are calling on Staffordshire County Council which is responsible for school buses in the county, to allow Thomas Alleynes sixth formers to once again buy any spare seats on the school bus.

One of those campaigning is Izzy Snowden, who lives in the village. Retired Ms Snowden, 57, said: “We are a rural village, and most kids, once they reach the age of going to middle school after Year 4, they start going to the school in Uttoxeter, about six to seven miles away.

“Buses are provided and the kids get free transport until they are 16. In the past, any spare seats left on the school bus are then sold to kids over 16, and you then pay for the year.”

She said that not all parents had access to transport of their own or were even able to drive - and with other parents working “then how are these young people expected to find a way to school?”.

She added: “My kids are all grown up but they had to walk back along the track in the dark. It is not acceptable that kids are having to do this.”

Thomas Alleynes declined to comment, saying that it was a matter for Staffordshire County Council.

John Henderson, chief executive of the authority, said: “In line with national legislation, once children reach the age of 16 and move on to further education they are no longer eligible for free home-to-school transport.

“The Vacant Seat scheme, through which tickets can be bought for spare places on hometo-school transport, depends entirely on availability and has been suspended across Staffordshire throughout the pandemic to maximise space on school buses for those entitled to travel.

“The decision to temporarily suspend the scheme is being regularly reviewed as the response to the pandemic progresses and any changes will be publicised as and when they happen.”