Pupils ‘crammed’ on buses
PARENTS FEAR MASKS NOT ENFORCED LEADING TO POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES
THERE have been calls for rigorous enforcement of mask-wearing on school buses after scores of children were sent home from Honley High School near Huddersfield.
A dozen pupils have tested positive for coronavirus in the last week, leading to around 120 more being sent home for a ten-day isolation period.
Parents say school transport is at fault as no-one in authority travels on buses to ensure youngsters are abiding by the guidelines.
What’s more, parents say the company responsible for drop-offs is not providing extra cover - with the school advising parents to find alternative transport to reduce numbers.
One woman, whose niece attends Honley High, said children were “crammed onto buses like sardines” and that no extra vehicles were available to spread youngsters out and relieve the pressure. Headteacher
Paul Greenough said the school had “consistently reinforced” the message about safe travel and had made the case for “distinct year buses” to “support the integrity of year bubbles”.
Unfortunately despite “lengthy negotiations” with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Kirklees Council, bus companies were not able to comply.
He added: “Ideally, we would like to be able to have additional buses for our children. Unfortunately, this is not something the West Yorkshire Combined Authority have been able to support us with at this stage.
“We recognise that a number of routes are serviced by older vehicle stock which at times lead to an unreliable service.
“As a consequence, from time-totime a double-decker bus has been replaced at short notice with a smaller vehicle leading to overcrowding.”
West Yorkshire Combined Authority was approached for comment.
The aunt of one pupil said: “The cases are all in the same age group, which is Year 11.
“At school they can’t get away with not wearing a mask but they’re not wearing them on the buses.
“There are four buses from Meltham to Honley for about 120 children. The amount being crammed onto them is an absolute joke. They’re being crammed onto buses like sardines.
“Also, children are allocated certain bus numbers for bubbles/areas but they’re not adhering and are getting on friends’ buses.”
Children in Kirklees went back to school last week on a staggered return. Many parents are now struggling to cope with having children back at home after receiving a latenight text from the school.
The woman added: “They’ve only just gone back and are taking tests, but now they have to isolate for 10 days because someone on that bus hasn’t worn a mask.
“It’s going to have a knock-on effect and go round in circles. It’s already affected our bubble.
“There have been 12 cases in the last week. How many more will there be this week?
“It’s not the school’s fault but they have to try and get the message across.
“If children are being defiant and not wearing masks then the school has to be able to step in.”
Mr Greenough added: “Should we have a confirmed case of Covid-19 in school, in accordance with public health guidance we are required to ask all children travelling in a particular vehicle to self-isolate.
“Given the number of children that travel on the school bus service (including a number from multiple year groups), this has in turn had a significant impact upon the number of children affected and their access to face-to-face learning opportunities at school.”