Pupils have had ‘significant impact’ in their GCSE year, says school head

Rye College have provided a bus service when there is a full strike on to help those pupils affected who usually travel by train.

Ian Gillespie, Acting Principal of Rye College, said: “Rye College has some very old buildings and significant financial pressures, which makes the provision of transport a real challenge.

“However, we always put the needs of students as our top priority and we have nearly 150 students who travel by train.

“Students in Year 11 have had significant impact in their GCSE year, as the strike has been running for approximately nine months and we need to support them in accessing their education so that continuity and progression are not affected at this difficult time.

“We are also keen to work with parents, recognizing the difficulties many of them face getting themselves to work and younger children to primary schools, as well as their children to Rye College.

“It is essential that the authori ties i nvolved can resolve the strike issue as soon as possible.”

Mrs Head is thankful to the school for this, saying: “They’ve realised the impact that it’s had.

“They’re fed up of the children being late for school, not knowing where they are, what they’re doing, or being really early and roaming around Rye so they’ve actually had to put a bus together which we pay for, which is fine, which is a very similar price to the train ticket.

“It’s slightly earlier than what it would be to catch the train but [I’m] so grateful for the school doing it, but they shouldn’t have had to.

“That was time taken out of the children’s education..”