School transport charges decision slammed

From next year parents will have to pay 180 per year for each primary school child and 270 per year for each secondary school child attending Church of England or Catholic schools.

The charges will only affect new pupils at schools such as St Philip Howard School at Barnham, Bishop Luffa at Chichester and Chatsmore High School in Worthing, all of which are used by children from the Littlehampton area.

Existing arrangements for pupils already at those schools will continue and families on a low income will continue to receive free transport.

Dr Walsh described the move as "disgraceful" and has called on parents to lobby Mark Dunn, West Sussex County Council's cabinet member for children and young people's services, to review it.

He said: "This is a disgraceful decision for several reasons. The public consultation was overwhelmingly opposed to it, and it is directly contrary to government advice that councils should not disturb free transport arrangements put in place when schools were built near railway or bus routes.

"Another result could well be more environmental pollution as parents use cars to get their children to school, directly contrary to the county council's avowed policy of reducing car to school journeys.

"The cabinet member talks about increasing fairness, but fails to mention the huge subsidy already given to the county council by the church faith communities into the land and buildings over the years '” the 20 per cent that the churches contribute towards capital and other major investments.

"In effect parents are already paying twice already, through their council tax for other schools, and through their voluntary contributions through the churches.

"It is a discriminatory decision which will deny to many parents and children the faith school of their choice, and could distort the pattern of school choice, causing unacceptable pressure on non-denominational schools.

"The council expects really quite small savings after many years, 300,000 to 400,000 out of a total childrens' services budget of around 600m, and this just not seem sensible given the huge disruption and anger this is bound to provoke after ignoring the public view."

Mark Dunham said: "I have been made very aware of the range of strong feelings on this issue, both for and against any changes.

"However, this change is necessary to ensure that we are providing a fair system for all concerned whilst continuing to make provision for children to attend church schools some way from their homes.

"At the same time the county council has been put under pressure to find ways to ensure that its budgets are used cost-effectively at a time of poor grant settlements from government.

"I recognise and value the significant contribution that church schools make to the education of children in West Sussex and every effort will be made to ensure that these changes are introduced as smoothly as possible."