Parents and school leaders at St Bede’s and St Joseph’s Catholic College are rallying against Bradford Council’s controversial proposal to scrap the dedicated bus service to the schools, fearing it will put children’s safety and education at risk.
The council’s consultation, launched on 5 November, has sparked widespread anger, with two petitions already launched urging the council to “Protect Children’s Safety and Education” with one petition already having received over a thousand signatures.
The school community is determined to fight what they call a “short-sighted” decision that threatens the schools’ existence and undermines students’ access to a quality education.
Lawrence Bentley, headteacher of St Bede’s and St Joseph’s, described the bus service as a “lifeline” for the schools, which draw students from all parts of Bradford. He argued that the decision would only save the council a fraction of the £42.3 million overspend on children’s services from the previous year, while putting even more pressure on the already overstretched budget.
“We save the council money in every respect by offering world-class education and welfare support tailored to those who need it most,” Bentley said. “I am concerned that a council which overspent on children’s services by £42.3m last year will put more pressure on that budget, just to save £200,000.”
The proposed cuts come at a time when the Labour government is promoting policies to boost school attendance and create a sense of belonging in schools. However, Bentley pointed out the inconsistency in the approach, noting that while the government encourages schools like St Bede’s and St Joseph’s to continue their work, the council’s decision would severely restrict the school’s ability to do so.
“It is baffling to have a Labour Government telling schools that they should do what we at SBSJ already do brilliantly, while a Labour Council is taking away our ability to do so, for pennies,” he continued. “As well as letting our children down, falling school attendance and a loss of school places will cost the council a lot more than £200,000. I hope that Bradford councillors are able to work this out before passing a huge own goal in their Budget. We will certainly be making this point very strongly and urge them to reconsider this decision.”
The school community is also alarmed at the council’s handling of the proposal, citing delays in publication and errors in reports, including a failure to release the consultation details before the Year 6 admissions deadline. This has left many parents frustrated and unsure about their children’s educational future.
Key points raised by campaigners include:
- The bus service’s cancellation would put children at risk, especially those who rely on it for safe transport to school.
- The proposal restricts parents’ right to send their children to a school of their choice, undermining religious freedoms for families choosing Catholic education.
- It would not save the council money, as the long-term costs of reduced school attendance and fewer places would outweigh the small initial savings.
- The council has mishandled the proposal, with significant errors in reports and missed deadlines causing confusion for parents and school leaders alike.
As the consultation continues until 12 January 2025, parents, teachers, and students remain determined to make their voices heard, urging Bradford Council to reconsider the cuts and protect the future of St Bede’s and St Joseph’s Catholic College.
You can sign the petition here: Bradford Council – ePetition – Save our SBSJ School Buses
All responses to the School Transport consultation should be emailed to schooltravelconsult@bradford.gov.uk
