The Diocese of Lancaster Education Service have brought our attention to an urgent matter concerning the provsion of free transport for pupils attending Catholic Schools. Please would you review the proposal and respond using the consultation form.
Dear Parishioner
Lancashire County Council Proposal to Charge Parents for Home-School Transport to
Catholic and other Denominational Schools from September 2011.
Lancashire County Council currently provides free transport to pupils who attend their nearest
suitable Catholic school providing they were admitted to that school in accordance with its
denominational admissions criteria and live over the statutory walking distance to that school. This
transport support is discretionary but statutory provision is made for low income families.
The County Council is proposing to introduce a £2 per day return flat rate charge for all pupils who
would be entitled to this support. The charge would be 'phased in' starting with new entrants to
Catholic primary and secondary schools in September 2011. Secondary aged pupils from low
income families would continue to receive support and it is proposed that primary aged pupils from
low income families would also be exempt from the charges.
The proposals will mean that:
• Many Catholic parents of pupils requiring transport and starting at their nearest suitable Catholic
primary or secondary school in September 2011 will have to pay £380 per year, £10 every
school week, for each child starting at their new school;
• after September 2011, a parent with three children starting at Catholic primary or
secondary schools may be required to pay at least £1140 per year, £30 every week for 38
weeks, to have their children receive religious education in the religion to which they adhere;
• some Catholic parents will have to decide if they can afford for all or any of their children to
attend a Catholic school.
This charge would be a significant additional financial burden for many parents and particularly for
those just above the low income threshold for transport support.
The proposed policy is the subject of a public consultation by Lancashire County Council. The
consultation closes on 17th September 2010. The Catholic Diocese of Salford and the Archdiocese
of Liverpool together with our own Diocese of Lancaster oppose the proposals.
Catholic schools often serve a wide catchment area and the proposed policy penalises Catholic
families living in rural communities in particular. In order to support Catholic pupils attending our
Catholic schools now and in the future we would ask parishioners in all our parishes, rural and
urban, to respond to this consultation.
We know from previous consultations regarding school transport that the individual responses of
parishioners and parents make a significant impact in the decision making process.
I enclose a copy of the official Consultation Form. I should like to invite you to complete and send it
in to the address shown on the form to make your views known before 17th September 2010. You
may prefer to write to oppose the proposed changes in the school transport policy. These proposals
could prevent some Catholic children from receiving the Catholic education that their parents would
wish them to have.
Thank you for any support that you can offer.
Yours faithfully
~~
Canon Luiz Ruscillo
Head of Service
THE EDUCATIONCENTRE, BALMORALROAD, LANCASTER LA1 3BT
TELEPHONE 01524 841190 FAX01524 846258
www.lancaster-diocese-education.org.uk