Free bus passes for Wirral children attending Roman Catholic schools could soon be scrapped

Mar 25 2009 by Carrie Catterall, Wallasey News

It’s myopic and unkind to target children in this way

– Religion teacher Conor Mulhollond

FREE bus passes for children attending Roman Catholic schools in Wirral could soon be scrapped.

For years, pupils who attend a Catholic school that is more than three miles away from their home have been entitled to a free bus pass.

The four Roman Catholic schools in Wirral are Upton Hall, Upton; St. Anselm's College, Birkenhead; St. Mary’s College, Wallasey and St. John Plessington, Higher Bebington.

These are joined by 19 other non-Catholic schools in Wirral, whose pupils are not entitled to a free bus pass if they live more than three miles away.

A consultation has been set up by the Local Education Authority and government bodies to ask the question: “Why should children who attend Roman Catholic schools get free bus passes?”

Feedback regarding this issue will be collected and assessed next month.

Phil Davies, cabinet member for education, said: “We want to ask why religion is the only criteria for free bus passes and why we favour Catholic children over those who attend any other school?

“If parents choose to send their child to a Roman Catholic school should they not pay that themselves?

“These bus passes cost the council £170,000 a year – we need to ask if this is a good use of public money.”

A Catholic governor, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “I think the fact that this is even in consultation is disgraceful.

“There aren’t as many Catholic schools in Wirral as there are non-Catholic schools and so generally Catholic pupils have to travel further.”

Religion teacher Conor Mulholland, of St Mary’s College, Wallasey, said: “This is an absurd idea and particularly in the current economic climate.

“It’s myopic and unkind to target children in this way.”

The same consultation process held by Cheshire County Council a few years ago ended with parents sending their children to Catholic schools paying 20% of the transport bill, with a council grant subsidising the rest.

l Send your views about this issue to Mr Howard Cooper. Director of Children’s Services, Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council, Hamilton Building, Conway Street, Wirral.