End of free bus passes for Catholic school pupils

Currently, children from a faith background who attend one of the city’s Catholic schools are entitled to free school bus passes if they live a certain distance from the school they attend – two miles from a primary, or three miles from Notre Dame or All Saints secondary schools.

These are set to be axed in a move that would save the council £168,000 in the first year, £238,000 in the second year and £294,000 a year thereafter.

Coun Jackie Drayton, Sheffield Council’s cabinet member for children, said it was with a “heavy heart” that cabinet members have been advised to agree the change at a meeting next Wednesday.

If approved, the passes will be withdrawn from September, with the exception of students in years 10 and 11 in 2013/14 and those in year 11 in 2014/15 so as not to adversely affect those studying for GCSEs.

“It’s a difficult decision, but what we’ve tried to do is protect young people in their examination years,” Coun Drayton said. “It’s not something we’ve wanted to do, but this is due to the draconian Government cuts.”

Sheffield Council has had to find £140m of budget savings in the past two years, with a further £50m needing to be saved in the current financial year.

Families on low incomes will continue to receive free bus passes, as will those whose nearest secondary school is more than three miles away.

At present, 1,034 children in Sheffield receive the bus passes to attend Catholic schools. Such bus passes have already been scrapped by other authorities.