York Outer MP Julian Sturdy is strongly opposing a possible end to free travel for pupils from villages within City of York Council to Tadcaster Grammar School claiming supposed savings are a false economy at the detriment of parental choice.
The move to end discretionary free travel to pupils in villages such as Copmanthorpe, Bishopthorpe, Ashkham Bryan and Askham Richard to Tadcaster Grammar School was proposed by the previous Liberal Democrat - Green Party joint administration and Julian is now calling on the new Labour administration to scrap the policy ahead of the announcement of secondary school places in March.
Julian is supported by City of York Council's Conservative Group, including Copmanthorpe Councillor Chris Steward and Bishopthorpe Councillor Michael Nicholls, who are lobbying the Council on behalf of families urging a drastic rethink.
Julian Sturdy MP commented:
The proposed change of policy to free school travel is a massive blow for school choice and the right of families to determine where is the best fit for their children. With secondary school places already a premium in our city, it simply does not make sense to limit the choice on offer – especially one so long established.
This policy is the beginning of a worrying trend in the new administration of either ignorance or, worse, lack of care for the issues affecting the villages of York Outer. Residents of Copmanthorpe, Bishopthorpe and nearby villages deserve to have a full complement of school choice and for many families assistance with travel costs is the only way we can ensure there is a genuine choice for them.
I am pressing the Council to end the uncertainty now and pledge to keep free travel to Tadcaster Gramma School for all pupils.
Conservative Council Group Leader, Cllr Steward commented:
If lack of transport funding means more parents choose to send their children to already near-capacity schools within York then the Council will still have to fund their transport and if nearby schools cannot take all pupils then we could end up with a ludicrous scenario where pupils are travelling further than they would to Tadcaster just to stay within the council area.
I have had many conversations with residents on this issue and their right to have a real choice over their children’s education is something they’re incredibly passionate about. I back them completely and believe current proposals by the Council undermines this.
On behalf of the Council Group, I’ve written to Cllr Webb in his capacity as Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education saying this change should not happen but at worst case those parents on the lowest incomes and those who already have one child at Tadcaster Grammar School with a sibling to follow must be protected, as well as further work done on police North Yorkshire Council and Star MAT jointly worked solutions.
Cllr Nicholls added:
Tadcaster Grammar School has long been a popular choice for families in Bishopthorpe and the nearby villages, so much so that many have specifically moved to this part of York with their children's education in mind. Changing the policy on discretionary travel not only would impact families whose children are still in primary school but those with children already at Tadcaster Grammar School with siblings yet to begin. We will have a situation where siblings only a few years apart will be forced to go to separate schools and endure the logistical issues that entails or older siblings having to leave their friends and move to a new school.
