Pupils at St Mungo's High School are speaking out against Falkirk Council's school bus cut proposals, which could lead to 33 routes being axed.
Across Falkirk district, more than 1000 pupils are set to lose their season tickets. But while many assumed they could just use their under-22 cards instead, they are now realising that the change will mean many services being axed entirely.
St Mungo's sixth year pupil Declan McGavin is one of the student representatives on Falkirk Council's education, children and young people's executive and he believes strongly that the voice of young people needs to be heard.
Read more: Furious parents say Falkirk's school bus cuts will put lives in danger
In February, the 17-year-old launched a petition that now has hundreds of signatures and he is hoping to get many more before he presents it to the education executive.
To help spread the word, Declan organised an emergency meeting of St Mungo's High School's pupil parliament, which saw its biggest ever turnout, with pupils from all year groups all eager to put their points across.
"I called it when I realised this would impact almost everyone in the school, one way or another," said Declan.
Falkirk Council says the changes to buses could save £1 million a year and points out that the legal responsibility for getting children to school lies with the parents, not the local authority.
Declan and his fellow sixth years, Caitlin O'Donnell (17) and Callum Muir (18), won't be affected themselves as they will all have left by August when the proposals would start if they are accepted.
But the teenagers were shocked to realise just how big an impact the proposals will have, with some children having to walk up to six miles a day in all weathers.
Caitlin said: "I think what will actually happen is that hundreds more pupils will be driven to school every day - it's already really crowded and dangerous outside the school in the morning, so this is going to make it even worse."
They are all concerned about the safety of pupils walking to school even if a route has been judged by the council to be safe.
And they are also worried that girls and young women, young people who are LGBTQ and children with special needs who go to mainstream schools could also be very vulnerable.
They are all particularly worried about the consequences for children and young people who won't be able to get a direct bus to school and whose parents can't take them to school.
As a denominational secondary school with a wide catchment area, St Mungo's will be badly hit, with 194 pupils losing entitlement.
Declan said: "That's 27 per cent of pupils who are currently entitled will lose it, including Larbert, Stenhousemuir, Carronshore, Laurieston, Lionthorn - a very wide range of places will be affected."
He fears the impact could have far-reaching consequences as some parents may decide not to send their children to the Catholic high school, which would in turn have an effect on staff numbers and subject choices.
But they are very aware that their school is not the only one that will be affected and the friends now say they intend to continue campaigning and would welcome the chance to connect with pupils in other schools who are also opposed to the changes.
Here is a list of all the bus service numbers impacting schools that Falkirk Council says could be withdrawn if proposals to change the entitlement to free travel are accepted:
Airth Primary: 602 Letham; Antonine Primary, 175 Dennyloanhead; Bantaskin Primary, 197 Tamfourhill,
Beancross Primary, 188 Old Town; Bo’ness Academy, 661 Jamieson Ave; Braes High School, 641 Maddiston, 142 Shieldhill; Comely Park PS 179 Lionthorn; Denny High School, 611 Gateside Ave, 612 Bonnybridge Rd, 618 Longcroft
169 Greenhill Rd, 171 Reilly Rd; Falkirk High School, 149 Lionthorn, 194 Bainsford, 195 Langlees; Graeme High School, 621 Polmont Park, 622 Gilston Park (one bus),
623 Canalside Drive, 628 Lionthorn, 628 Hallglen;
Grange Primary, Charles Snedden Estate, 661 Jamieson Avenue; Grangemouth High School , 174 Old Town
Sacred Heart Primary, 188 Old Town, St Andrew’s Primary, 697 The Bog, St Bernadette’s Primary, 601 Larbert,
St Mary’s Primary, 661 Jamieson Avenue, St Francis Primary, 186 Alexander Ave/Langlees, 671 Ochiltree / Tamfourhill; St Joseph’s Primary, 175 Dennyloanhead
St Margaret’s Primary, 625 Polmont Park, St Mungo’s High, 186 Alexander Avenue/Langlees, 671 Ochiltree / Tamfourhill, 677 Larbert Cross, 679 Lionthorn, 681 Hallglen
Other services that may be reduced: Wallacestone Primary, 627 Newlands Rd; Westquarter Primary, 608 Canalside Drive
