Stark warnings have been issued that cutting school transport will lead to a drop in attendance and attainment.
In December, West Dunbartonshire Council’s Labour administration agreed to changes that will see free buses only provided for primary pupils who live more than two miles from their school and to secondary pupils who live more than three miles away.
The decision is expected to lead to around 600 pupils locally no longer being eligible for free school transport, and could see pupils from areas such as Renton having to walk to school as far away as OLSP in Bellsmyre.
WDC is currently reviewing the routes to the impacted schools and once assessed the routes will be checked for safety by road safety officers.
A statutory consultation on the changes was launched last week, amid fears from teaching staff that it will hamper the achievements of pupils, especially those from the most deprived backgrounds.
Gavin Corrigan of the EIS trade union hit out at the plans at a meeting of WDC’s education committee, urging councillors to consider the consequences of approving changes.
Mr Corrigan, a teacher at Our Lady and St Patrick’s High, said: “I completely disagree with the cuts to the transport provision that was agreed in December, which will impact 600 pupils.
“It’s no secret that attendance at school correlates with attainment. If you come to school then you learn.
“A recent letter sent to parents highlighted that a three percent reduction in attendance can lead to a 10 percent reduction in attainment.
“The paper presented to members goes on about the benefits of walking to school on mental health and how it will reduce childhood obesity. All of these benefits that come with being active.
“But the harsh reality is that we live in Scotland. It was -7 when I got up.
“We’re making cuts to the clothing grant. We’re making it more difficult for kids to be dressed appropriately for these cold conditions, and now they’re going to have to walk further rather than getting on a bus to bring them to school.
“Secondary schools will see the biggest impact. It’s quite stark. 533 people currently get the bus to Our Lady and St Pats. Half the school.
“You’re going to make it harder and harder for these kids to get to school, and as a result you’re going to see a massive drop in attainment.
“We live in West Dunbartonshire, one of the most deprived areas in Scotland. Our kids come from the most deprived areas and we’re making it harder for them to get to school.
“I would encourage everyone to consider the impact this will have on our young people.”
Mr Corrigan added that schools had already seen a staggering drop in attendance since the pandemic.
He continued: “Post-Covid in schools we are seeing a drop in attendance that is staggering. Prior to the pandemic around five or six percent of pupils were absent on a particular day.
“We’re now looking at 20 percent being off.
“In a school of 1000 pupils like the one in which I teach, that’s upwards of 200 pupils missing school every single day.
“If we remove the transport provision for 600 pupils then we’re making it harder and harder for kids to come to school.”
In response, Labour councillor David McBride said he understood the concerns - but laid the blame at the door of the Scottish Government.
The Dumbarton member said: “The decision to go ahead with this has not been an easy one. It’s hard to argue with anything Gavin has said.
“This is the harsh reality of the financial crisis this council faces. We have had to make dreadful cuts to all areas.
“We had a budget gap of £21m and every service has been affected badly.
“Unfortunately we have to balance a budget.
“Thankfully the Scottish Government has brought in a travel card for young people. We need to make sure everyone has that, and we need to work with the bus companies to ensure that there are sufficient services for the demand.
“Travel cards can give flexibility for how pupils can get to school if they miss a school bus service for example.
“I don’t take anything Gavin has said lightly. But we’re in a financial crisis and part of that in education is because the Scottish Government cut our funding to close the attainment gap last year.
“On March 1 we were forced to make some really appalling decisions. The austerity this council is facing lies squarely in the grounds of the Scottish Government who do not fund this council for the reasons that we need.”
A consultation period will run until May 9, with a public meeting to be held at the Vale of Leven Academy on April 25 at 7pm. An online meeting will also be held, with the date and time still to be confirmed.
If approved, the plans would come into force for the start of the new school year in August.
