Parents of students at Brixham College are voicing strong opposition and dismay following the college's decision to discontinue its dedicated school bus service at the close of the current academic year. The move has sparked significant concern among families, who cite issues of safety, extended travel times, and the financial burden during a cost of living crisis.
The college's decision impacts 266 students, who currently utilize the buses at approximately 88% capacity. Many parents have stated they were not consulted on the matter and that such transport issues were a significant factor in their decision to enroll their children at Brixham College. The college has defended its decision by highlighting the substantial financial commitment involved in maintaining the service. According to the college, it was subsidizing over 50% of each seat, with additional reductions for siblings, amounting to an annual cost exceeding £150,000. This expenditure, the college argues, is no longer financially sustainable and would necessitate diverting funds away from essential teaching, learning, and student support initiatives.
"In light of rising costs and increasing financial pressures facing schools, and after very careful consideration, it is sadly no longer sustainable to subsidize the current bus service without impacting investment in teaching and learning," a spokesperson for Brixham College stated. "We must prioritize our resources where it has the greatest impact for all our students' education and wellbeing. We understand this will impact some students who use the service, and are working closely with families, transport providers and the local authority to provide as much notice and support as possible ahead of this transition in the new academic year."
Parents, however, are deeply concerned about the practical implications. One parent, Amie from Paignton, expressed worries about safety, noting that the dedicated buses eliminated the need for children to navigate public transport. She highlighted the potential for significantly longer school days, estimating that some children might face journeys extending to nine and a half or ten hours. "When you are thinking about where to send your child to school, that wouldn't be something I would choose for him. That's quite a big deal, it's a long day," she commented.
Another parent, Rupert, also from Paignton, criticized the timing of the decision, particularly amid the ongoing cost of living crisis. He suggested the change places an undue financial burden on families already struggling. "This is lumping a massive problem during the cost of living crisis onto people who can't afford it," he said, adding that the situation had negatively impacted the relationship between the college and its parents.
Brixham College has recommended that students transition to existing public bus routes, specifically the Stagecoach 12 and 13 routes. The college also noted that children with special educational needs and disabilities might qualify for additional support. The school buses themselves are operated by Stagecoach.
Stagecoach acknowledged the safeguarding and capacity concerns raised by parents. A company representative stated, "Public bus services safely carry thousands of passengers across the region every day, including many students travelling to and from education settings. Stagecoach will continue to work with local partners to help students transition onto the wider local bus network and to make best use of available capacity on existing services."
Torbay Council has clarified that the decision rests with Brixham College, advising parents to discuss their concerns directly with the school. Nevertheless, the council acknowledged the potential difficulties for affected families and indicated that council officers are actively working to assess and mitigate the impacts of these changes on the community, aiming to collaborate with Brixham College to ensure a smooth transition.
