Privilege seats? Or Isle of Wight parents thrown under school bus?

Parents have called the move ‘appalling’ and ‘disgusting’ and say they feel ‘let down’. They have told the County Press that the changes will force them into their cars at rush hour and have left their children upset and worried about starting the new school term. 

"I am lucky enough to have transport to take my children to school, but it will impact on the things we can afford to do. Other parents will probably have to swap food to transport.”

Scroll down to read their stories in full...

Why the change?

In February, the local authority voted to save money on unused seats on school buses by scrapping its old contract. It warned that there would be fewer seats available to parents who pay to use council-run routes to get their children to school.

Now, new provider, Southern Vectis, says although it has plans for dedicated school buses and extra services on existing routes, coronavirus has ‘inevitably complicated matters’.

With just a month to go before school term starts, parents are being told to plan their journeys using existing buses, while they also try to juggle coronavirus safety, Covid-19 class bubbles and staggered school times. 

Although the decision to change contracts was made earlier this year, it is only this week, as applications get underway for ‘privilege’ seats, that parents are really finding out its impact. 

Read more: School bus: Privilege seat problems after service cut backs

For scores of families, from Niton to Lake and from Ventnor to Sandown, their normal school bus services simply no longer exist. Routes relied on for years have disappeared and they are urging the Isle of Wight Council to get back to the chalk board and come up with alternative solutions.

“I am disgusted” - Suzanne's story

Suzanne Downer lives with her four children in Ventnor. Her eldest son, now in sixth form, attended Medina College in Newport. When he entered Year Seven, it was the family’s catchment school and he was entitled to free transport.

A couple of years later, the family were told that Medina was no longer their catchment school. Suzanne soon found herself paying for seats for two of her children, while a third enjoyed a free seat on the same bus.

Now, her fourth child is due to start at Medina College and Suzanne has been told there is no council service between Ventnor and schools in Newport.

She says she has no alternative but to get in the car and drive, adding to rush hour traffic and pollution. She says she has even considered moving house, but costs are prohibitive.

Suzanne told the Isle of Wight County Press: “I spent a year paying for 2 privilege seats, losing money every time one was off sick from school or had a club to attend. I decided to use the Southern Vectis key card.

It worked out roughly the same price as the privilege seat  - but I wouldn't lose money if there was a time I had to take them to school myself or through illness. The price of the key card has now risen to £66 per 30 days of travel (£88 for my 17 year old son). It will now cost me nearly £300 for 30 days of travel.

“I am disgusted that children have to pay for their travel to education which is mandatory and will get fined for missing that education. I am lucky enough to have transport to take my children to school but it will impact on the things we can afford to do. My children have never had a holiday in this country or abroad because we cannot afford it, now we will have to cut down on days out as well. Other parents are not so lucky and will probably have to swap food to transport.”

“My daughter is upset. This will fall on deaf ears.” - Jodie's Story

Jodie Lacey has two children - one at primary school and one at Christ the King. She applied to her closest school - the Island Free School - but was declined a place there and found herself paying for transport to Christ the King College in Newport. 

Jodie’s privilege seat helped to cut costs, keep her daughter safe and minimise the time she spent waiting for public transport. She is angry that while a cycle to work scheme is being supported, school buses are being cancelled.

She said: “Wellington Road is chaotic at drop off and pick up times. It’s impossible for me to transport my younger daughter to school and then drive to Newport, to Christ the King, and then get myself to work on time!

“My daughter is feeling very upset and nervous about the prospect of travelling on public transport, as it is a fair distance from our home. During the winter months, that will mean walking in the dark much further than normal. This will all fall on deaf ears, as has my previous dealing with the Council.”

“This is not going to change.” - Kevan’s story

Kevan Taylor’s son attends Medina College, because a primary school Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator suggested it was a better fit for him than his catchment area school. It meant a longer journey and Kevan took the decision reluctantly - but the hope was that he would be better supported.

A bus collected and dropped off right outside - costing Kevan nearly £400 a year. The service has been withdrawn.

Kevan’s other children need to get to primary school in Lake, so Kevan’s eldest must choose a Southern Vectis bus that arrives either one hour early, or between 10 and 20 minutes late.

He said: “I have spoken to school transport today who have advised this is not going to change and the 2 routes are the only busses for the foreseeable future.”

“Appalling! We weren't even told it had been cancelled” - Niton mum

A mum in Niton’s son attends Christ the King College. Despite living only five miles from the Island Free School, it was not considered to be their catchment school and a place was not guaranteed. The next nearest school was in special measures and threatened with closure, so the family chose Christ the King College. Three years on, their bus service has now been scrapped.

She told the County Press: “We weren't even told the bus service had been cancelled. The first I knew of it was when I logged on to the Isle of Wight Council's website to apply for his seat.

"I checked to see what number bus he would be on, only to find there wasn’t one! To not even be told that this service has been withdrawn is appalling. I would be very interested to hear councillor for children’s services Paul Brading's comments on this stupid decision.” 

“I’m really unhappy” - Catherine's story

Catherine Lane lives in Niton and has been relying on her school bus route for five years. Now, her second child is due to start at Christ The King and she has been told the route has been withdrawn. 

She told the County Press: “I'm not willing to put him on public transport. He's only just turned 11. The children going to secondary school this September have been let down in all ways. I'm really unhappy with the situation.”

“These services should be fulfilled” - Debbie’s story

Debbie Ware says she has been worried about the lack of transport since the start of July. Her daughter goes to The Island Free School and travels from Sandown to get there. She caught a one of two buses through Lake - almost full as it had started its journey in Ryde. 

Debbie said: “How do all those children now get to and from school? It’s not like we don’t pay for the seats - or that the buses are half empty. These services should be fulfilled for all pupils to all schools.”

Debbie says her only option is a bus from Ryde, at about the same time as the normal school pick up, but asks how one public bus will cope with two bus loads of children.

Two hours for eight miles - Becky's story

Becky Horsham and her daughter live in Shalfleet and have a journey to Cowes Enterprise College. Even the first Southern Vectis bus of the day won't get to school on time, says Becky, despite a 6.30am start for her daughter, a walk of over a mile to the nearest bus route, a bus to Newport and a connecting service to Cowes.

That is a two hour journey every day - to a school just eight miles away.

Becky works, so she cannot do the school run herself.

She said: "I understand the council need to make cuts, but our children are required to attend school and yet no suitable transport is available."

What is the Council’s policy?

The Isle of Wight Council says: “There are no priority/catchment areas for primary and secondary schools on the Island, parents/guardians are encouraged to apply for the school nearest to their home address.”

The local authority works out the nearest school using a straight line from the centre of their home to the centre of the school, using the local authority’s geographical information system (GIS).

It does not take into account children having to cross a river, or count the number of buses from home to school.

The Island Free School has its own admissions policy, which does not guarantee a space for those living close by.

What has Southern Vectis said?

Southern Vectis will operate all school bus services from September. 

The firm says it is working to provide additional resources - on its public transport network - to  accommodate any displaced students. 

Southern Vectis general manager, Richard Tyldsley said: “Unfortunately, many students who travelled last year will not be accommodated on the new contracted services, but we are planning to run additional buses along some of our key commercial routes - linking to schools. 

“We are also looking at providing our own dedicated school buses. The impact of Covid-19 has inevitably complicated matters as we look to ensure everyone who wishes to, can travel safely on our buses.”  

“We will publish full details of these services shortly, but I advise parents and guardians to plan journeys now - based on the existing bus network.”

He continued: “Southern Vectis offers a variety of great value tickets for those students who are displaced - and they are available directly from us, rather than from the local authority.

“We are pleased to have been awarded all the work available in the school buses contracts. The feedback we have received acknowledges our quality of service and reliability as a stable, award-winning and well-established operator. 

“Our team is highly experienced in providing excellent services to schools across the Isle of Wight, and this is just reward for their efforts.”