A CATHOLIC uprising is stirring over a council’s cost-cutting plan to axe free transport to faith schools.

Catholic parents are furious at Durham County Council’s proposals, saying they would hit the poorest hardest.

Grassroots campaigns launched to fight the changes are gathering strength and the county’s Catholic secondary schools are co-ordinating efforts to block the shake-up.

Frank O’Neill, principal of St John’s RC Comprehensive School, in Bishop Auckland, said: “These proposals will disadvantage the less wealthy students because they won’t be able to pay for transport.

“The affluent kids and families will be able to afford to either pay the bus fare or drop the kids at school. The most economically disadvantaged will be hit the hardest.”

Simon Campbell, headteacher at St Leonard’s Catholic School, in Durham City, said: “Parents are supposed to have choice about their children’s education.

“Removing free transport will remove or severely restrict this choice especially for families who may be just above the threshold for free school meals (and therefore still entitled to free transport).”

Maria Matthews, headteacher at St Bede’s Catholic School, in Lanchester, has written to parents calling for urgent action.

The proposals were “largely prejudicial against Catholic families”, she wrote, adding: “St Bede’s must not become a school for families who can afford the bus fare.”

Durham County Council, which faces cuts of £125m over four years, wants to cut £5.5m from its home-to-school and college transport budget, including more than £1m from faith school transport.

Council chiefs are proposing to axe such free transport from September next year, except where legal requirements exist.

A spokeswoman said the council was consulting with parents and others on a number of important changes to gauge how people feel and understand the impact of any changes, all of which relate to services not required under the law.

“This is not something we are doing lightly but like many issues is the result of large reductions in Government grant we face,” she said.

The council also proposes to:

• Increase the distance a child over eight must live from their school to get free transport from two to three miles, saving £760,000;
• Axe “associated transport” arrangements, which allow children in some areas to travel free to particular schools, saving £1.6m;
• Axe free travel for post-16 students, saving £2.3m;
• Charge for spare seats on buses and taxis for children not entitled to a free seat, saving £250,000.

Consultation closes on Tuesday, May 10. For more information, call 0191-383-4490 or visit durham.gov.uk Last week, North Yorkshire County Council agreed to introduce £350 annual travel permits for children attending faith schools from September next year.