PUPILS, parents, and a headmaster have criticised Cumbria County Council for their policy when it comes to providing catchment transport for sixth-form students – with one student even staging a sit-in protest.

Wigton’s Nelson Thomlinson school slammed the local authority’s spare-seat scheme for sixth-form students, which forces the school transport team to give priority to pupils in years 7 to 11.

Come term time, the local authority lets the school know how many spaces are available on each bus for sixth-form students.

This can mean all students get a seat, but sometimes however, there isn’t enough – forcing the hand of the school and parents to pay for taxis in some situations, a heavy burden for those living in rural areas.

The issue with the policy came to a head last week when sixth-form pupil, Charlotte Stokes, was told she would have her ‘bus pass revoked’.

She staged a sit-in protest on the bus.

“When protesting, I had the support of the driver and my fellow students and most of the teachers it seemed.

“The bus is an aspect of the day that you should not have to worry about.

“It provides a small window of the school day where you can relax and chat, escaping the stressful nature of A-levels. 

“Despite the school, myself, my parents, and other parents' best efforts, there seems to be little empathy nor understanding from the council,” she said.

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Headmaster Sam Northwood said this can leave students and parents in a ‘terrible situation’ and they have also lost some students over the years because of the issue.

"Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, we are unable to provide any further taxi transport after Easter so it will be up to parents to somehow find a way to transport them to school.

"Our transport coordinator has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to try and come up with a solution but we feel it is now up to the local authority. 

 "There is nothing else we can do as a school. 

“We feel that the school transport team should provide a bus big enough for those pupils in Years 7 – 11 and also any Sixth Form students who need it. 

“Surely all sixth form students should be able to have transport to enable them to continue their education and not have to worry about what happens if they can’t,” Mr Northwood said.

A Cumbria County Council spokesperson said: "Cumbria County Council’s Spare Seats Scheme Policy outlines how the service is provided.

"On occasions, it is unfortunately necessary to withdraw seats, which usually occurs when a pupil with a statutory entitlement to transport needs to travel.

"In such circumstances, the Council’s School Transport Team will liaise with the school and parents/carers to provide as much notice as possible.

"All seats on this vehicle are currently occupied although the vehicle may not be full every day as pupils can be absent due to illness or attending other commitments.

"Council officers are in regular contact with the school and if any seats do become available then they can be offered," they said.