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Pupils demonstrate against school bus cuts plan

BBC Pupils in school uniform hold up banners and flags. One banner reads "we need buses, not excuses" while another says "stop brutal school journey cuts".BBC
Dozens of pupils gathered outside Bradford City Hall to protest against bus cuts

Pupils angry at plans to axe two school bus services have demonstrated outside Bradford's City Hall while councillors met to discuss the cuts.

Bradford Council wants to cancel routes serving St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic School and Bingley Grammar School as part of efforts to save £40m.

It says the services cost up to £13,500 per pupil to run and it can no longer afford to subsidise pupils.

Campaigners argue that scrapping the buses will cause difficulties for students, while one head teacher said losing the service could affect admissions.

Two separate petitions relating to the under-threat services were presented to officials on Tuesday.

Ahead of the meeting, Wendy Crowe, who is part of the Save Our SBSJ School Buses campaign, said it was "extremely important" for the council to rethink the plans, not least because she believes "the infrastructure to move to public transport just doesn't exist in Bradford today".

She said the changes also raised "safety issues" for children travelling across the city.

Three teenagers in school uniform, two male and one female. One of the male students is holding a poster which says 'Save Our School Buses'. A school bus is parked behind them.
Mohammed Nisar Ahmed, Julienne Bajet and Sam Wanless were among those taking part in the demonstration

Year 11 pupil Sam Wanless is among the 900 or so pupils from St Bede's and St Joseph's who travel by bus.

"For me, it would mean every morning I'm having to leave the house so much earlier to get the bus to town and then try and find the bus to school," he said.

"And then when I've got to go home and revise and do my homework, it's going to be a lot harder because I've got a lot less time."

Meanwhile Year 13 pupil Mohammed Nisar Ahmed said he was worried cutting the buses would mean more people driving in, leading to increased air pollution.

A woman with blond hair stands in front of a bus. She wears a black puffy coat with a fur-trimmed hood.
Campaigner and parent Wendy Crowe presented the petition to officials in Bradford

Lawrence Bentley, head teacher of St Bede's and St Joseph's School, said losing the bus service could affect admission numbers and ultimately threaten the future of the school itself.

"Those on the outskirts of the city find it difficult getting in anyway because of the logistics, because of the expense," he said.

"Once this transport is taken away, the families of vulnerable children will be hit that much harder."

Lawrence Bentley has grey hair and is wearing a brown corduroy suit and glasses, as he sits on a bus.
Lawrence Bentley, headteacher of St Bede's and St Joseph's Catholic College fears the school could face long-term admission problems if the service was axed.

Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe said the plan – which would save £500,000 a year - was "fundamentally all about money".

"We really value our young people and their future," she said.

"But we're looking at [costs of] £13,500 per eligible pupil for Bingley Grammar and over £8,000 per pupil for St Bede's and St Joseph's."

The BBC understands around 1,300 pupils in total across the two schools currently use the school buses, but just 62 qualify for free school transport.

"We are financially challenged as a local authority, as many are around the country, so we have to look at things like this," Hinchcliffe added.

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