Cabinet Member for Education and Schools Appendix 1

School Summary of comments Rother The Principal of the college has written to say that: College has a large rural catchment area covering 400 square miles.

Cancelling the service is not an option. The College is committed to offering an extensive range of extra-curricular activities and will honour that intention.

Making alternative arrangements or asking parents to pay is not an option. The socio-economic background of the students is such that they come from families of modest economic means.

Parental reaction to the proposal has been one of deep dismay, especially those who live in more remote areas. For those who live in the town of Midhurst, there is no difference to what students can access after school. This cannot be said of students who live ‘out in the sticks’ if such transport ended.

If the services stop, there would be a drop in pupil attainment. After school study classes for students who are taking public examinations last year resulted in a 12% improvement in the college’s overall 5+ A*-C GCSE figure, an improvement of 10% at AS level and 3% at A level. It would fly in the face of our aspiration to improve students’ attainment if they did not have the means of transport to get home following after-College booster classes.

Midhurst Rother College’s location and the background of its students, make it a special case in such matters. The college wishes to retain these services. The rural nature of the college leaves them financially vulnerable to decisions whose impact is felt disproportionately across the county.

Imberhorne School No comments received Manhood The Head teacher has submitted a representation: Community College Cabinet Member for Education and Schools Appendix 1

Additional costs to provide a late bus service would put pressure on significantly tight budgets.

By geography, Manhood Community College is isolated from other communities in .

20% of students are transported to college by bus. Parents chose Manhood CC on the understanding that services would be provided to enable children to access the entire curriculum without discrimination due to the location of their homes.

GCSE classes are held after school as well as sports, musical, dance, technology revision and homework clubs.

Making alternative arrangements and charging parents is not an option. The area has pockets of students who experience significant deprivation.

Few secondary schools in West Sussex sit in such a remote area and suffer from such significant access issues. Manhood CC cannot be considered in the same way as other more accessible schools.

The Forest School No comment received.

Millais School No comment received.

Tanbridge House The school would like to continue with the late bus service for four nights a week at the very least. The School current cost is £1236.70 for two nights and they would be willing to contribute £2000 from April for a service for four nights a week.

After carrying out a review of after school activities it is evident that this is a much-needed service.

Rydon Community The college would be prepared to pay for the service initially, but with reluctance. Any decision for the College future would depend on budget figures.

Cabinet Member for Education and Schools Appendix 1

Steyning Grammar Representations have been received from a few parents, Chair of Governors, Head teacher and his School deputy, the Head Girl and Head Boy, the Year 11 representatives, and 12 Year 9 form groups.

Parents mentioned that late buses provide a vital link for those in rural areas and families where both parents work. It enables these pupils to take part in various activities. Sports activities and revision classes would suffer. The proposal discriminates against those in rural areas. If schools have to fund the service, all pupils will suffer as resources will be lost from other parts of an already tight budget.

The Chair of Governors has written on behalf of the governing body. As a rural school, serving a large catchment area, Grammar School relies upon the late bus service to be able to offer: • a range of additional curriculum opportunities to students • extra-curricular activities • the implementation of sanctions relating to pupil behaviour.

Withdrawing the late buses will have a significant impact upon school standards and students and staff morale. The Governors would like to press the Cabinet Member for Education to reconsider this proposal.

Steyning Grammar School is already under extreme financial pressure. The governors provisional thoughts are that they would not require the County Council to provide the late bus transport if the proposal were implemented.

The Head teacher and deputy are deeply concerned about the proposal. It will have significant implications for pupils and those from other rural schools in West Sussex. 60% of the 2000 pupils travel by coach and rely heavily on the late bus service to access the full range of extended school activities such as sports clubs, drama and music rehearsals, homework clubs etc.

The proposal undermines the entitlement for every child to have access to extended school provision. The loss of the service will have a serious and negative impact on the school’s ability to offer crucial academic support such as revision classes and course work catch-up sessions. This will harm pupils’ potential to achieve the highest possible examination grades. Cabinet Member for Education and Schools Appendix 1

The options are unreasonable and unrealistic for the following reasons: • Schools are facing budget reductions and could not afford the cost of the late buses despite being highly valued. • Cancelling the service betrays a commitment to providing the very best educational opportunities for young people. • Limiting the service discriminates amongst the school population and schools in rural areas. • Charging parents for activities such as necessary revision classes is verging on illegal and is divisive and discriminatory (a pupil’s participation will depend on the parent’s ability to pay). • In the current economic climate, parents and carers are doing all they can to retain jobs and the scope for parents to collect children has significantly reduced.

This proposal is on the grounds of saving money but does not consider the impact it will have on the lives of young people.

The school pupils, represented by the Head Girl and Head Boy, the Year 11 representatives, and 12 Year 9 form groups have expressed their disappointment and concerns.

The service provides an essential link for the rural catchment area. Nearly 60% of pupils at the school use the 20 contract buses on normal home to school transport. Late buses help to maintain a programme of matches, drama and music rehearsals, booster lessons, revision sessions, detentions etc. Twilight lessons make efficient use of equipment and provide a more flexible choice of subject combinations. Without the revision classes, pupils may not achieve target grades in examinations.

Sport is a key feature that is needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Late buses enable pupils to join teams and take part in clubs such as rounders, netball, gymnastics, football, rugby, trampolining etc..

Extra curricular activities are in great demand and the lack of a late bus service will threaten their existence.

Young people in rural areas should have the same opportunity as those living in towns. Cabinet Member for Education and Schools Appendix 1

The Weald School Representations have been received from the head teacher, parents, staff and pupils.

The head teacher recognises that although the late bus service s not a statutory obligation, it is a vital aspect of the functioning of the school. The catchment area is rural, covering approximately 190 square miles and the removal of the service is tantamount to a tax on rural families.

It is unlikely that many West Sussex schools would have the capacity to fund late buses.

222 responses were received from parents, students and staff and the main points raised were as follows:

The proposal will threaten the continuation of academic, sports, music, drama and social after school clubs from which a large number of pupils benefit.

The school runs additional classes, homework, revision and booster classes. Without these there will be lower levels of academic achievement, particularly amongst disadvantaged pupils.

If the school charged parents, pupils from families on low income would be excluded. Some parents indicated they would happy to pay a small amount to keep the service going.

One parent felt that this service benefits certain pupils and the beneficiaries should pay.

Several parents made the point that both parents work and therefore are unable to make the necessary arrangements to collect their children from school.

If the bus service is removed, there will be an environmental impact as parents will have to drive to collect their children.

The catchment area is largely rural with few adequate or suitable bus services. This proposal would Cabinet Member for Education and Schools Appendix 1

seriously disadvantage children from rural communities Westergate 31 responses have been received from staff, parents, pupils and governors. A summary of comments Community School is as follows:

• Parents may not be able to afford to pay. • The late bus offers a safe service giving parents peace of mind. • The school offers many extra curricular activities and pupils would not be able to participate if the late bus were taken away. These include the student magazine, film, music, choir, dance and sports clubs. • The school clubs make a difference to the pupils’ education and can influence and help in deciding their options. • Engagement in sports activities is important for fitness and health. • Public transport times do not coincide with the times that pupils go home. • Public transport services are poor. • Car usage will increase if parents have to collect their children from school. • Members of staff, in particular, were concerned about undermining the detention system. • Taking away the facility could influence choice of schools. • There could be an increase in petty crime resulting from boredom. • In some cases, parents’ work commitments prevent them from collecting children from school. • Prepared to pay in order to retain the service.