North Yorkshire Council faces backlash over school transport changes

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 11 Nov, 12:09 · Archive

North Yorkshire Council's proposed changes to its school transport policy have drawn criticism from campaigners who say they fail to address fundamental problems.

North Yorkshire Council claims a six-week consultation involving 588 people showed strong support for proposed changes to its controversial school transport policy, introduced in September 2024. The policy removed automatic free transport eligibility to catchment schools in favour of the nearest suitable school with available places.

However, campaigners and opposition councillors say the amendments fail to address the system's fundamental problems. The School Transport Action Group (STAG) accuses the council of avoiding the question of whether previous catchment arrangements should be restored. In a separate survey, STAG found 87.4 per cent of 111 respondents supported bringing back free transport to either a child's nearest school or their catchment school.

The council says 85 per cent of its consultation respondents supported improvements to mapping data, while almost 80 per cent backed clearer guidance on school entrances and eligibility. More than 86 per cent supported discretionary arrangements where schools share transport drop-off points, and almost 84 per cent backed removing five remote roads from the mapping system.

According to STAG's findings, 92.8 per cent of respondents said it was unfair that families affected by mapping errors and policy flaws had not been offered retrospective reassessments or remedies. The policy has faced sustained criticism from rural families since its introduction.

How it is being reported

• Council accused of 'illusion of listening' over controversial school transport policyNorth Yorkshire Council faces backlash over school transport changes as STAG says consultation ignored calls to restore free catchment-school travel.Gazette & Herald (Malton) · 11 Nov, 08:00
• Council accused of 'illusion of listening' over controversial school transport policyNorth Yorkshire Council faces backlash over school transport changes as STAG says consultation ignored calls to restore free catchment-school travel.The Press (York) · 11 Nov, 08:00
• Backlash over school transport changesNorth Yorkshire Council faces backlash over school transport changes as STAG says consultation ignored calls to restore free catchment-school travel.Gazette & Herald (Malton) · 11 Nov, 05:00
• Backlash over school transport changesNorth Yorkshire Council faces backlash over school transport changes as STAG says consultation ignored calls to restore free catchment-school travel.York Press · 11 Nov, 05:00

In this story: North Yorkshire Council · School Transport Action Group · North Yorkshire

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