Herefordshire Council rejects religious discrimination claim

1:10pm Wednesday 2nd July 2008

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By Mark Bowen »

A HEREFORDSHIRE pupil's claim that religion was behind the loss of her place on the school bus has been dismissed by Herefordshire Council.

Jess Millest, 15, claims her place on the bus to St Mary's RC High School in Lugwardine, the only catholic secondary school in Herefordshire, has been withdrawn because she is a non-catholic.

Miss Millest, who starts her final year at St Mary's next term, is currently travelling on the council's school bus from her home in Linton but does not have a seat for September.

"I am not allowed to travel on the bus anymore because I'm not a catholic," she said. "If I was, the council would have given me a bus pass."

But Herefordshire Council claim the decision has more to do with regulations and resources than religion.

Rob Reid, school planning and access manager, said: "The pupil concerned lives more than three miles away and does not attend St Mary’s RC High School on denominational grounds. Consequently she is not entitled to free or subsidised transport."

"The local authority currently operates a vacant seats system where parents can pay a termly fee to occupy a vacant seat on a school bus.

"During the admissions process, it is made clear to parents that this can only happen if there is a vacant seat, that this right can be withdrawn at any time."

He added that the council had cut the number of buses for September from seven to five. This would have consequences for around 50 pupils and save £22,000.