Observations

Declares that the school bus from Kings Worthy to Henry Beaufort School is due to be withdrawn in April 2026; further declares that this would force children as young as eleven to walk over an hour on dangerous roads to get to school, which would be particularly dangerous in the winter months, or cost parents who will have to start work later or pay for expensive taxis; and further declares that the plans would mean more congestion, worse air quality and higher costs for parents.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to work with Hampshire County Council to ensure that the school bus service from Kings Worthy to Henry Beaufort School is continued.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Dr Danny Chambers, Official Report, 18 March 2026; Vol. 782, c. 976.]

[P003170]

Observations from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education (Olivia Bailey): Home to school travel is an integral part of the school system. The Government know how valuable it is for many families. The Department for Education’s home to school travel policy aims to ensure that no child is prevented from accessing education by a lack of transport.

The law requires local authorities to arrange free home to school travel for children of compulsory school age, five to 16, who attend their nearest school and would not be able to walk there because of the distance, their special educational needs, disability or mobility problem, or because the nature of the route means it would be unsafe for them to do so. There are extended rights to free travel for children from low-income families. More information is available in our statutory guidance: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a10649929bb11891b1cf096/Travel_to_school_for_children_of_compulsory_school_age.pdf

Local authorities have the discretion to arrange travel for other children but are not required to do so. They may charge for discretionary travel. It is for each local authority to decide whether and how to exercise their discretionary power.

Local authorities are responsible for assessing whether a child is eligible for free school travel on the grounds that they would not be able to walk there in reasonable safety. The Department for Education does not have a role in these decisions. Local knowledge is important when assessing existing routes and identifying new ones.

Our statutory guidance for local authorities explains that when assessing whether a route can be walked in reasonable safety, they should consider the whole of the route. This will include, for example, any sections that use footpaths or bridleways, as well as sections that use roads. Local authorities should consider a range of risks such as canals, rivers, ditches, speed of traffic and fields of vision for the pedestrian and motorist. The local authority should consider whether a route which would be unsafe for a child to walk on their own could be considered safe if the child were accompanied by an adult.

Local authorities have a duty to promote the use of sustainable travel on journeys to and from places of education in their area. This includes children who are not eligible for free school travel provided by the local authority. They must publish a sustainable modes of travel strategy which sets out their vision for improving the infrastructure for sustainable travel and promoting sustainable travel to places of education. It should provide health benefits for children and their families through active journeys and environmental improvements through reduced congestion and improved air quality.

The Department for Education appreciates that changes in travel arrangements can be unsettling for families. However, providing that Hampshire county council is meeting its statutory duty, the Department is unable to get involved.

Parents can appeal a decision that has been taken about their child’s home to school travel. Details of how to do this can be found on Hampshire county council’s website: https://www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/schooltransport/appeals. If, having exhausted the council’s appeals procedure, parents remain unsatisfied, the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman may be able to investigate. Further information is available here: www.lgo.org.uk.

Declares that the Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway has submitted proposals to restore direct rail services between Wrexham, Shropshire, the Midlands and London, which would offer significant economic, social and environmental benefits for the communities along the route; further declares that the establishment of these new direct services would improve transport links, access to health services, and strengthen regional economies across North Wales, Shropshire and the Midlands.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to support the proposal for a Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway by encouraging the Office of Rail and Road and Network Rail to work constructively with the operator to enable the establishment of new direct services between London and North Wales, Shropshire and the Midlands.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Julia Buckley, Official Report, 20 May 2026; Vol. 786, c. 666.]

[P003201]