A Nuthall mum says parents lhers and others children face ‘significantly’ longer school days and health and safety risks if their school transport is axed.

Reform-led Nottinghamshire Council has been reviewing its discretionary bus service that serves more than 500 pupils attending Catholic and Church of England schools.

The authority is set to recommend ending this discretionary transport from September 2027 after facing ‘significant financial pressure’, where any savings could help the council achieve its multi-million-pound savings plan.

Hannah Jones, 42, from Nuthall, will have two children attending Bluecoat Academy Wollaton by September 2027, when the council’s proposals would come into effect.

Hannah Jones says removing faith school transport places an unfair burden on both parents and children. Photo: Submitted

placeholder image — Hannah Jones says removing faith school transport places an unfair burden on both parents and children. Photo: Submitted

As a single parent, Ms Jones says the changes would have a ‘huge impact’ on her family.

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service her children’s usual 15-minute journey to school on the council’s bus route would turn into a 50-minute trip each way, making them travel into Nottingham city centre and back out again.

She said: “Not only would this be more expensive but it would also raise genuine concerns about their safety on public transport.

“Families made important decisions based on the transport arrangements that were in place, and removing that support now places an unfair burden on both parents and children.”

Ms Jones said for many families, it is not about ‘getting from A to B’, but that any axe in faith school travel would create an ‘unfair barrier’ for those attending faith-based education.

She said: “Parents who choose a faith school do so for deeply held personal and religious reasons, and that choice should not become dependent on whether they can afford additional transport costs or manage lengthy and complex daily journeys.

“Children will face significantly longer school days because of extended journeys, increased reliance on multiple buses, and genuine concerns about their safety.

"For parents like me, who work full-time, the practical challenges of getting children to and from school every day are simply not manageable.”

Currently, 520 pupils attending these faith schools travel there on council-subsidised transport, with parents covering around 20 per cent of the cost and the council paying the remaining 80 per cent.

It costs the authority around £1m a year to run the service.

The county council’s consultation on the topic closed in June, including removing the scheme from either September 2027 or 2031, maintaining it or increasing parents’ financial contributions.

Coun John Semens (Ref), deputy cabinet member for transport and environment told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) on July 7 the authority estimates around 22 per cent of the 520 impact pupils would not have ‘easy’ access to their school with public transport, saying the council is aware it is a ‘very sensitive and emotive issue’ and ‘fully recognises the upheaval that may cause’.

He added: “We need to make sure it’s fair and equal when you’re using public money.

"We’ve pledged to find £45m in savings where we can and one of the areas we’re going to look at is the non-statutory services we provide.”

Any changes will not impact those pupils who come from low income families and the authority says a mitigation package, involving journey planning, will be available for families.