Annoyed – My #WOTW
By Jeannette | July 20, 2017
If you regularly read my blogs, you’ll know I’m a “glass half full” J even when my #scarfeet are at their peak of achiness and I’m just worn down by “stuff” but not this week, I’m Annoyed.
Extremely annoyed and disappointed in T’s school, which isn’t an ideal way to be during the last week of term, is it?
I’ll elaborate a bit…..
T will be heading up to year 10 in September, GSCEs not that far away (eeeek!) and what is needed is consistency, especially with my facing two #scarfeet operations (hopefully) before the end of the year.
We are in the catchment area for two secondary schools (one fifteen minutes walk away, the other about an hour) but we elected to send T to another school within the borough and 20 minutes by coach away because it was the best school for him (smaller sized school, a good community feel and an emphasis on the values we hold).
He catches the coach at a stop opposite D’s school and is set down there too, so it’s ideal all round. It’s not cheap, his coach travel and, as we’ve chosen to send him to a school not the closest geographically and he’s not statemented, we get no help with the cost or assistance with choosing his transport.
It’s worked well, he’s only missed the coach twice in nearly three years and the coach always seems busy as it drops him off and then travels to the town next to us and beyond.
All seemingly fine and the procedure is always that his travel is renewed in the summer holidays for the upcoming year and we pay monthly.
Until last week when every parent of a child on the route received an email from the coach company thanking us for our custom but informing us that the service would be ceasing at the end of term.
So, a week to go until the end of term and …..what on earth?
T’s school said there’d be a letter coming out and that it wasn’t really anything to do with them, it was between us and the coach company, really bl**dy helpful! (Sorry, you know I’m not a usual swearer)
I then found out that it was just one route that was being stopped, the routes that were within the catchment area for his school (and more affluent areas) were still being serviced, naturally.
To give an idea of distance, I once walked to T’s school to see how long it would take and it was two hours there and a further two back!
A chat with his head teacher yesterday got me no further apart from the fact that he was sure the coach company weren’t open to negotiation and he couldn’t offer any solutions.
He wouldn’t give me email addresses of other parents so we could discuss options between ourselves but did agree to putting up the link if I set up a closed FB group (which he hasn’t done yet).
And then today, T brought a note home from a fellow parent asking for details so that he can compile where people are and where a route is needed. Power in numbers and we’ve been communicating today.
In the meantime, an email from the Head appeared this evening, saying that if a set number of pupils was guaranteed and there was a route change (which cut out a lot of pupils) and we agreed to a hefty price increase, the coach company has agreed to continue, for one more term. Maybe more, they couldn’t say at this time.
To say I’m annoyed is an understatement! No-one at his school has seemed interested until today, the day before the end of term! There are no guarantees that there will be the minimum number the coach company wants if they are changing their route and, to be honest, it feels like any trust I had in that coach company has gone if they can disregard (up to) 52 pupils with little or no notice and no regard for their wellbeing.
I feel like involving the local MP even though she’s a “tad” busy.
It’s ironic that I went into my operation last October stressed and crying because D’s school transport had not been sorted and I could be doing the same in four weeks over T’s.
In the end it all boils down to money, doesn’t it? Not the individual child, they are all figures on budget sheets, being pushed around by people who just see them as numbers.
Annoyed!
8 Comments
Angela Webster on 21st July 2017 at 8:34 am.
That sounds like an absolute nightmare, to pull the rug from under you so to speak with little notice is extremely unfair. I would be very annoyed too, could you go to the local paper perhaps ? I hope you can find a solution over the summer. #WotW
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The Reading Residence on 21st July 2017 at 9:56 am.
Oh, this is awful, of course you’re annoyed. So frustrating and the school’s reaction, or lack of, is very disappointing. I do hope that you and the other parents manage to sort an alternative out, and yes, I’d second Angela’s suggestion as spreading the word might get people coming to you to help out rather than you having to figure it all out yourselves. Hope you can get it sorted x Thanks for sharing with #WotW
The Reading Residence recently posted…Word of the Week 21/7/17
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Musings of a tired mummy...zzz... on 21st July 2017 at 9:13 pm.
How awful for you and the other families affected 🙁 such a shame that the school can’t (or won’t) help. I hope something happens in a positive way…
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Rachel George, Ordinary Hopes on 22nd July 2017 at 6:17 am.
There must be so many families worrying right now. Hoping you can get together and find a solution soon. Awful that there was no real notice on this.x
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Sarah on 22nd July 2017 at 6:17 am.
I would also be really annoyed! If there is a service for children at that school it really shouldn’t be cancelled. Mine aren’t school age but I had this when I was at school it also would have taken me about 2 hours to walk so a bus was the only option. Luckily it was always there so I’m shocked they can cancel it. I hope it gets sorted
Jane - Our Little Escapades on 22nd July 2017 at 7:20 am.
This is disgusting and I would be fuming. Talk about the teachers not being helpful either. That makes it even worse. I’m glad the parents were able to find a way to get together around the system. I really hope you get this sorted out as it really is the last thing you need at the moment x
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Jeannette on 22nd July 2017 at 7:32 am.
Me too, since found out that the HT received offer of help from LEA and suggestions and didn’t act on them. Am furious!!