Bath head teacher's appeal to keep transport funding for faith schools

“I'm quite shocked by the harsh and negativity in some of the comments above, choice is an incredibly important right for any parent about their children's education be it on grounds of religion or simply because you choose not to sent your child to the catchment school because you rate another higher.

To those of you who say why should "I" PAY FOR "YOUR" CHILD..... Does that mean if you haven't used the NHS this year you don't want it available to others???... I know not a direct comparison but think about it, your saying you don't want to pay for other people to use services you don't use yourself.

As to the subsidy if you take the time to look into the issue properly and don't just make flippant comments, you will see that children using Faith transport pay towards it at exactly the same contribution rate as children who do not attend their catchment school for whatever reason and use council transport to get there. This scheme "FARE PAY" is subsidized at the same rate and yet is not under review.

So before you make more comments based predominantly on your views about Catholics try looking in to the actual facts and maybe you will understand how important this service is to the parents of these children, who just like you work, pay tax and contribute to other service they don't use but equally don't begrudge others using.”

“If the Catholic Church can afford to pay out tens of millions of pounds in hush-money to the countless victims of paedophile Priests worldwide, then perhaps the right thing to do would be for THEM to subsidise transport to their schools. Many children, for varying reasons, don't get the first school of their choice, and I'm damned if the rest of us should fork out to help schools run by this very debatable organisation.”

“As a non-believer and a taxpayer, why should I subsidise transport to a school that my children have no right to attend?

Let those who 'play the Catholic card' when it comes to their 'choice' of schools, pay for getting their kids there.

In any event, why any responsible parent would ever deliberately place their child in the path of a Catholic priest is beyond me.”

“Mr Friel belongs to an organisation, i.e. the catholic church, which is incredibly rich by any standards. Thus instead of seeking a selective subsidy I suggest the church pay for this itself. Am I also correct in saying that the catholic church along with the other churches pays no taxes? If so then all subsidy should cease forthwith.”

“Why should anyone get a positive benefit (free/subsidised transport) because of their religion. Atheists and others with no faith find themselves discriminated against in their choice of schools so why should taxpayers money be used to positively discriminate in favour of religion.”

“Why should anyone get a positive benefit (free/subsidised transport) because of their religion. Atheists and others with no faith find themselves discriminated against in their choice of schools so why should taxpayers money be used to positively discriminate in favour of religion.”

“preferential treatment for catholics - but if us atheists want our child to go to a school other than than the CofE school on our doorstep WE HAVE TO FUND THE TRANSPORT OURSELVES
Please put an end to religious privelige NOT request that it be maintained at taxpayers expense!!!”

“Why on earth should parents who decide to send their children to a school other than the nearest be subsidised if that choice is based on religion, but not if (for example) they choose a school that specialises in sport or science or drama or maths or art etc, or just has a good all round reputation?

If a family lived next door to Saint Gregory's but wanted their child to attend Culverhay, they would have to pay for the transport themelves, but if they lived next door to Culveryhay and wanted their child to attend Saint Gregorys then the council would pick up the cost (if and only if the family claimed religion as the reason for their choice). How on earth anyone can attempt to justify this is beyond me.

Its about time the council removed this totally unsubstantiated discrimination - its just a pity they are doing it because of financial pressure and not simply because its the right thing to do.”

“Perhaps I have misunderstood this, but is he arguing for preferential treatment and extra subsidies for pupils attending schools adhering to religious teaching? If this is the case surely it contravenes equality laws?”

“Many parents over the last ten+ years who saw St Gregory's as being their first choice school on the basis that it was Co-ed with good standards have seen their kids excluded from this state funded school simply because they went to either the wrong church or none - not sure that as an admissions policy is so much better than exclusions because they can't afford to send them extreme distances. We should surely be working towards excellent local schools where parents etc work with the schools to make their nearest school a good school rather than shopping around for the best school regardless of the transport required to get there.”