St. Peters School in Guildford forced to axe school buses in 2012

St. Peters Catholic School in Merrow, Guildford, has been forced to axe school buses for 2012, potentially leaving many children without a way into school.

In a joint letter sent to parents and carers by headteacher Robert Guinea and Chair of Governers Michael Shortland, they express their regret at the outcome:

"We are very unhappy with this outcome as it creates a divide in our community, but against the backdrop as described above the Governing Body feel that the school has no option but to stop arranging our own transport at the end of the next academic year."

They have also asked for a voluntary financial contribution from parents of those who are entitled to school buses.

"The school, having virtually no financial reserves, has experienced very considerable difficulty in absorbing the loss this year and the prospect of making an even greater loss next year is something we cannot face unaided," says Mr. Guinea in the letter.

"We cannot get any further financial support from Surrey or from the Diocese.

"We are therefore driven to request a contribution of £200 per student from the entitled parents for the next academic year. Surrey will not permit the school to impose a levy of this amount, which was our original intention, and we are therefore asking you to make this contribution, which may be spread over a period of ten months from September 2011 on an entirely voluntary basis."

The full letter can be read via the school's website.

What do you think? Are you going to be affected by this news? Is the Council to blame? Let us with a comment with your thoughts.