I remember when I first chose our family home within the catchment area of my child's school, confident that it would guarantee not just a place for my child but also reliable, free school transport. This link between school catchment areas and school transport catchment areas was a piece of mind for parents like me, ensuring our children could safely travel to their designated schools without additional financial burden.

However, recent changes have shattered this peace. The school transport catchment areas no longer align with the school catchment areas, creating confusion and added costs for families like ours. Now, children who have the right to attend a local school, based on their residential address, are not automatically eligible for free school transport. This discrepancy defeats the purpose of the catchment system, which is designed to facilitate accessibility and inclusion for all students.

Transport costs are surging, and many families are struggling to afford this unexpected expense. For those without access to a car or reliable public transport, the situation is even direr. Families are forced to make tough choices, sometimes at the expense of their children's education or safety.

According to the Department for Education, the alignment of catchment areas encourages attendance consistency and academic success through reduced stress and improved punctuality. It’s not just about convenience – it’s about ensuring every child’s right to education without undue hardship.

A simple, logical solution would be to realign the school transport catchment areas with the school catchment areas as they once were. This change would immediately restore fairness, reduce financial strain, and underscore our shared commitment to providing every child with equitable access to education.

We urge the local education authorities to reconsider this change and reinstate the previous alignment of transport and school catchment areas. This intervention will not only benefit our families but also uphold our community values by ensuring our children's safe and consistent access to their education.

Please sign this petition to demand that our decision-makers prioritize our children's educational rights and ease unnecessary burdens from families during these challenging times. Together, we can make sure our voices are heard and that real change happens.