Growing up, I’ve always had to get the bus to school, so I know how important it is for students like me. Over the summer, my friends and I were really happy that bus travel was free. It made getting to places  and going out so much easier because we didn’t have to worry about having enough money for the bus.

But now that the new school term is starting, things have changed. Each journey now costs £3. For me and my brother, that adds up to around £30 every week. That’s a lot of money, especially when there are already so many other things families have to pay for.

For some families, paying for the bus every day can  be really difficult. The cost of living has gone up a lot, and people are already having to think carefully about things like food, bills and school supplies. Having to pay a lot just to get to school adds even more pressure. I don’t think any child should have to worry about whether their family can afford for them to get to school.

Education should be available to everyone, no matter how much money their family has. Being able to get to school shouldn’t be something that only some people can afford.

There are already many families in Warwickshire who are struggling with money. Warwickshire County Council’s education transport strategy says that over 20% of children qualify for free school meals. This shows that a lot of families may already be struggling financially. If so many children are in families that need extra support, making them pay expensive bus fares just to get to school doesn’t seem fair.

There are things that could be done to make this better. Warwickshire County Council could work with local bus companies to make travel cheaper or even free for students. Another idea could be having free or reduced-price buses during school hours. This would make it easier for students to get to school and could also help with attendance.

It would also mean that students wouldn’t have to feel worried or embarrassed about not having enough money for the bus. Everyone deserves the same chance to get an education, regardless of how much money their family has.

I’m asking the people of my town, Warwickshire County Council and anyone who believes in fairness to support this cause. Please join me in calling for school bus travel to be made more affordable, and ideally free, for children and young people.

If you agree that getting to school shouldn’t be a financial struggle, please sign this petition and help us make our voices heard. Together, we can make a difference and help make sure that every child can get to school without having to worry about the cost.

Please sign now and support a fairer future for students .

Thankyou :)