Urge Edinburgh Council to keep school buses running
The Issue
As Head Pupils at St Augustine's RC High School, we hold our position with great pride and responsibility. We see firsthand how students depend on school buses as a vital link to their education. These buses don't just transport students — they represent access, opportunity, and equality. We know many other schools across Edinburgh share this reality.
Edinburgh Council is proposing to cut school-issued bus services to reduce costs. At St Augustine's alone, over 200 students rely on these buses to get to school. As a Catholic school, we draw students from right across Edinburgh, creating a diverse and vibrant community — but that also means many of our pupils simply cannot walk to school. For them, the bus is not a convenience; it is a necessity.
Imagine navigating our expansive catchment area without the transport that has been available for years until now. By discontinuing these buses, Edinburgh Council risks magnifying existing educational inequalities. According to the United Nations, education is a fundamental human right that should be accessible to all, without barriers. Removing school buses places an undue burden on families who may already be financially stretched.
The knock-on effects would be felt beyond our school gates. More students relying on other means of transport means more congestion, a greater risk of accidents, and increased environmental pollution from extra cars on the road — as well as added pressure on our school infrastructure and local bus services.
We propose that, instead of cutting these vital services, the Council considers alternatives: optimising bus routes for greater efficiency, or seeking funding opportunities to subsidise costs. Ensuring every student has a safe, reliable way to get to and from school daily should be a priority.
We call on Edinburgh Council to reverse its plans to cut school bus services and to work with schools like St Augustine's to find a sustainable solution.
It is essential to preserve the accessibility of education for all students, no matter their background or circumstances. Together, we can send a strong message: protect our school buses, protect our right to education. Please add your signature and stand with us in the fight to maintain these crucial transport links for our community.
646
The Issue
As Head Pupils at St Augustine's RC High School, we hold our position with great pride and responsibility. We see firsthand how students depend on school buses as a vital link to their education. These buses don't just transport students — they represent access, opportunity, and equality. We know many other schools across Edinburgh share this reality.
Edinburgh Council is proposing to cut school-issued bus services to reduce costs. At St Augustine's alone, over 200 students rely on these buses to get to school. As a Catholic school, we draw students from right across Edinburgh, creating a diverse and vibrant community — but that also means many of our pupils simply cannot walk to school. For them, the bus is not a convenience; it is a necessity.
Imagine navigating our expansive catchment area without the transport that has been available for years until now. By discontinuing these buses, Edinburgh Council risks magnifying existing educational inequalities. According to the United Nations, education is a fundamental human right that should be accessible to all, without barriers. Removing school buses places an undue burden on families who may already be financially stretched.
The knock-on effects would be felt beyond our school gates. More students relying on other means of transport means more congestion, a greater risk of accidents, and increased environmental pollution from extra cars on the road — as well as added pressure on our school infrastructure and local bus services.
We propose that, instead of cutting these vital services, the Council considers alternatives: optimising bus routes for greater efficiency, or seeking funding opportunities to subsidise costs. Ensuring every student has a safe, reliable way to get to and from school daily should be a priority.
We call on Edinburgh Council to reverse its plans to cut school bus services and to work with schools like St Augustine's to find a sustainable solution.
It is essential to preserve the accessibility of education for all students, no matter their background or circumstances. Together, we can send a strong message: protect our school buses, protect our right to education. Please add your signature and stand with us in the fight to maintain these crucial transport links for our community.
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Petition created on 1 October 2026