St Mary's school pupils in bus-top protest over Hull City Council transport plans

“It is NOT the council's responsibility to deliver children to a school for religious regions.

If they choose to have a papist education they can choose to pay for transport, or alternatively they can stay in mainstream schooling.”

“This may not just be about St Marys but the transport provisions at the moment are heavily skewed in favour of RC Schools. Of the 25 "scholars buses" which are dedicated services for schools only 8 go to St Marys College, 2 to St Marys RC Primary, 2 to St Richards RC Primary and 1 to St Thomas More RC Primary. Of the remainder 3 go to Andrew Marvell, 4 go to Syd Smith and 5 go to Newland. So over half of the school buses serve 4 RC schools.

I can understand why RC parents want their children to go to RC schools but the Council, and therefore taxpayers, shouldn't have to pay to get them there.

It's not about begrudging children the cost of free school buses, there are plenty of perfectly adequate schools within the catchment areas that these children live in.”

“If you want to send your child/ren to a particular school, whether that be religious or academic reasons, and you're choosing that over a school that is actually closer, then you should pay your way. If, however, the closest school to you is 3 miles away then fair enough.

The council are under immense pressure to cut, and frivilous bus services for people who CHOOSE to send their kids across the city to school instead of attending their local one should be one of the first things cut.”

“This proposal is absolutely nothing to do with Catholics. The petiton was handed over by St Mary's but many other schools will be affected by the Council's proposal to end free school transport, a service it has been providing to the childen of Hull for many decades. The ending of free transport will endanger the lives of children, no two ways about it. I really cannot believe that people begrudge the cost of free buses for children. Only last week it was reported in this paper that Hull City Council employs 270 "Managers" earning at least £50,000. For those of you who really want to get your teeth into something, why don't you look a little closer at our "Labour" Council, I am sure there will be plenty there to go at.”

“This isnt just about St Marys.. This is about all buses to all schools SMC pupils are not the only ones effected so what an earth has the church got to do with it. I can only speak as a parent whose four children where and are currently eduacted there and St Marys will always support anything that affects their pupils, this is not about feathering anyones nest It is about all children having the right to be educated where best suits there needs and if that means going out the catchment so be it. We live closer to St Marys than our local catchment school but wherever we had lived our children would have been educated there so maybe we would have had to use those buses. I can think of better ways the council can save the money and it doesnt include any one losing a job or access to local services the only people who feather their nest are the polititans ...seen it first hand ...lets have a meeting to decide who to invite to the meeting! Sooner or later it will be these kids that are making decisions about us ...maybe we should treat them with a little more respect !!! People just comment on here when the only info they have is what they read on here !!!!”

“My children will hopefully be going to St Mary's. They will need to use a school bus as I would not feel happy with them travelling another way. I work full time so would be paying for the bus, and would struggle to get them there any other way. i would be paying for the bus. St Mary's is doing a fantastic job in educating kids that would frankly not have a chance at other schools to succeed. Surely this is a benefit and must be saved.”

“St Marys is near about five or more perfectly usable public bus routes, don't see what the problem is”

“I asume this protest was done in school time? If so... why?

Shouldn't the students be in class rather than on a jolly on an open topped bus? They won't be paying for the transport but their parents will, so why aren't they taking the protest to the streets?

I suppose e children were accompanied by members of staff who were getting paid instead of teaching? It's not what I pay my taxes for so get back to the chalk face.”

“Pity the greedy Catholic Church doesnt pay. Like HullMostyn says,they sure aint short of a few quid and are quick enough with the old collection box. Is it too much to ask them to help their flock?.”

“The wheels on the bus go round and round.OR maybe not if the council see sense and tell them pay for your own childs transport”