Pupils walk miles through ‘fields and ginnels’ with no room on school bus

Turton School on Bromley Cross Road has long struggled with issues with the 926 “scholars route” bus service, a single decker bus with a capacity of just 70.

This is despite around 130 to 140 children needing to use the bus, which usually fills up after just one stop, which the school has repeatedly raised with Transport for Greater Manchester.

Assistant headteacher Liam Oxley said: “Overall, as a school we are really unhappy with the lack of service and support from TfGM.

“We are an oversubscribed and fully comprehensive secondary school who go above and beyond for our students and families.

Turton School has long had issues with the 926 bus service (Image: Newsquest)

“We have tried for a number of years to encourage TfGM to address this issue to no avail.

“Our main concerns are that TfGM are not providing a service that is fit for purpose.

“As a school we uphold very high standards and duty of care for our students which includes them getting to and from school safely and fairly.

“TfGM are not meeting those standards.

“Expecting families to pay more for their children to get a bus to and from school in comparison to others is not fair.

“Also, if a purposeful and fair solution cannot be created, is it right that children as young as 11 can be expected to walk up to three miles through fields, ginnels and other unlit areas to get to and from school?”

The 926 bus route runs through Breightmet, Harwood and Bradshaw to provide transport for Turton School and its pupils.

But Mr Oxley, who joined the school in September, says he is aware the bus issue has troubled them for more than four years.

In September last year TfGM said it would not be providing an extra bus vehicle on the route despite complaints from the school and from parents.

Mr Oxley also says a proposal by TfGM to redirect another school bus, the 927, to take another route missing stops at Egerton and Harwood may be “fixing one problem with another problem.”

Mr Oxley said that his research found that the 927 is now full at its first stop meaning that they now have “two buses that are not fit for purpose.”

He and his colleagues have now met with Bolton North East MP Kirith Entwistle about the issue, who has agreed to contact the relevant transport authorities.

Ms Entwistle said: “I had a meeting with Turton School where we looked at the different challenges with the 926 and 927 school buses.

“I appreciate the frustration that students and parents are feeling and I’m happy to help to try and find a solution and have contacted various transport stakeholders to see what the options are.”

Transport for Greater Manchester officials have said they are aware of the issue and hope they will be able to find a solution.

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This comes ahead a broader consultation on school transport which is expected to be launched this year.

A TfGM spokesperson said: “We remain in close dialogue with Turton School regarding capacity issues on the 926 and 927 buses.

“TfGM remains committed to finding a long-term solution which works for everyone, particularly for pupils using both services.

“Later this year we are launching a consultation on a draft School Travel Strategy which sets out our vision for helping more young people to walk, wheel, scoot, cycle or use public transport to get to school.” 

Source – INDIA TV