Anger as pupils told to renew bus passes

Feb 14 2008 By Graham Fraser

SECONDARY school pupils have been asked to make a fresh bus pass application because their school is due to move... by a few hundred metres.

Pupils at John Ogilvie High School in Hamilton were recently given a letter from headteacher Edward Morrison about renewing their bus passes.

In it, Mr Morrison states to parents: “When the new John Ogilvie High School opens, your child(ren) may be entitled to free school transport. The provision of free school transport will only apply if your home’s address is more than two miles away from the new school by the shortest safe walking route.

“If your child is currently in receipt of free school transport you will still be required to re-apply as the new school will be in a slightly different location.”

The letter brought a smile to the face of Arlene Green of Swinburne Avenue, Blantyre.

The 39-year-old regional sales manager has two daughters who attend the school in third and fourth year.

Mrs Green said: “I am astounded at the resources being spent on a very silly exercise. My two daughters attend John Ogilvie High School and have a bus pass.

“They came home from school with a new application.

“The accompanying letter was letting me know that they would probably still get a pass next year but the location of the new school had changed slightly.

“Am I losing my mind, or is the new John Ogilvie School being built within the perimeter fence of the old school? The last time I looked it was.

“Is someone from the educational resource department going to come out with a tape measure and quibble over centimetres? This has to be the daftest thing I have heard in years.

“Surely somewhere, someone has got the sense to see this as totally ridiculous. The lunatics have definitely taken over the asylum on this one.

“Please someone tell me this is a joke and they have mixed up with April Fool’s Day with Valentine’s Day.”

A South Lanarkshire Council spokesman said: “We can confirm that letters were issued to all parents of children who attend John Ogilvie High School informing them of the council’s transport arrangements.

“Parents have been asked to complete an application form if they live more than two miles from the school in New Farm Road.

“This is part of the council’s re-assessment of transport provision to ensure that those children who are eligible receive transport to the new John Ogilvie High School.”