Those families affected will already know that the 818 and 819 bus services are arriving late to our school due to the traffic congestion related to the HS2 works.
This is seeing children arrive around 9.00am rather than the required arrival at 8.40am.
We are in liaison with Staffordshire County Council’s School Transport Team who have the authority and responsibility to organise these buses and they are working to make the necessary adjustments to alleviate these problems.
Looking further ahead, we are going to have to extend the school day to meet the demands of the government’s 32½ hour standard week – which will see us add 10 minutes onto each day – so we are already thinking ahead for this.
Stacey Walsh, Assistant Headteacher, said: “We are well aware of the frustration these difficulties are causing our students and we have been clear in saying no student will be sanctioned for arriving later. This is totally beyond their control and we know we have some brilliant students who are disappointed and upset to face this problem.”
Matt Allman, Headteacher, added: “Clearly, we have no wish to see children missing lessons and with us not having control over the school buses, nor the congestion caused by HS2, we have been struggling with the present situation alongside our students and families. However, we have been liaising with Staffordshire County Council’s School Transport Team and they are seeking to adjust times of the buses to remedy things – we should get details sooner rather than later. Those children who live in Fradley do have the option of catching the 817 which is getting into school on time so it is worth checking out if that is a feasible option.”
