Parents Fear School Choice Limited by Transport Cuts

Bracknell Forest Council has been accused of influencing parents' secondary school choices by ending subsidised bus travel to a popular school outside the borough.

Maidenhead MP Joshua Reynolds said constituents were worried the move could push families towards in-borough schools as birth rates fall and pupil numbers are under pressure. He has written to the council.

"This is a school in North Ascot where people will send their children. It is highly regarded. It just so happens to be on the other side of the local authority border,"

"It feels like, from my point of view, two things are happening. The first thing is Bracknell Forest Council is just trying to cut its costs but I feel there are better areas the local authority can reduce its costs."

"The second underlying concern is around school places. We know birth rates have declined and [school places] are under capacity. I really hope this isn't a way of trying to discourage Bracknell residents from sending pupils to Ascot. We should be working across boundaries to make sure parents have got the best schools they can, rather than trying to constrain them."

He said he was not claiming the council was deliberately trying to discourage families but that it was a "real fear" among parents and needed to be addressed.

Cllr Megan Wright, cabinet member for children, young people and health, rejected the suggestion the council was limiting choice. "The council is not seeking to restrict parental choice or influence decisions about which schools children attend. Parents remain free to express a preference for any school, whether in or outside the borough. All admissions decisions are made in accordance with the relevant admissions arrangements and statutory requirements."

Mr Reynolds criticised the council for pressing ahead despite 60 per cent of consultation respondents opposing the change. The council says the move is linked to the cost of providing school transport and policy changes.

Parent Emily Booth said families should not feel their choices are limited by transport policy. "If falling birth rates are putting pressure on local school numbers, the solution should be to improve confidence in local schools, not make it harder for families to access alternative schools through transport policy. Many North Ascot families choose Charters because they believe it offers the best combination of academic standards, behaviour expectations, pastoral support and school culture for their children. If Bracknell Forest Council wants to retain more pupils within the borough, it should focus on understanding why parents are making these choices and addressing those concerns. Trying to influence school selection through transport changes feels like addressing the symptom rather than the cause."

The council said parents can still apply for schools outside the borough and that admissions decisions are separate from transport arrangements.

Katie French, Local Democracy Reporter