Proposed School Transport Changes – What This Means for Our Community
Kirkby Stephen Grammar School would like to make families aware of proposed changes to home-to-school transport currently under consultation by Westmorland and Furness Council.
These proposals have the potential to significantly affect pupils, families, and the wider rural communities we serve.
What is being proposed?
The consultation proposes that school transport eligibility would be limited to a child’s nearest school only.
For some families in our area, particularly those in communities such as Tebay and surrounding villages, this could mean that transport to Kirkby Stephen Grammar School (KSGS) would no longer be provided.
What could this mean for families?
For many families, particularly those in rural areas, school transport is essential. The proposed changes could result in:
- Reduced choice of school
- Increased travel challenges and potential additional costs
- Possible separation of siblings attending different schools
- Disruption to post-16 education, as KSGS provides a full 11–18 offer
While distances between schools may appear similar, this does not reflect the realities of rural travel, including road suitability, journey times, and reliability.
Impact on KSGS and the wider community
KSGS serves a wide rural area, with a number of students travelling to the school each year from surrounding communities.
A sustained reduction in pupil numbers as a result of these changes could:
- Affect the breadth of curriculum and subject choice available
- Impact the long-term sustainability of Sixth Form provision
- Reduce resources and opportunities for all students
- Weaken the role of the school within the local rural community
A message from the Head of School
“For rural communities like ours, school transport is essential. These proposals risk limiting access to education and opportunities for our young people. It is vital that the voices of our families and community are heard.”
— Nic Tweddle, Head of School
Have your say
This is a public consultation and no final decisions have been made.
It is important that decision-makers understand the real impact these proposals could have on children, families, and rural communities.
We strongly encourage all parents and carers to take part.
Download a template response letter
To support families in responding, we have created a template letter which you can personalise and submit as part of the consultation.
Download the parent response template here and send this to school.transport@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Complete the online consultation response – Proposed Home to School Transport consultation – Westmorland and Furness Council – Citizen Space
You may also wish to express your concerns to our MP Tim Farron: tim@timfarron.co.uk
You may wish to include:
- how your child or family would be affected
- any transport challenges you face
- why access to KSGS is important to you
Act now
Consultation deadlines are approaching, and decisions will be made soon.
Your voice matters.
Together, we can help ensure that rural communities and young people are fully considered.