Back to school

The imminent start of the new term heralded the usual last minute rush, including finding the application forms for the bus passes to get the younger two to school. Living in the village is complicated school-wise. Before we moved here we lived in Malton itself, and so the children all went to Malton School. Parental Choice is a bit of a novel concept in this part of the world, so when we moved here, the council said we should send them to the school in Pickering, as we were now in that catchment area. However, bizarrely, they did run a school bus from KM to Malton School. So we carried on regardless, having annual arguments over why we wanted bus passes but no real problems.

Last term the council changed contractor and replaced the ricketty bus with a taxi service because there weren't enough children using the bus to be worth running it. Fantastic! It was a much better service and we were very happy.

Last week I phoned the council to confirm the payment was on its way. I was told the bus passes were also on their way and not to worry as the first instalment was not due until October. Both children were confirmed on the list.

First day of term - but youngest son didn't have to go in, as he is in Year 11 (final GCSE). Daughter was staying with a friend in town and going in from there.

We got home from work that evening to find a letter from the council returning our applications and saying there were no spaces available. There must have been a real rush of new children needing those seats! From not enough to too many in one go!

I used bad words, I confess. More than once. It helped a bit.

The current situation is that the children are having to catch the Coastliner (mentioned in a prior post) at 8.45 and arrive at school at 9.15, missing registration but more or less in time for class. The earlier bus is at 6.55 and they would arrive before the school opens which is not acceptable, especially with winter approaching.

I'm not sure what happened to the council's policy of at least 7 days notice of lack of availability, or the other policy of "not getting caught out lying to customers". Needless to say, we are less than impressed. When I read about the problems of choosing a school in the south of England I tend to laugh in a hollow manner.

But my real concern here is the difficulties it is causing the children, one in GCSE final year, the other in final A-level year. It's just not right.