Parents from the West Wight have launched a petition calling on the Isle of Wight Council to provide a dedicated school bus service for children attending Medina College, raising concerns over lengthy journeys, safeguarding and the impact on pupils’ education.
Campaigners say 11 children from the West Wight have been allocated places at Medina College this September, despite none of their families selecting the school as 1 of their 3 preferred choices.
Unlike pupils travelling to schools such as Christ the King College and Carisbrooke College, petitioners say there is no dedicated school bus available for Medina College students travelling from the West Wight.
Instead, parents say the children – all aged 11 – will have to leave home at around 06:50 to catch a bus to Newport before changing onto a second service to Medina College. If connections run to schedule, they are expected to arrive at school shortly before the start of the school day.
The return journey is expected to see pupils arriving home at around 17:30 having left school more than an hour before. Parents have also raised concerns over their 11-year-old children having to ensure they get on the correct route 9 bus, describing Newport Bus Station as a safeguarding risk, rife for drug and drink users as well as cases of sexual harassment on public buses.
The petition states that some children will be travelling for around 1 hour and 20 minutes each way by public transport, despite a dedicated school bus being able to complete the journey in around 25 minutes.
One of the parents behind the campaign, Lisa Kirk, has criticised the arrangements in a social media post, saying:
“Our children shouldn’t have to be subject to this.
“These children are 11 years old, have never been on a bus alone before and will be travelling around 12 miles on 2 different buses.
“This will affect their attitude to learning because they will be so tired, but it is also about their safety. They will be around members of the public and alone in the bus station.
“There have been several incidents involving adults being drunk and behaving inappropriately towards children, with buses being stopped and people arrested.
“How is the Isle of Wight Council keeping our children safe and ensuring they get the best education possible?”
Parents also say the long days will make it difficult for children to take part in after-school clubs and activities, while the darker winter months will mean many pupils leave home before daylight and return after dark.
The petition, which at the time of publishing sits at 288 out of 500 signitures, calls on the Isle of Wight Council to review its current transport arrangements and work directly with affected families to introduce a dedicated school bus service between the West Wight and Medina College.
Campaigners say improved transport would provide a safer, more reliable journey for pupils, while helping to improve attendance, wellbeing and educational outcomes.
Organisers have only a few weeks to secure enough signatures for the petition to be formally acknowledged and considered by the Isle of Wight Council.
Those wishing to support the petition can do so here.
Island Echo has approached the Isle of Wight Council for comment.
