Carwyn JonesBBC News and
Sion TootillBBC News
BBC
Megan has been denied free school transport for her preferred secondary school in Bala
A parent has called a council’s decision to use bridleways and footpaths to determine which pupils are eligible for free school transport as “bizarre”.
Megan, 11, from Glyndyfrdwy in Denbighshire, is due to start secondary school at Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn in Bala, Gwynedd, on Monday, which her mother, Ffion Jones, said was the closest Welsh-medium school to their home.
She added she had “sleepless nights” and felt they were “being punished for living in a rural area” after Denbighshire council refused to offer Megan free school transport.
Denbighshire council has been asked to comment.
Having grown up in a Welsh-speaking household on her family farm near Corwen, Megan had always envisaged having her education in Welsh.
She was “excited” when she was offered a place at Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn – a Welsh-medium secondary school in Bala.
“She was accepted to the school and was happy with that,” Ms Jones said.
“It’s where her father and his siblings went because it is the nearest fully Welsh school to our home and so that’s where she’s wanted to go.”
The next step was to apply for a free school bus pass.
“We didn’t expect to have any problems at all because, from what we can see, Bala has the nearest fully Welsh-medium school to us, but she was denied that by the council on the grounds that there are three schools that are closer.”
Ffion Jones claims Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn is closer to their home than Ysgol Byrnhyfryd and Ysgol Morgan Llwyd
The council told Ms Jones Megan could have free transport to one of three schools they said were closer to her home, when factoring in bridleways, adapted roads and footpaths to the journey.
It said Megan could get free transport to Ysgol Brynhyfryd in Ruthin, Ysgol Dinas Bran in Llangollen or Ysgol Morgan Llwyd in Wrexham.
Ysgol Brynhyfryd and Ysgol Dinas Bran both describe themselves as bilingual co-educational schools.
“You’ve got Ysgol Brynhyfryd and Ysgol Dinas Bran which aren’t fully Welsh so aren’t suitable for Megan,” Ms Jones said.
“Then Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, which they [the council] say is closer because they take bridleways and adapted roads into consideration.
“When I read that, I had to read it a couple of times because I thought surely, they can’t be real to think we use those routes in 2025. I find it bizarre.”
She added she felt the family were “being punished” because they live in a rural area.
“It just doesn’t make sense to me.”
Ms Jones claims when using main roads, the school in Bala is a mile closer to their home than Ysgol Brynhyfryd and two miles closer than Ysgol Morgan Llwyd.
“I’ve had many sleepless nights over it because I’d researched and seen that Bala was the closest school and so I felt like I’d let her down,” she said.
“I just don’t understand how they can use bridleways as an option. That shouldn’t be allowed really when they’re not used.
“You’re not going to walk 17 miles to school or take a car on a bridle route, are you?”
Megan says the council’s decision not to offer her free school transport has left her feeling sad
Megan’s friend’s are all attending Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn and have got a place on the bus, adding she feels “she’s missing out” and “being discriminated against”.
Having been offered a place at the school in March, Megan was looking forward to a summer break before the excitement of starting secondary school.
She found out she was not able to get a bus pass just before she broke up from primary school and said the situation had left her feeling “sad”.
“Everybody else would be going on the bus and I won’t,” she said.
She added going on a public-service bus, which was the council’s alternative suggestion, would make her anxious.
“I would be a little bit nervous because I’d be the only one on the bus.”
Megan said she would not want to go to another school and was happy with her decision to go to Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn.
“Most of my family are Welsh and I went to a Welsh primary school, so I want to carry on in Welsh,” she said.
“I don’t know anyone that goes to Ysgol Morgan Llwyd or Dinas Bran. Some friends are going to Brynhyfryd, but they [the schools] are more English than Welsh.”
With Megan due to start at Ysgol Godre’r Berwyn next week, Ffion is facing the possibility of having to drive her there and back.
“The worst thing is we still don’t know how she’s getting to school next week,” she said.
“We’ve all been anxious;.Megan is upset, and we’re still not sure. Hopefully they’ll give us a temporary bus pass until we get to the second appeal.”
