Transport cut puts Welsh Catholic schools under pressure

THE FUTURE of Catholic education in Wales could be jeopardised by the ending of subsidised transport for pupils at faith schools, the head teacher of a church secondary school said this week, writes Joanna Moorhead.

Eugene Scourfield, head of St Joseph’s Comprehensive School in Port Talbot, said the decision last week by Swansea Council to stop funding free buses would have a “massive impact” on the future of Catholic education in the country.

The local authority with jurisdiction over his own school, Neath Port Talbot, agreed to a similar cost-cutting move a year ago, and Mr Scourfield says it has serious long-term ­implications.

Chris Holley, the Catholic Lib Dem opposition leader on Labour-controlled Swansea Council, said he felt angry and upset at the decision.

“I feel we are rolling back hundreds of years with this, because it is picking out a single community,” said Mr Holley. “I accept there have got to be cuts but cuts should be made so they don’t disadvantage one particu­lar group. I can’t believe this is being done in this way.”