Families in Rhondda Cynon Taf are not happy with the Welsh Government and local council for making blanket decisions on school transport

In September, if you live within 3 miles of your child’s chosen Comprehensive School, it is very likely they will be walking to school or trying to catch a local service bus in this dreadful weather.

Our team have, and continues to work to find solutions to this short sighted decision by the Labour-run RCT Council. Will common sense prevail, and a spectacular Kier style U-Turn occur?

Where are other political parties fighting this decision? Only local Conservatives fight hard to keep services for local communities.

Please let us know how you feel with the link:

The Welsh Ombudsman can investigate if there was any maladministration or unfairness in the decision-making process. 

Perhaps an email to the Welsh Ombudsman, as some students retain school transport under the 3-mile limit, and others cannot. It is not a level playing field, with other families paying for their children’s transport to attend school or children having to walk 3 miles or longer in all weathers.

How do I complain?

You should complete the council’s Home to School Travel and Transport Review/Appeals process first. You will usually have to complete all review stages before we will look at your complaint.

Then, if you are unhappy with the outcome, or the council is taking too long to look into the matter – it may take about 12-16 weeks – you can complain to us.

You should normally make your complaint to us within 12 months of realising that the council has done something wrong.

For more information on how to complain, please read our step by step process.

If you can consider my complaint what will the Ombudsman look for?

We consider whether the council has done something wrong in the way it went about dealing with your application for help. Some of the issues we can look at are that:

• the council’s policy for providing help with transport is not objective, clear and fair
• the council failed to apply their policy properly or fairly
• the council did not take relevant information into account in reaching its decision, or took irrelevant information into account, or
• the council delayed dealing with your application for help.

What happens if the Ombudsman finds that the council was at fault?

If we find that something has gone wrong in the way your application was dealt with that might have affected the decision, we may:

• ask the council to review its decision
• ask the council to reimburse travel costs you have already incurred, and/or
• recommend that the council reviews its policy and/or procedures, so that the problems you experienced don’t keep happening to other parents.

The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales can investigate complaints made by members of the public about public service providers in Wales.

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Public Services Ombudsman for Wales

Below: From Valley Times

School Transport Cuts in RCT: A Controversial Decision That Leaves Families Stranded

The recent changes to school transport provision in Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCT) have sparked outrage among parents, carers, and young people. The “Save the School Transport in RCT” group, led by Tina, Laura, and Kaleigh, has been vocal about the devastating impact of these cuts.

Their comprehensive survey, submitted to the Welsh Government, paints a grim picture of frustration and concern. But the response from the Welsh Government, penned by Richard Lloyd Jones, Head of Bus Policy, offers little comfort and raises more questions than answers. Is this a fair policy, or are families being left behind in the name of budget cuts? Let’s dive into this heated debate.

The Cuts: A Step Back for RCT Families

Under the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008, local authorities are required to provide free transport for primary school children living over 2 miles from their nearest school and secondary students over 3 miles. Historically, RCT County Borough Council (RCTCBC) went above and beyond, offering transport to primary pupils over 1.5 miles and secondary students over 2 miles.

This generosity made a huge difference for families, especially in a region with challenging terrain and limited public transport options.

Now, RCTCBC has slashed these discretionary provisions. While primary school transport remains at the 1.5-mile threshold (still better than the legal minimum), secondary and post-16 learners in English, Welsh, and faith-based schools will only qualify if they live 3 miles or more from their nearest school.

This rollback aligns with the bare minimum required by law, but for many families, it feels like a betrayal. Imagine a teenager now forced to walk 2.9 miles to school in the rain, or parents scrambling to afford private transport amidst a cost-of-living crisis.

The Welsh Government’s response?

A polite but firm “this is a local authority decision, and we can’t intervene.” While they acknowledge the frustration, they’ve effectively washed their hands of the matter. Is this leadership, or are they passing the buck?

The Bigger Picture: A Policy in Need of Overhaul?

The Welsh Government points to a 2022 review of the Learner Travel Measure and a 2024 Recommendations Report, which decided against changing the current legislation. Instead, they’re updating statutory guidance and hosting summits, like the one on May 9, where stakeholders—including RCTCBC leader Cllr Andrew Morgan—discussed challenges and solutions.

But for families in RCT, these discussions feel like too little, too late. A summit is great, but it doesn’t get a child to school tomorrow morning.

The government also encourages participation in an upcoming consultation on updated guidance. While this is a chance for voices to be heard, it’s hard to feel optimistic when the core policy remains unchanged.

The “Save the School Transport in RCT” group has already poured their hearts into a detailed report of lived experiences—will this consultation just be another box-ticking exercise?

The Human Cost: Families Left in the Lurch

Let’s not forget the real impact here. RCT is not a flat, urban area with frequent buses. It’s a region of valleys, hills, and scattered communities. For many, walking 2.9 miles to school isn’t just inconvenient—it’s unsafe or impossible, especially in harsh Welsh weather.

Parents working multiple jobs can’t always drive their kids, and public transport isn’t a viable option everywhere. The Welsh Government’s suggestion to check cost-of-living support resources feels like a hollow gesture when the root issue remains unaddressed.

RCTCBC claims to have interventions planned to help families, as outlined by Cllr Morgan at the summit.

They’ve even set up a dedicated webpage for queries. But without specifics, this feels like a vague promise rather than a concrete solution. Meanwhile, the option to escalate complaints to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales is a last resort, not a fix. Families shouldn’t have to fight tooth and nail for something as basic as getting their kids to school.

A Call to Action: Whose Responsibility Is It?

Here’s where the controversy lies: who is truly accountable? RCTCBC made the decision to cut transport provisions, citing financial constraints (though exact figures remain unclear in the Welsh Government’s response).

The Welsh Government hides behind the “local authority decision” shield, refusing to step in despite their role in setting the legislative framework. Shouldn’t they be pushing for better funding or policy changes to protect vulnerable families? And what about the learners themselves—why are they paying the price for adult decisions?

The “Save the School Transport in RCT” group deserves credit for their tireless advocacy. Their report is a powerful reminder that behind every policy are real people struggling with real consequences. But they can’t do this alone. It’s time for the Welsh Government to stop sitting on the sidelines and for RCTCBC to prioritise education access over budget cuts.

After all, isn’t education the foundation of a thriving society