This week marks the second anniversary of the beginning of Save the School
Transport Campaign. Three parents who didn’t know each other before and came
from different villages of RCT. We came together with determination to oppose the
cuts for all the students affected by the RCT school transport cuts.
These cuts that are devastating to families not just children. With rising costs to
living, the health, the well-being and the absenteeism in effect.
With the phenomenal support from those not just from RCT but from around Wales
and beyond, from petitions, surveys, protests, public meetings and a debate at the
Senedd. Not only has this been public support but we have had cross party support.
We engaged with Local Authorities and the Welsh Government to arrange a meeting.
With a successful meeting with Welsh Government in November 2025, we thought
we were getting somewhere. A follow up meeting was to be arranged January 2026.
We also had communication from RCT mid-November 2025 and was told advised
they would be in touch soon for a meeting.
On December 16 th we received an email from Transport and North Wales department
in the Welsh Government stating:
“The Cabinet Secretary and Leader of RTC Council have agreed to meet with
you and parent representatives. This meeting will discuss broader national
issues being raised by your campaign. Our private office will need to find
dates to offer you.”
On 14 th January during the petition debate, the transport minister reiterated his
commitment to meet with the campaign. Despite numerous emails sent to the
cabinet secretary’s office on 23 rd December 2025, 18 th January 2026 and 26 th January
2026 – requesting a response by the 30 th January 2026. To date No date has been
offered after we forwarded suggested dates.
As concerned parents and as a Campaign we should not have to be chasing for fair
request to meet. With no response from either RCT or Welsh Government it would
be fair to say, we are now feeling ignored and this issue is not being treated as
serious as all parents see it. Unfortunately, we will not be pushed under the rug to
be forgotten about.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1211655150190004
Opinion: The Human Cost of ‘Spreadsheet Logic’
The decision to require secondary school students in Rhondda Cynon Taf to walk up to six miles a day (three miles each way) is a stark example of fiscal priorities overriding pupil wellbeing.
The Council’s Perspective: A Mathematical Choice From the local authority’s standpoint, this move is a “difficult decision” driven by a massive £36.65 million budget gap. By cutting the transport budget by roughly £2 million, the council argues it is simply bringing RCT in line with the Welsh Government’s statutory “Learner Travel Measure,” which is already the standard in 18 other Welsh authorities. To the council, this is about financial sustainability in an era of prolonged austerity.
The Reality: Geography vs. Policy However, this “spreadsheet logic” fails to account for the unique reality of the Rhondda Cynon Taf valleys. A three-mile walk in this region is rarely a flat or fair-weather stroll. It often involves steep climbs and exposure to some of the highest rainfall in the UK. Expecting an 11-year-old to undertake a 60-to-75-minute trek in driving rain—only to sit in wet clothes for the remainder of the school day—is a recipe for increased absenteeism, poor health, and a widening attainment gap.
A Crisis of Accountability The most concerning aspect of this press release is the reported “blame-shifting” and the failure of officials to follow through on promised meetings. While the council and Welsh Government debate budget figures, families are left to bear the physical and financial burden. Reports of parents being forced to reduce work hours or quit jobs just to ensure their children get to school safely highlight that these “savings” are merely being shifted from the council’s books onto the backs of the most vulnerable families.
The campaign’s feeling of being “pushed under the rug” is validated by the timeline of ignored emails following a successful Senedd debate. In a climate where school attendance is a national priority, making the journey to school a daily ordeal is not just an administrative change—it is a significant barrier to education that requires immediate, face-to-face resolution.
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