School bus inquiry suggests amending ‘nearest appropriate school’ definition after Pingelly submissions

The restrictive criteria of WA’s orange school bus service, which has been blamed for limiting Pingelly families’ choices and and lowering graduation rates, could be amended after an inquiry report was tabled in State Parliament last week. The State Government referred the service to the Public Accounts Committee, which launched an inquiry into the Student Transport Assistance Policy in August last year. The committee’s final report — titled Bus Fair — was tabled on August 18. The report details an extensive list of findings and recommendations informed by more than 200 submissions from local governments, bus contractors, school representatives and community members. One of the key recommendations is amending the eligibility criteria for the “nearest appropriate school” so rural students who complete Year 6 in a primary school that is not part of a district high school “are eligible to receive transport assistance to attend their local district high school or their nearest senior high school for Years 7-12”. Another recommendation suggests the nearest appropriate school eligibility criteria should take into account social, economic, financial and community factors when a family lives near two or more schools. As it stands, the bus service requires students to attend the nearest appropriate school. For many Pingelly families, that is Brookton District High School, which finishes in Year 10, and then Narrogin Senior High School for the last two years of a child’s education. Families can still choose to send their children to NSHS from Year 7, but the Public Transport Authority cannot guarantee them a seat on the bus for the 100km round-trip. Many Pingelly students are making the choice to leave school after completing Year 10. The 2016 census revealed a Shire of Pingelly student was twice as likely to leave school in Year 10 as the average WA student. The inquiry’s recommendation would enable families to secure a seat on the bus to Brookton DHS or NSHS and have continuity of high school education. The Observer met Pingelly parents, school and Shire representatives to hear their concerns about the regional bus service during the inquiry’s submission period in November. Pingelly mum Lisa Pitman, who has been advocating for changes to the service, said she felt the recommendations reflected the views of many local families. “First and foremost, our high school youth will rightfully have the opportunity to a seamless Years 7-12 education,” she said. “Families would no longer have to stress about the uncertainty of student transport to Narrogin.” Ms Pitman has a primary school-aged child who is on the waitlist for a complementary bus seat to Narrogin in 2023. She said if the recommendations were adopted, her family could be spared the financial burden of a daily 200km trip by securing a seat to their nearest senior high school in Narrogin. “It’s likely we won’t find out until January if he has (a bus seat) and we are aware we could lose it at any time if a new student enrols into Year 11, Year 12 or St Matthew’s Primary School,” she said. “We have been discussing carpooling with other Pingelly families if necessary. “If the recommendations are implemented we won’t have the financial risk or logistical stress of juggling a 200km trip per day around other family and work commitments. “We are very excited and hopeful these recommendations come into fruition.” Roe MLA Peter Rundle, who is on the Public Accounts Committee that conducted the inquiry, said he believed the report covered the main grievances raised by families. “The biggest thing for me was the nearest appropriate school definition, and that was where the majority of complaints from my electorate came from,” he said. “I think we addressed that quite well by bringing in social, economic and community factors so that they are taking all of that into account when you are similar distances to different schools. “Families will hopefully have the ability to present their case to the school bus service to attend their nearest senior or district high school.” Mr Rundle said the ministers should respond to the recommendations by November and he hoped they could be implemented for the 2023 school year. “We are giving a potential option that school buses could provide transport assistance to either the district high school or senior high school if that helps with continuity with schooling,” he said. “At the same time we want to recognise how important district high schools are to the community as well. “Pingelly’s statistics were one of the main influencing factors, as well as submissions from the Pingelly Shire and community which demonstrated that it’s important to have continuity in schooling and to finish Year 12 if possible,” he said. Shire of Pingelly chief executive Andrew Dover said he welcomed the Bus Fair report’s recommendations. “The Shire now calls upon the State Government to accept these recommendations and instate a bus service to provide a choice for all high school students from Pingelly,” he said.