A TEENAGER will return to school this week after a “change of heart” over her bus pass.
Mum Sarah Reynolds had feared 13-year-old Meisha would have to stay home as the new school year started after receiving a letter saying her concessionary bus pass had been withdrawn.
Meisha will be just one of 80 or so pupils returning to the former St Guthlac School which joined with the old George Farmer Technology College to create University Academy.
In previous years Sarah had paid almost £300 for the concessionary bus pass but last week found out that the 53-seater coach had been replaced with a 16-seat minibus – with no room on board for Meisha.
But, with just days to spare until school resumes, Sarah has received a letter saying Meisha’s bus pass has been reinstated due to a change in “vehicle capacity”.
Sarah said: “I am so relieved. The cost has gone up to £396 but at least Meisha will be able to get to school
“They have obviously had a change of heart and reinstated the coach after complaints from several parents.
“It is a weight off my mind because I really didn’t know how I was going to get Meisha to Crowland and two of my other children to primary school in Spalding.”
Lincolnshire County Council school services manager David Robinson said: “We are happy to have helped out Meisha and her mother with a bus pass.
“While she was not strictly entitled to a pass for free school transport and had previously had a concessionary seat, we understand the difficulties that the family face with this school transport issue.
“For that reason we have ensured there is a bigger bus to allow a few more extra places for pupils travelling to Crowland.”