Council pay pupils taxis

Council pay pupils’ taxis due to timetable confusion 16/9/14

Nicolson Institute pupils have been sent home in private taxis following confusion with the introduction of a four-and-a-half-day school week at the secondary school in Stornoway.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar changed the school timetable to save £120,000 over the next two years.

Asymmetric week timetabling was piloted in Castlebay and Sgoil Lionacleit last year and introduced to the Nicolson when pupils returned after summer holidays in August.

The new timetable sees the school day start 30 minutes earlier, and pupils leave at lunchtime on Fridays.

But on the first Friday of the new term, four children missed their lunchtime bus due to “confusion over new signage,” a council spokesman confirmed.

One pupil also missed their bus on September 5th.

Local taxis were employed to take pupils home long distances with the Comhairle paying full fare.

“Licenced taxis are used and drivers are PVG checked,” said the spokesman.

He continued: “Logistic arrangements in terms of transport are proving successful and students have been able to adjust to the different bus timetables very quickly.

“In a few cases where a pupil has missed a bus, or chosen the wrong bus, other arrangements have been made by school or Comhairle staff to ensure that the pupil reaches home safely.”

He added: “Staff in the school and officers from the Comhairle have worked hard to ensure a smooth transition into the new arrangements. Overall, the school timetable is running well.”