Parents in a Norfolk village have won a victory after a council agreed to grant free bus passes for their high school children.
Parents from Cawston had been told their younger children were not eligible for a free school bus pass even though their older siblings are.
Norfolk County Council told some parents they were not in the catchment for free passes, with some parents less than 100 meters out of the threshold.
The council has now awarded two of the children involved in the row free passes to Reepham High School for the next academic year.
According to a council official, older siblings living in the same house were awarded a pass because of a different software system.
Following an update the system had calculated a different route which shows the affected families now live within three miles of Reepham High School.
Following coverage from this newspaper on the "ludicrous” situation, the council has awarded passes to children who currently have an older sibling at the school.
Children starting at the school from 2027 onwards will not be entitled to travel assistance.
Councillor Dave Thomas reiterated that Marriotts Way, the new route calculation for students, is not a suitable school walking route.
To change the route, parents will need to raise concerns with the county council as part of the school transport appeals.
“I agree that it is very weather-adverse and secluded over a very long stretch, especially in the winter months,” he said.
“However, it would need to be re-assessed against national guidelines and the council's school transport policy.”
Children are only entitled to a free bus pass if they live three or more miles away from the nearest school gate.
Two of the three families who spoke to this newspaper have been awarded a free bus pass for their children.
One parent was told they could not receive one as they had no older children still attending the school.
A weekly pass, which the children would need for 38 weeks during the school calendar, costs £14 per week for a total of £532 per year.
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