---
title: "Nottinghamshire County Council urged to stop subsidising faith school transport"
date: "2026-06-04T14:26:24+01:00"
modified: "2026-06-04T14:49:16+01:00"
url: "https://humanists.uk/2026/06/04/nottinghamshire-county-council-urged-to-stop-subsidising-faith-school-transport/"
post_id: 191544
categories: ["News"]
---

# Nottinghamshire County Council urged to stop subsidising faith school transport

![](https://i0.wp.com/humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/Untitled-1200-x-628-px-12-png.webp?resize=1200%2C628&ssl=1)Humanists UK has called on Nottinghamshire County Council to stop funding its discretionary faith-based home-to-school transport, arguing that the current policy is unfair and an inappropriate use of public funds.

Nottinghamshire County Council is currently [reviewing](https://consult.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/transport/faith-school-transport-review/?_gl=1*1w2l814*_gcl_au*MTkzMzI0NTAyNS4xNzgwNTc0Njgz*_ga*ODc4NTE5NDI1LjE3ODA1NzQ2ODQ.*_ga_QHE3HKNBEC*czE3ODA1NzQ2ODMkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODA1NzYwODQkajYwJGwwJGgw) its ‘discretionary faith-based home to school transport offer’, arguing that the council is ‘currently facing significant financial pressures across all services’. The council estimates that continuing the current arrangements would cost between £7.25 and £7.5 million over six years, compared with between £2.25 and £2.5 million if discretionary faith-based transport is withdrawn from September 2027.

The current scheme supports families who choose faith schools on religious grounds, but offers no equivalent support to families who choose schools with no religious character. In its [consultation response](https://humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/Humanists-UK-LY-Nottinghamshire-CC-home-transport-consultation.pdf), Humanists UK said the scheme is unfair and discriminatory in effect. It strongly argued for the withdrawal of the scheme from 2027, and against delaying withdrawal until 2031 or retaining the scheme with higher parental contributions.

#### **Commenting on the proposal, Humanists UK’s Policy and Campaigns Manager Lewis Young said:**

> ‘Nottinghamshire County Council’s current policy privileges families who choose to send their children to faith schools, while offering no equivalent support to families who do not. That is deeply unfair, especially when the council is under significant financial pressure.
> 
> ‘Public money should support children and families according to need, not subsidise religious preference in school choice. The fairest approach is to withdraw the faith-based element from September 2027 while preserving all statutory home-to-school transport protections.’

The [consultation](https://consult.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/transport/faith-school-transport-review/?_gl=1*1w2l814*_gcl_au*MTkzMzI0NTAyNS4xNzgwNTc0Njgz*_ga*ODc4NTE5NDI1LjE3ODA1NzQ2ODQ.*_ga_QHE3HKNBEC*czE3ODA1NzQ2ODMkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODA1NzYwODQkajYwJGwwJGgw) is open until 12 June.

#### Notes

For further comment or information, media should contact Humanists UK Head of Press and Campaign Communications Nathan Stilwell at <press@humanists.uk> or phone 0203 675 0959 (media only).

Read more about our work on [state-funded faith schools](https://humanists.uk/campaigns-old/schools-and-education/faith-schools/).

Read [Nottinghamshire County Council’s consultation](https://consult.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/transport/faith-school-transport-review/?_gl=1*1w2l814*_gcl_au*MTkzMzI0NTAyNS4xNzgwNTc0Njgz*_ga*ODc4NTE5NDI1LjE3ODA1NzQ2ODQ.*_ga_QHE3HKNBEC*czE3ODA1NzQ2ODMkbzEkZzEkdDE3ODA1NzYwODQkajYwJGwwJGgw).

Read our [response](https://humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/Humanists-UK-LY-Nottinghamshire-CC-home-transport-consultation.pdf).

Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.