Nottinghamshire County Council’s Cabinet has voted to end its discretionary faith school transport scheme and from September 2027, the council will no longer provide discounted transport specifically for pupils whose parents choose a school on religious grounds.
The decision comes after a public consultation and calls from Humanists UK for public money to be allocated according to need rather than religious preference. In its response, Humanists UK argued that the existing arrangements were unfair to non-religious families and those from minority religious backgrounds.
The scheme currently serves around 520 pupils attending 15 Church of England and Catholic schools in Nottinghamshire and neighbouring areas. The scheme cost approximately £1.25 million in the 2025-26 financial year.
Under the policy, families choosing a faith school could receive discounted travel even where they did not qualify for statutory assistance. No equivalent discretionary support was offered to families who chose a school without a religious character because of their beliefs.
The decision will not affect the council’s legal obligations to provide free home-to-school transport, including statutory protections for eligible children from low-income families. The council has also announced transitional support, including journey-planning assistance and targeted help for some affected pupils.
Commenting on the decision, Humanists UK’s Policy and Campaigns Manager Lewis Young said:
‘We welcome Nottinghamshire County Council’s decision to end a policy that gave preferential treatment to families choosing faith schools.
‘Parents remain free to choose a faith school, but it is not fair to expect the wider taxpaying public to subsidise that religious preference while offering no equivalent support to non-religious families.
‘Public money should support children according to their circumstances and needs, not the religion of the school their parents select. This decision will create a fairer system while maintaining all the statutory protections available to pupils who need help travelling to school.’
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.
Read our response to the consultation.
Read more about Nottinghamshire County Council’s decision.
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.