Five school bus routes to Harrogate’s Rossett School have been replaced by new services as pupils return to school this week.

North Yorkshire County Council, which contracts school buses to private bus companies, announced last week that Harrogate Bus Company‘s 780H, 781H, 782H, 783H, 784H services have been cancelled.

The old routes began in the Jennyfields, Bilton and Woodlands areas of Harrogate.

Children can instead take the 6, 52, S3, 8A, 620H and 620H services.

Some parents have described the changes as confusing and  on social media and said they should have been announced sooner.

The new routes

S2: Crab Lane post office (7.55am), Knox Way (8.07am), Harrogate Bus Station (08.17am), Rossett School (08.34am). Return from Rossett School at 3.20pm.

2A Dene Park Community Centre (8.00am) via Sandhill Drive (8.02am), Fountains Avenue (8.03am), Poplar Grove (8.05am) and King Edwards Drive (8.07am) to Harrogate Bus Station (8.15am).

The journey then extends to Pannal Ash on number 6. The nearest stop to Rossett School is Wellfield Court (8.36am). Return from Wellfield court stop at 3.20pm

S3: Oakdale Burley Avenue (7.58am), Jennyfields Saltergate Roundabout (8.06am) White Hart Hotel (8.23am), Rossett School (8.35am). Return from Wellfield court stop at 3.20pm.

8A: Woodlands Hotel (7.54am), Granby Corner (7.58am), Starbeck Swarcliffe Road (8.03am), Forest Lane (8.06am), Hookstone Chase Crossways (8.12), Leadhall Corner (8.27am), Rossett School (8.35am). Return from Rossett School at 5.20pm.

620H: Dacre Banks (7.40am), Providence Chapel (7.34am), Darley Moke Hill (7.50am), Birstwith Post Office (8am), Clapham Green (8.02am), Hampswhaite Memorial Hall (8.05am), Little Wonder (8.17am), White Hart Hotel (8.23am), Rossett School (8.35am). Return from Rossett School at 3.20pm.

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The cancelled routes

780H: The Hydro (8.01), Ripon Road, Skipton Road, Harewood Road, Jennyfield Drive, Ripon Road, Crescent Road, Cold Bath Road and Pannal Ash Road.

781H: Burley Bank Avenue (7.58am), Penny Pot Lane, Oaker Bank, Skipton Road, Crowberry Drive, Jennyfield Drive, Saltergate Roundabout, Jennyfield Drive, Ripon Road, Crescent Road, Cold Bath Road and Pannal Ash Road.

782H: St Joseph’s Church, Bilton at (07.58am), Skipton Road, Knox Lane, Bachelor Gardens, Hill Top Mount, Hill Top Avenue, Crab Lane, Bilton Lane, Skipton Road, Knaresborough Road, York Place, Otley Road and Pannal Ash Road

783H: Richard Taylor School (07.56am), Bilton Lane, Hall Lane, Tennyson Avenue, Bilton Lane, Sandhill Drive, Poplar Grove, King Edward’s Drive, Skipton Road, Kings Road, Crescent Road, Cold Bath Road and Pannal Ash Road.

784H: Woodlands Corner (07.54am), Wetherby Road, Empress Roundabout, Knaresborough Road, Starbeck, Forest Lane, Hookstone Chase, Hookstone Drive, Leadhall Lane and Green Lane.

Today was a big day, as many children across the district returned to school for the first time in six months.

The Stray Ferret has been outside the gates of St Aidan’s High School speaking to parents as they waved their children off for their first day back.

For children starting year 7, today is a particularly big milestone: the first day at high school, unfamiliar surroundings, new friends – and on top of this, having to get used to a strange ‘new normal’ with covid restrictions in place.

Ruth Dunn, Mum of a year 7 pupil at St Aidan’s.

Mary Buck, was one of those at the gates, saying goodbye to her daughter who was starting high school today.

“It makes it worse when she’s crying as it makes me cry. Normally her big sister would have been able to walk her in, but she wasn’t allowed with covic.

“My daughter has a medical issue, she doesn’t know her form tutor, she doesn’t know where she’s going. Normally they have a half-day and then a full day induction but they haven’t had this this year.

“The transition from primary to high school is a big change and they didn’t even get a chance to say goodbye to all their primary friends.”

Read more:

• Union concerns over disabled teachers returning to district’s schools
• Extra buses for safety as district’s pupils go back to school

Despite the nerves and emotion felt among the pupils and parents, most expressed how important it is that they get back to school.

Another mum who was also dropping her child off for her first day at high school said:

“It couldn’t have gone on any longer – the children’s mental health was going to suffer. I feel very reassured by the school, It is my daughter’s first ever day at St Aidan’s but I know they have great processes in place.”

The headteacher at St Aidan’s, Chris Burt,  told the Stray Ferret that he recognises the significant step from primary school to secondary school:

“We have been delighted to welcome Year 7 into St Aidan’s for the first time today. Throughout the day. students will familiarise themselves with the building, meet their fellow students, meet their teachers and get a good feel for what a typical day will be like going forwards.

“The transition from primary to secondary school is a significant step for many students in normal circumstances; ever more so in the context that we are all working in at present and our staff and dedicated pastoral team are on hand to support them throughout.

“We are incredibly proud of how all of our students have coped over the last five months and we look forward to having everyone back in school tomorrow.”

Extra buses will be provided by North Yorkshire County Council next week to reduce the risk of coronavirus among pupils using public transport go back to school.

The local authority has also introduced additional bus safety measures, such as asking pupils aged over 11 to wear face coverings.

Most buses will operate according to their usual timetable. But some additional journeys will take place on public service routes from next week to minimise contact among passengers as the number of pupils and commuters increases.

In Harrogate, the following additional services will be in place from September 7:

• Service 36 Leeds – Harrogate – Ripon: Extra journeys between Leeds and Harrogate will occur during morning rush hour to accommodate additional commuters and students.
• Service 1 Harrogate – Knaresborough. An additional journey has been added to this service from Harrogate to King James’ School, which is reserved for pupils only. It will depart from Harrogate at 7.56am and return from King James’ School at 3.25pm.
• Service 24 Pateley Bridge – Harrogate. A new timetable and journey to Nidderdale High School has been added. An additional bus, 24S, is reserved for school and college students. It will depart Pateley Bridge at 7.20am to Harrogate and continue to St Aidan’s and St John Fisher schools. A journey from St John Fisher and St Aidan’s schools to Pateley Bridge will return in the afternoon.

Read more:

• Schools across the district are set to reopen next week, staggered finish times and year group separation are some of the safety measures being imposed. 
• Parents in the district have said they are “delighted” to have their children’s education resume next week. 

Different safety measures will apply on school buses to those on public transport.

Social distancing is not required on school buses on the grounds that the vehicles will carry the same group of children regularly and no members of the public travel with them.

But school bus users will be asked to avoid unnecessary contact with other pupils by, for example, trying to sit in the same seat with the same group of pupils every day. Pupils aged over 11 are also encouraged to wear face coverings.

Cllr Patrick Mulligan, executive member for education at NYCC, said:

“We would like to reassure parents and pupils that everything possible is being done to enable children to return to school and education as swiftly as possible, as well as minimise the risk of spreading the virus. The instructions for travelling on school buses and straight forward and largely the same as if you were visiting a shop or other public place.

“We expect that things will soon feel second nature to pupils and they can settle back into their school routine quickly.”

Schools across the district are preparing to reopen next week, with new measures including face masks and separating year groups in place as covid restrictions continue.

Among those to have announced the adaptations it will make is Harrogate Grammar School, which will reopen on Monday, September 7 with a number of “significant changes” in place to ensure safety and limit coronavirus outbreaks.

The school has re-organised classrooms and the cafeteria, staggered lunch and finish times and put in place a contingency plan for those needing to self-isolate. Additional cleaning staff have also been hired.

The grammar school will open to staff on September 7 and spread the full reopening for students over the next three days. All year groups will return by September 10.

Neil Renton, headteacher of Harrogate Grammar School, said:

“Work has taken place over the summer period to ensure that school is ready to safely welcome our students back in September. One of the most significant changes that students will experience when they return are the year group groupings. In addition, we have developed a contingency plan for remote education where a class, group or small number of pupils need to self-isolate. This plan draws on all our learning and development during lockdown.

“We very much recognise that children will experience a variety of emotions in response to the coronavirus outbreak such as anxiety, stress or low mood. We will continue to support students through a variety of well-being initiatives, pastoral support and our emphasis on positive relationships.”

Students will be spaced out to allow for appropriate distancing between staff and pupils.

Read more:

• Parents say they are “delighted” children can return to school, after worrying about the impact of further delays on learning.
• Harrogate students said they are “panicking about the future” despite A-level grades U-turn. 

Parents in the district had previously called for further information regarding safety measures within schools ready for the new term to begin.

New government advice says children within “hot spot” areas are to wear face masks in congested areas such as corridors. The current number of cases in Harrogate means this is not expected be put into action in local schools next week.