Girl banned from school bus because she is not baptised

A girl has been barred from taking an official bus to her Church of England school because she has not been baptised, it emerged today.

Sydnie Jai from Hatfield, Hertfordshire, was hoping to attend Townsend School in St Albans, travelling by bus as her two brothers had done for some years.

But Hertfordshire County Council said she must use public transport because she had not been baptised.

A statement from the council said: "We provide free transport to all children attending their nearest maintained faith school if they have a place there in line with their parents' beliefs.

"This applies for children aged eight or over where the family lives more than three miles away.

"To qualify for free transport to a Church of England school the child must be baptised or have a parent on the parish electoral roll.

"We think it quite reasonable when offering transport to faith schools that parents show that the child is of that faith."

Sydnie's mother Frances Wood told London's Evening Standard newspaper she was furious at the council's inflexible attitude.

She wanted her to go to Townsend School in St Albans rather than a more local in Hatfield.

"I can't believe they've stopped Sydnie going to school on the bus," she said. "It's totally outrageous."

The council statement added: "If the family do not wish to travel on public transport, there would be the opportunity to attend a local school in Hatfield.

"Officers are in the process of contacting the family to discuss what support might be available to Sydnie."