My kids’ school has stopped lunches and bus travel for pupils who owe more than £20 – they’re letting kids go hungry
FURIOUS parents have slammed a school after claiming their kids were left hungry and bus travel was stopped for those who owe more than £20.
Trinity Catholic College in Middlesbrough left parents stunned after sending a letter to inform them their child’s food and travel accounts will be blocked if they fall behind on payments.
Disgruntled mums and dads were informed that they must provide their children with packed lunches "until the debt has been paid off".
The school, which also runs its own food bank, said in the letter that it was enforcing a "new procedure regarding debt management".
Any pupils who do not have up to date transport accounts will be refused entry to buses, Trinity Catholic College said.
And parents have been ordered to make alternative travel arrangements for them if funds were up to scratch.
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Parent Lee Garvey is one father who is furious at the school’s decision.
Mr Garvey is a former vice chair of Middlesbrough Council and sends his child to Trinity Catholic College.
He said it is putting more pressure on less fortunate families who are already struggling to stay afloat amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Speaking to the , he said: "I’m not sure how the school can justify this.
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"They go knocking on doors to make sure children are OK if they’re absent, yet they’re going to let them potentially go hungry if they don’t have money."
He continued: "We are at the point where working parents will suffer because of this policy, those who are on the cusp of not being able to pay their bills yet are not eligible for free school meals.
"And I don’t understand, when they’re so keen on improving attendance, saying children potentially can’t go to school because their parents can’t afford the bus pass.
"How have we come to this, in this day and age? This is supposed to be a Catholic school that’s saying they won’t feed kids if their parents can’t pay.
"Did Jesus ask for payment upfront when he was feeding the 5,000?"
Thousands of children in the region live in poverty and Amanda Bailey, director of the North East Child Poverty Commission, said the situation at Trinity was "deeply concerning" and urged other schools not to follow suit.
Ms Bailey said many struggling families are ineligible for free school meals and believes the scheme should be expanded to include all children whose parents receive Universal Credit.
She said: "All schools and colleges are facing huge budgetary pressures – a situation which we know is being made worse by many across the region now having to support their students to meet their basic needs on a daily basis."
Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust, which runs the school, has not responded to requests for comment on the situation.
On Trinity's website, head Andy Rodgers said its Catholic foundation and ethos was "central" to everything the school did.
He said: "Our mission is simple yet powerful; we follow Jesus, build our family and, in turn, fulfil our potential.
"At Trinity, a special value is placed on love and forgiveness, which encourages relationships based on trust, kindness, self-respect and care for those in need."
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According to its Facebook page, the school has a free breakfast club for pupils, a pre-loved uniform shop and runs a food bank.
However, according to its most recent , the school was judged as requiring improvement.