***URGENT MESSAGE TO ALL SCHOOL BUS USERS ***

NEW  PICK-UP TIMES FROM MONDAY 30TH NOVEMBER 2009

In response  to Health and Safety concerns about our pupils crossing Endbutt Lane we asked the Drivers of  the Ainsdale, Churchtown and Ormskirk buses to drop the pupils off on the  northern carriage of Liverpool  Road, as opposed to the bus stop by the old  Ryder's Garage.

This  has delayed these three buses by on average 10 minutes a day because of the  circular route that they now have to take. To avoid the children being  regularly late for Registration, from Monday 30th November 2009  the Ainsdale, Churchtown, Rainford/ Ormskirk and Wigan/Parbold buses will  start 10 minutes earlier every day.

The  afternoon drop off times will remain the same on all routes.

In  view of increased traffic in the Litherland / Seaforth areas we will also start  the Halsall and South Liverpool/West Derby buses 5 minutes earlier from  Monday 30th November 2009.

The  new times will be on the College's website www.stmarys.ac  from tomorrow onwards.

In  view of Mr Smoult's continuing ill-health our Head of Sixth Form and  Pastoral, Mr Daniel Magill will respond to any feedback or queries from  parents relating to behaviour on the School Buses. The Bus Prefects are now  reporting to Mr Magill.

In  case Mr Magill is unable to speak to you and your call is urgent please do  not hesitate to ask to speak to me, Harry Ewins (Bursar).

We  have reduced the size of the vehicle on the Halsall Bus route and we therefore did not believe that it was necessary to continue with an escort  on that route. Mr Magill will be monitoring pupil behaviour to see if that  is working. Similarly, one of the Southport  buses now has CCTV recording facilities so we did not feel that an escort  was necessary on that coach either.

It  remains our goal to provide a safe, convenient and enjoyable means of  getting our pupils to and from school every day. We welcome any feedback  from parents on any aspect of these services.

H  Ewins

D  Magill

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