I HAVE heard from several parents about the unfortunate decision by Wiltshire Council to penalise grammar school pupils by withdrawing their entitlement to free buses.

While I understand their anger and their feeling that they are being treated differently, I am pleased that children from poorer families will continue to receive assistance with their bus fares.

I was very pleased to have been able to spend time on Saturday evening at the Malayalee community’s fundraiser at St Edmund’s School.

This small but significant community, who are well-represented at the hospital, put on an excellent evening of music and dancing to raise money for one of our most popular charities, the Stars Appeal, currently working towards the provision of an enhanced service for breast cancer patients.

Last Friday, I had a productive meeting at Wyvern to reflect on the continuing progress at the school and future challenges.

The building project is on track and applications to join the school are on the up – a sure sign that more parents now share the optimism felt by the school’s leadership.

Having a headteacher with a clear plan for the future is the best springboard for improvement and a positive sense of purpose brings its own rewards along the way.

This week in Parliament, I have remained focused on education, in particular the sixth form funding challenges facing our two local grammar schools.

I welcomed the opportunity to raise the financial position Bishop’s and South Wilts face and to discuss the wider contribution they make to education by working with neighbouring schools in Salisbury.

In particular I was pleased to highlight the work being done to raise social mobility by working with local primaries to ensure children from those schools who have sent fewer pupils in the past have an opportunity to prepare for the 11-plus too.

In my mind, it is vital that this is not compromised by budgetary pressures caused by the disproportionate impact of reductions in sixth form funding.

A grammar school education can be transformational for a child’s life chances and we should ensure this opportunity is available to as many children as possible, regardless of their background.