FIFE COUNCIL’S education chief insists leaving pupils waiting 40 minutes to board a bus home will be “meaningful”.

The comment was made this week by the authority’s head of education and children’s services Derek Brown in a letter to Dunfermline and West Fife MP Douglas Chapman.

Mr Chapman had contacted the council to demand action after being made aware of the issue by angry Queen Anne High School parents.

The Press first highlighted how students from Crossford face waiting 40 minutes before they can get a bus home because of staggered finishing times being introduced in August.

This week, Mr Chapman received a reply from Mr Brown, who states that “significant costs” to amend transport arrangements cannot be met.

He adds: “As a result, when the school week changes from August for Queen Anne High School, on three days out of five, a number of pupils will remain at school for a period of forty minutes until their bus arrives.

“The school has well-developed plans in place for the time pupils will be waiting, looking to ensure that the time is meaningful for the pupils and of particular educational benefit to them.

“I would also highlight the ongoing nature of this work as we continue to work with our contractors to find improved solutions.”

Mr Chapman, a former education spokesman for COSLA, wrote to parents of affected pupils recently.

He told the Press: “Parents are annoyed about this situation and have been calling my office asking for help.

"While I appreciate Mr Brown has attempted to reassure me that the arrangements benefit pupils, this simply should never have happened.

“Transport from school is a basic part of the educational commitment to pupils. After summer, the nights draw in and the last thing parents should be worrying about is how and when their child is arriving home safe.

“It’s unacceptable that pupils will either be expected to wait for an extended period of time or opt to take a much longer walk home, neither of which should be the case.”

Neale Hanvey, councillor for Dunfermline Central, said: “I share parents’ concerns about this issue and have contacted Fife Council’s transport department to find out more so this situation can be swiftly resolved.

"It’s disappointing that the local authority are unwilling or unable to do this.”