Parents are calling on Brighton and Hove buses to improve the service to Varndean School.
Scores have signed a petition calling on the bus company to do something about the fact their children cannot make their way to and from school in a timely manner.
They state that children have to leave home by 7.30am to arrive at school by 8am even though the school day starts at 9am, and alternative buses are too full up to pick them up.
Then at hometime, there is no dedicated bus.
Meanwhile, the cost of an annual pass has increased by 15% in the last two years to £290, and requests for a sibling discount have been ignored.
Parent Kathryn Coleman, signing the petition, said: “My son has to kill an hour hanging around school which is a huge waste of time when he could be sleeping or working at home.”
Another, David Reby, said: “The buses are full by the time they reach the level and they don’t stop.
“Brighton and Hove Buses suggested my daughter should take a bus to Churchill Square and catch the bus there before it’s full. They are clearly not here to serve the public.”
Managing director Martin Harris said: “We have recognised the issue involved and have sought to resolve this issue on several occasions, working with both the council and the schools.
“It is simply that we can only provide the bus at the time that we have a bus available to provide this journey.
“We have explored several avenues to change this and will be meeting with the council once again to seek to find other means by which this problem can be resolved.”
