An outraged father-of-three says he is having to unfairly fork out £1,000 on bus passes just because his children go to grammar school.

Anthony Fairhall’s three daughters are pupils at Simon Langton Girls’, but their success in the 11-plus comes at a hefty price.

Due to their home in Shalmsford Street, Chartham, being more than three miles from a secondary school, Kent County Council would typically offer free bus passes to the 48-year-old’s children.

But as Simon Langton is 0.4 miles further away than Canterbury High School, the Fairhall family are having to pay the full whack - £290 for under-16s and £400 for over-16s.

“We’re getting punished for sending our children to a grammar school,” Mr Fairhall said.

“If they went to Canterbury High then they would get totally free bus travel - it’s disgusting.

“It’s not like they are going to a school in Whitstable or anywhere further afield. Simon Langton is basically a few hundred yards further away, it’s just ridiculous and it is costing us a lot of money.”

Following the closure of Chartham Secondary School in the late 1980s, KCC offered free transport for all then-pupils to get into Canterbury for the rest of their school days. But that commitment ended in the 1990s.

Scott Bagshaw, head of fair access at KCC, outlined the rules for school bus passes.

He said: “The current home to school transport policy hasn’t changed in more than seven years and is in line with KCC’s legal obligations. Where children attend their nearest secondary school and live beyond the statutory walking distance of three miles the local authority will provide free transport. Where other schools have been chosen, which are further away, it is the parents’ responsibility to enable their child to access school.”

Mr Fairhall says the system is completely flawed.

He added: “As my children are fortunate enough to go to a grammar school, we’ve decided to pay the price but other parents may not see the point and opt for the comprehensive.

“KCC do offer a third bus pass free but when you drill down into the details it is very difficult to qualify as all your children have to be attending years 7-11 at the same time. If you are in Year 12 or 13 you do not count and the price is £110 more expensive.”