A seven-year-old primary school pupil can be expected to use the S-Bahn to travel a short distance to school. This is the result of a decision by the Dresden Administrative Court. Accordingly, there is no entitlement to the establishment of a special school transport service between home and the nearest elementary school in the neighboring town in a specific individual case. The court rejected an urgent application by a parent couple from the spa town of Rathen (district of Saxon Switzerland-Eastern Ore Mountains).
Parents find it too dangerous to travel to school
The district had discontinued the special school transport service between the spa town of Rathen and Königstein elementary school, which had been set up in recent years, with effect from the start of the 2025/2026 school year. The pupils affected were directed to use the S-Bahn connection with the S1. The boy's parents had classified the route to school as too dangerous overall. They had explained that the route could not be expected of a second-grader and novice driver.
Court: Parents should practise walking to school with their child
The court did not agree. The entire route to school for the child in question did not present any particular hurdles over and above the usual dangers in road traffic, according to the reasoning. All footpaths were illuminated, the level crossings were gated or equipped with an underpass. In addition, children could practice riding the S-Bahn and the rest of the way to school with their parents.
The parties involved have two weeks to lodge an appeal against the decision with the Saxon Higher Administrative Court.
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