LICHFIELD children are to be made to pay if they wish to attend their nearest catholic school.

Staffordshire County Council's cabinet meeting yesterday (Wednesday) councillors backed a scheme to withdraw paid transport for all future pupils due to begin at St Francis of Assisi school in Aldridge from 2011.

Current pupils at the school will continue to be provided with free transport for their remaining time at the school.

St Francis of Assisi is rated by Ofsted as an 'outstanding' school and is attended by around 250 pupils from Lichfield and Tamworth.

The council's original proposal was to make all children pay from 2012, but said that the watered-down scheme was a result of it listening to parents' views.

St Francis' headteacher, Philomena Mullins, last week praised the pupils and their parents for their determination to fight the proposals and to at least secure the partial victory of current pupils not having to pay.

She said: "The pupil and parent voice was very strong and it made a difference.

"It is testament to the strength of feeling of all stakeholders in faith education in this nominally Christian community.

"Our reputation as a school has been well-earned, every day we do our best.

"My dream was always that the children who come to our school would grow up with Christian values and would make the world a better place. Our children were so passionate about this issue and I was so proud of them, we must stand up and speak for our rights."

Mrs Mullins also thanked the headteachers at feeder primary schools and local clergy for their support.

County councillor Jeremy Oates said: "This is obviously great news for the pupils who are currently attending their choice of school.

"Despite initial difficulties, the people of Tamworth managed to get their voices heard in a responsible and mature manner and have achieved a victory also providing evidence that there are no done deals with consultation and the county council.

"This was a genuine consultation and the changes we have seen prove this.

"I would like to thank all those that have contacted their county councillors and the exceptional way in which they behaved at our informal event at the assembly rooms."