We provide free school transport to:
- primary pupils who attend and live more than two miles from their catchment school
- secondary pupils who attend and live more than three miles from their catchment school
We may also provide free school transport:
- for pupils who have additional support needs
- where the normal walking route fails to meet certain safety criteria
- on medical grounds in certain cases
If you live within the walking distance or your child attends school as the result of a placing request you will not be entitled to free transport.
If you live on or near a school contract route, your child may be allocated a spare seat free of charge. We cannot guarantee these seats, and they may be withdrawn for an entitled pupil at any time. Applications for these seats must be submitted each year.
If the bus in your area is registered as a local school bus service then your child may be able to travel on the bus and pay a fare to the driver. You can get information on fares from the bus company which operates the route.
Applications are only required if your children are entering P1, S1, S5 and S6. Unless your circumstances change applications are not required for pupils entering P2-7 and S2-4.
Please note it can take up to ten working days for home to school transport applications to be processed and, if approved, arranged.
Apply for free school transport
For pupils entering P1 the application will be valid up to P7. You will only need to reapply if your circumstances change.
Secondary pupils have to apply for transport in S1, S5 and S6 unless circumstances change. S5 and S6 pupils should apply for transport even if they are unsure if they will return to school.
If your child is entitled to free home to school transport for the P7 transitions days, please liaise with your child’s primary school.
For more information on free school travel read our Home to school transport policy.
Pick-up points
Your child will have a designated pick up point and may need to walk to/from home to meet the school bus. This will be up to two miles for primary children or up to three miles for secondary children.
Detailed transport information will be made available online ten days prior to start of the new academic year.
It is your responsibility to supervise your children to/from their designated pick-up point.
Transport passes
Transport passes are normally issued at school on the first day of session. If a pass is lost, you’ll be charged £2.50 for a replacement. Please pay for this pass using the school ParentPay system. If your child no longer requires transport or leaves the school, the pass must be returned to the school.