School transport

We offer free school transport to:

• all primary pupils who attend and live more than 2 miles from their catchment school
• all secondary pupils who attend and live more than 3 miles from their catchment school
• on safety grounds if the normal walking route fails to meet certain safety criteria; contact us in such circumstances.

Appropriate transport will also be arranged for pupils who have additional support needs.

If you feel that your child may be entitled to free school transport then contact the support staff in your catchment school and they will advise you further.

Please note that it is the parents' responsibility to get children safely to and from the transport pick-up and set-down points and to ensure that there is someone at home to receive them.

Bus passes are issued annually in the summer before the new school session begins.

Privilege lifts

Privilege lifts may be available for pupils who do not qualify for free school transport, if there are vacant seats on school contract buses. Seats are not guaranteed and may be withdrawn at any time if required for an entitled pupil. 

Please note that privilege lifts do not apply for travel on timetabled local bus services; travel on these would require payment of a fare.

School transport during bad weather conditions

In times of bad weather please check whether transport is operating by:

• using our website
• listening to Radio Borders
• contacting the transport operator.