There is an obligation on local authorities to provide transport for children and young people who are entitled to transport, from their registered home address to school and the return journey, no transport is provided to take a child home at lunchtime. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) arrange transport for primary and secondary children on behalf of Glasgow City Council.
Please note the following:
School Transport can mean:
Our policy on providing free school transport is slightly more generous than the law requires.
Glasgow City Council provide transport for children and young people who live more than 1.2 miles or more from their local catchment primary school by the shortest suitable walking route and 2.2 miles from their local catchment secondary school by the shortest suitable walking route.
The distance will be established by measuring the distance from home (footway outside the house) using the council's Geographical Information System. The walking distance is measured from the house gate or pavement heel and then by the shortest suitable walking route to the nearest school gate. Some children and young people will require to walk a reasonable distance from their home address to the transport pick up point but this will not exceed 1.2 miles for primary schools and 2.2 miles for secondary schools.
Primary and secondary school pupils may also be entitled to transport for the following reasons:
Glasgow City Council reserve the right to withdraw transport if the seat is required by a child/young person travelling to his/her zoned school and are entitled to free school transport or if the contractor reduces the size of the vehicle. If this happens you will be given 5 days' notice to allow you to make alternative arrangements.
You should apply for transport:
This allows time for the authority to liaise with SPT to tender and plan transport for the August term.
If your application is received by the 28 March you will be notified of the outcome by 30 May. Applications received after 28 March will be dealt with in due course.
Apply online using our Free School Transport Application Form.
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Applications are also available by contacting the Corporate Integrated Transport Unit on 0141 287 1056.
If you apply online you will receive an email to confirm the details you have submitted.
Consideration will be given to the application and whether this meets the above criteria as outlined. A letter is then sent to parent/carer to confirm the decision.
If you apply before 28 March each year you will be notified of the outcome by 30 May each year.
We may provide supported transport arrangements for children and young people who have been assessed as requiring it because of additional support needs.
We place a strong emphasis on including pupils with additional support needs within their local schools and communities and the transport policy reflects that commitment.
The distance criteria applies to all children however, some children who live within the distance criteria may be considered for free school transport depending on their additional support needs as detailed below.
Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) arranges transport for mainstream primary and secondary schools on behalf of the authority. The authority makes its own arrangements for children with additional support needs.
The head teacher will establish with parent/carers and pupils the importance of good behaviour on school transport. Where necessary, examples of unacceptable behaviour will be emphasised to pupils.
The responsibility of ensuring safe and acceptable behaviour remains with parent/carers of a child travelling on a school transport vehicle. Misbehaviour or action which could put the safety of others at risk may result in the removal of the provision of transport by the authority. This may be temporary or permanent.
In circumstances where a pupil's behaviour is unacceptable, the driver may retain the pupil's ticket/pass for identification purposes. Initially SPT along with Education Services will carry out an investigation, if appropriate. The head teacher will invite the parent/carer and the pupil to a meeting and ask the pupil and parent/carer to respond to the report of the incident.
The head teacher will ask for an assurance of the pupil's good conduct prior to the resumption of previous travel arrangements. It is important that the school keeps a record of any such incident and details the responsive action taken. During the interim, alternative arrangements, where necessary involving parents, will require to be made in order that the pupil attends school.
In cases of serious misbehaviour, the head teacher can still exercise his or her right to have regard to the discipline policy of the establishment and Education Services.
The Council, in discharging its statutory requirements, aims to assist parent/carers in their responsibility of ensuring that a child attends school safety and on time in line with our policy on the provision of school transport. The Council will also strive to ensure with the services of Strathclyde Passenger for Transport (SPT) and Land and Environmental Services, are the most effective, suitable and economical use of resources by closely monitoring contracts and routes.
A request to review the decision made regarding your child's transport must be made in writing within 10 days of receipt of the refusal letter. This should be made to the Corporate Integrated Transport Unit (CITU) based at 220 High Street, Glasgow G4 0QW. Written submission should include any additional evidence to support your request for transport. Reviews which lack specification will be rejected.
Written notification of the outcome of the review will be provided within 28 working days of receipt of the written submission.
We also aim to be responsive to the concerns of parents and carers in the provision of appropriate transport to meet the needs of each pupil. We keep our arrangements for school transport under continuous review.
Parent/carers who have concerns or complaints about any aspect of the provision of mainstream school transport may contact their child's school by telephone giving the details which will then be recorded and submitted to SPT's complaints form.
It is important for parent/carers to have the opportunity to ask questions about eligibility of their child for school transport therefore if you have any enquiries about applying for free school transport please contact the Corporate Integrated Transport Unit on 0141 287 1056.