Bus

School Transport

Mainstream school transport

Cardiff Council provide free school transport for pupils aged 5 to 16 who do not live within walking distance to their school. We measure the distances by the shortest walking route.

If your child is eligible for free school transport and there is a school bus service in your area, we will issue a bus pass for that service.

If your child is eligible for free school transport and there is no school bus service in your area, we will issue a bus pass that can be used on public transport buses.

Find out more about school catchment areas.

Eligibility

Pupils from reception to year 11 are assessed for free school transport eligibility every year.

Your child will not be eligible for free school transport if you:

did not apply for the catchment area school, or
rejected an offer for the catchment area school.

Primary school pupils are eligible if they live over 2 miles from their catchment area school, or the next nearest school that you applied for or was offered, if the catchment school is full.

Secondary school pupils are eligible if they live over 3 miles from their catchment area school, or the next nearest school that you applied for or was offered, if the catchment school is full.

School Bus Routes

Schools in Cardiff are serviced by a combination of contracted and commercially operated school bus services. School contracted services are those with the “R” designation, whilst the 600/800 series routes are commercially operated public services.

For up-to-date timings please follow the link: School bus routes