Pupils who are under 8 years of age and live more than 1 mile from their catchment school or are 8 years of age or older and live more than 2 miles from their catchment school.

No. Free school transport is only provided to children who meet the distance criteria.

No, children attending school as a result of a placing request are not entitled to free school transport.

If you move out of the catchment area and your child is in a “critical” school year (typically S4-S6), your child may be entitled to free school transport. Please complete the online application form:

Distances are measured using the nearest available safe walking route. 

The nearest safe walking route will be the shortest route, along any footway, road or right of way, suitable for a child accompanied by an adult. From their home gateway (nearest to the school) to the nearest designated school gate.

Parents are responsible for getting their child to and from the school transport pick-up/set-down point. They should make their child aware of a safe route between their home and the pick-up/set-down point, and what to do in the event of the transport not arriving.

Pupils should be at the pick-up point at least 5 minutes before their transport is due.

Yes, a valid travel pass is required to travel. Children without a valid travel pass will not be able to travel.

If a child loses their travel pass during the school day, they should contact the school office who will give them a voucher so they can travel home.

If your child has lost their travel pass, you can submit a request via MyFalkirk. There is a £10 charge for a replacement travel pass.

Please only use this for Falkirk Council issued school bus passes. This should not be used for Under 22 travel passes (Young Scot Cards).

Damaged, defaced, split or unreadable travel passes are not valid for travel.

Under 22 travel passes are valid for use on some school services. 

Check your school page to find out if the under 22 travel pass can be used. You will find this information under ‘Bus timetables’. 

Under 22 passes can only be used where there is sufficient excess capacity after all entitled pupils have been granted travel.

Many school transport vehicles are fitted with CCTV. The Transport Planning Unit, transport operators and schools work together to identify children responsible for misbehaviour, vandalism, smoking and vaping. Children who are misbehaving can be banned from school transport.

In the event of a transport ban, parents will be responsible for getting their child to and from school during the ban.

When travelling pupils must:

• Always wear a seatbelt if one is available
• Remain seated at all times when the vehicle is in motion
• Never distract the driver
• Never touch the vehicle door controls
• Never touch any emergency equipment inside the vehicle (including the emergency exit) unless an emergency occurs on the journey
• When getting off the bus, wait for the vehicle to leave before crossing the road
• Never cross in front of the bus
• Use a booster cushion if one has been provided (taxis)

The driver will use his/her judgement about the safety of the roads in bad weather. If a morning journey is abandoned due to weather or road conditions, children will be returned to the pick-up point.

In bad weather, school transport may only run on main roads. Parents should contact the transport operator in bad weather to check if the service is operating normally.

Operators' details can be found under 'Bus timetables' on your child's school page.

Children will be instructed to stay on the vehicle until alternative transport arrives. If the situation is deemed to be dangerous, the children will be guided to a safe place by the driver. 

Yes, all drivers of school transport are vetted under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme.