Faith school transport review

Overview

We are reviewing our discretionary faith‑based home to school transport offer. 

Our discretionary faith-based home to school transport offer currently includes:  

• A discounted annual travel pass for pupils attending a school on grounds of religion or belief where statutory low‑income eligibility does not apply. 

• Free travel for primary‑age pupils eligible for free school meals where the chosen faith school is between 2 and 20 miles from home. 

• Extended free travel for secondary‑age pupils eligible for free school meals, beyond the statutory 15‑mile limit up to 25 miles. 

• A large family (sibling) concession, where families attending the nearest suitable denominational school pay for only the two youngest children. 

Last year, the discretionary faith‑based transport scheme cost approximately £1.25 million, with families contributing around 20% of this cost. There are currently around 520 pupils benefiting from the discretionary faith‑based transport offer, using routes serving faith schools both within Nottinghamshire and in neighbouring areas.  

The county council is facing significant financial pressures across all services. We are undertaking this review of the discretionary faith-based school travel as part of our efforts to address these financial pressures and deliver a balanced budget.   

This review does not affect statutory home to school transport entitlements, including extended rights for low-income families where pupils are provided with their transport to school if their family earn less than £7,400 and they are aged 11-16, attending a school on grounds of religion or belief where the chosen school is between 2 and 15 miles from home.  

The four options we are consulting on are: 

Option 1: No change to discretionary policy

• Cumulative cost over six year reference period -  £7.25 - £7.5 million*

Option 2: All elements of the discretionary faith transport offer would be removed from September 2027 onwards.

Potential Impacts:

• There may no longer be a school bus service available.
• Parents or carers would need to organise their own transport arrangements for their children to travel to school.
• Cumulative cost over six year reference period - £2.25 - £2.5 million*

Option 3: All elements of the discretionary faith transport offer would be removed from September 2031

Potential Impacts:

• This would allow students starting in year 7 in September 2026 to complete their GCSEs without being affected.
• This would mean that the last new intake to benefit from the scheme would be in 2030 and they would be able to benefit from it for one year until it’s withdrawn. 
• There may no longer be a school bus service available September 2031.
• Parents or carers would need to organise their own transport arrangements for their children to attend their chosen faith school. 
• Cumulative cost over six year reference period - £5.5 - £5.75 million*

Option 4 – Parents pay an increased contribution towards bus passes

Potential impacts:

• The cost of a bus pass (at current prices) would increase from £420 per year for a primary school pass and £515 per year for secondary school pass to £675 per year.
• School bus services would remain in place.
• Cumulative cost over six year reference period - £7 - £7.25 million*

*Please note that figures are indicative and rounded to provide a high‑level comparison.  

The indicative figures shown above are based on a consistent set of assumptions and have been rounded to provide a high‑level comparison between different policy options.  

All figures remain indicative and will be subject to further refinement and validation as consultation feedback is received and financial modelling is finalised.