Getting to school

School transport

We provide free transport to pupils who live more than the statutory walking distance from their designated catchment school. This is over 2 miles for pupils under 8, and over 3 miles for pupils aged 8 and over. During winter terms (October break to Easter break), this reduces to over 1.5 miles for all pupils. Distances are measured by the shortest available safe walking route, using our geographic information system and Ordnance Survey mapping.

We don't provide transport for pupils attending nursery or pre-school, and only provide transport to the school for the catchment area where you live. If you place your child in a school in a different catchment area through a Placing Request, we won't provide transport.

We're not required to provide door-to-door transport. Transport is provided as close to home as practical, and parents and carers are responsible for getting their child to the pick-up point, and for their safety before boarding and after leaving the vehicle. Drivers aren't required to help children cross roads.

Applying for school transport

We need 3 to 5 working days to arrange transport for a new pupil, or a change of address. If there are capacity issues on a route, it may take longer, since nominated passengers are entitled to 10 working days' notice to make alternative arrangements.

Medical grounds

In exceptional circumstances, we may provide transport on medical grounds for pupils attending their correct catchment school but unable to walk there. You'll need supporting written evidence from a GP or hospital confirming the pupil can't walk to school, and the likely period this applies for. Medical grounds don't guarantee automatic entitlement, and any award is reviewed annually.

Any child with additional support needs is individually assessed by our Support for Learners Team, who'll arrange suitable and safe transport where appropriate.

Nominated places

We may allocate nominated places to pupils who don't qualify for transport but live on an established bus route with available empty seats. We can withdraw this at any time if the seat is needed for an entitled pupil, or for any other reason, giving 10 working days' written notice.

Code of conduct

Pupils and parents/carers must read and agree to our Code of Conduct before we can grant access to school transport. This covers pupil behaviour at the pick-up point, boarding and leaving the vehicle, and while travelling, including road safety, seatbelt use, and respect for drivers and other passengers.

Persistent misbehaviour may result in withdrawal of school transport entitlement, and parents/carers may be held financially responsible for any damage caused by their children. Pupils travelling by other means, such as ferry, plane or taxi, may also have their transport entitlement withdrawn at our discretion if they misbehave or cause damage or injury.

All school transport vehicles are fitted with seatbelts, and provision can be withdrawn if a pupil doesn't wear one.

Anti-social behaviour

We won't tolerate anti-social behaviour on any mode of school transport. It can be reported by a pupil, parent or carer, driver, operator, teacher, or member of the public. We'll work with the school and transport operator to investigate incidents, which may involve taking statements from witnesses and those involved.

Weather and emergency closures

Schools can close in certain emergencies, such as bad weather, heating failures or power cuts.

Throughout the winter terms, October to Easter, two members of our bad weather team are on duty from 06:00 to liaise with transport operators and head teachers. Reports on any disruption are passed to Radio Orkney (93.7 FM) for their 07:30 broadcast, and updated on the OIC School Transport Facebook page and OIC Roads on X (Twitter) as soon as information is available.

During the school day, schools have arrangements to contact parents if closing early or if transport is operating early. Make sure your school has up to date emergency contact numbers.

Disruption to school transport

In bad weather, it's difficult to give individual route information, since this depends on local weather and road conditions. We can only advise whether there may be disruption in general.

If there's no school transport due to bad weather, it's the parent's decision whether it's safe to transport their children to school themselves, there's no expectation that all parents will be able to do so. If you decide it's not safe, contact the school to record the absence as weather related.

Where the Met Office issues an Amber warning covering any part of school hours, school transport will not operate for the duration of the warning.

School crossing patrols

We have a team of 14 dedicated School Crossing Patrol Officers helping children cross the roads safely on their way to and from school, most based in Kirkwall, with 3 in Stromness and one at Firth Primary School.

Although we provide school crossing patrols, parents remain responsible for ensuring their children get to school safely. If you're crossing with your child at a patrol site:

• wait on the pavement behind the officer
• don't follow the officer out into the road
• only cross when the officer tells you it's safe

If you're approaching a patrol site while driving:

• be aware of your speed
• slow down and be ready to stop
• stop when the officer tells you to
• wait patiently until all pedestrians are off the road