Spare seat scheme

Service update: Academic year 2023/24

The spare seat scheme used to be known as the privilege seat scheme.

The application window is open

If you would like your child to travel on a contracted school bus, spare seats may be available for you to buy. Your child must not be eligible for local authority funded transport help.

When to apply

The application window is open.  The application window opened at 9am, Monday 30 October 2023

You can apply for any school bus service that has space. Please be aware that there will be a limited number of seats available. 

View timetable and route information on bus services.

Making a spare seat application does not guarantee a seat.

Post-16 students

We are accepting applications for post-16 (sixth form) students. Please apply if you want to be considered.

What happens after applying

Applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. We aim to process applications within five working days.

If your child has been selected as having a seat, you will be sent details of how you can pay. You will have two weeks to pay for your child’s seat. If you require transport before the payment deadline date you will need to pay as soon as possible and before travel is required.

If your child has not been successful in securing a seat, they will be placed on a waiting list for the service(s) applied for. You will be notified that your child is on the waiting list(s) and you will then be contacted when seats become available.

Ticket costs and payment

The cost of a ticket is:

These can be paid in half term payments, full term payments or a one-off payment for the whole year. You will need to make payment by the deadline which is two weeks from the date of the offer email.

Failure to pay by the deadline will result in your spare seat offer being removed. Your seat will then be offered to a child that may be on the waiting list. You would then need to reapply during a new application window should you want to take up a seat again.

Should you have difficulty in making payment by the deadline please ‘Contact School Transport’. Please let us know when you think you’ll be able to pay.

Please remember that if you have not made payment, your child will not be permitted to travel. This will be strictly enforced.

Seat services availability

If the spare seat service isn’t listed in the table below, we’re unable to offer any seats because the routes are completely full. On some routes we can offer a waiting list as we may have seats become available.