Eligibility for a Zero Fare Bus Pass / Train Pass / Cycle Allowance for School Pupils

The following groups of pupils are eligible for a zero fare bus pass / train pass or cycle allowance:

Group 1

Pupils whose nearest qualifying school is outside ‘walking distance’. ‘Walking distance’ is more than:

• Two miles for children of school age but under the age of 8:
• Three miles for children or young people aged 8 - 16.

Group 2

Pupils of low income families travelling to:

• One of the nearest 3 qualifying schools where they live more than 2 miles but less than 6 miles form that school:
• The nearest school preferred by reason of a parent’s faith or belief, where the school is more than 2 miles but less than 15 miles from the child’s home.

Group 3

Pupils attending their designated Tameside Roman Catholic high school and who have attended a Catholic primary school associated with the high school as set out in the ‘Moving On’ booklet or their nearest denominational school (not Roman Catholic) providing that they are aged 11 – 16 and are travelling over three miles to school.

Group 4

Pupils who move into Tameside from another area, are in Years 10 or 11, want to stay at their current school and will have to travel more than 3 miles to that school

Notes

Low income is defined as pupils who are eligible for a school clothing grant.

The distance between home and school is measured by the nearest available walking route

The law defines a qualifying school as a school which is suitable for the child, taking into account their faith or belief (or the faith or belief of their parents) and that has places available.

A cycle allowance of £30 per year is payable instead of a bus pass if requested.

It should be noted that when a dispute occurs between a parent / guardian and the Council, the distance between home and school is measured by an officer of the Council.

Download a Application Form 69.26 KB

If you are unsure whether your child will be eligible for a free bus pass, please check with the School Admissions Section:

Contact Information
Send us a Message	School Admissions Section Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne Lancs OL6 6DL View local map
0161 342 4068 / 3214 / 2286
0161 342 4067