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Money question - school bus- how much?

32 replies

dylexicdementor11 · 20/08/2025 21:00

I’ve just paid for LOs termly return school bus journey. It’s a 50 min trip one way and she takes the bus 5 days a week. We pay £2500 for three terms. I’m curious to know how much other schools charge.

[edited by MNHQ on OP's request]

OP posts:
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Loveduppenguin · 20/08/2025 21:04

€75 for the school year. 25min journey

MyElatedUmberFinch · 20/08/2025 21:05

£368 per term for a 6 mile trip.

Thingsthatgo · 20/08/2025 21:05

£2500 per term for the bus? Really? That’s about £40 a day.

DeafLeppard · 20/08/2025 21:10

We used to pay about £1.8k for the year, the bus was canned as financially unviable. Another school near us is about £500/term (maybe a bit cheaper). Flat fee no matter where you get on. If you’re entitled to free school transport you don’t pay; the paid service is an add on for out of catchment children.

twistyizzy · 20/08/2025 21:21

£300 per term for a 10 mile journey 6 days per week. Just PM though cos DH takes her in the mornings.

Overthebow · 20/08/2025 21:22

She spends 1hr 40 mins on the bus every day 5 days a week? That’s longer than most people commute to work!

Bitzee · 20/08/2025 21:23

Daily return journey is £580 or £680 (depending on distance from school) a term. And this is London and flipping Dukes Education so usually I’m not easily shocked by prices but £2500 a term is absolutely insane. Are you sure that isn’t the annual cost?

dylexicdementor11 · 20/08/2025 22:00

Thingsthatgo · 20/08/2025 21:05

£2500 per term for the bus? Really? That’s about £40 a day.

Yes, it’s not cheap.

OP posts:
arethereanyleftatall · 20/08/2025 22:02

Someone is making a lot of money there, because that’s not a standard bus cost.
we pay £1200 per year and it’s a 30 min journey each way.

SoftPillow · 20/08/2025 22:03

Circa 20 mile journey, 1hr in traffic, it’s around £700 a term return for 5 days a week. Private company used by the school.

StillFeelingTired · 20/08/2025 22:04

Ours is £12 a day per child. So it would be £24 for us. Petroleum for my car is circa £50 a week so I take them. It’s 10 miles away.

eta … auto carrot turned petrol into petroleum. Thats not how I talk IRL. 😆

dylexicdementor11 · 20/08/2025 22:05

dylexicdementor11 · 20/08/2025 21:00

I’ve just paid for LOs termly return school bus journey. It’s a 50 min trip one way and she takes the bus 5 days a week. We pay £2500 for three terms. I’m curious to know how much other schools charge.

[edited by MNHQ on OP's request]

Eek! I’m so sorry – that should be 2500 pounds for three terms. Apologies.

OP posts:
dylexicdementor11 · 20/08/2025 22:06

Thingsthatgo · 20/08/2025 21:05

£2500 per term for the bus? Really? That’s about £40 a day.

Apologies- £2500 for 3 terms.

OP posts:
dylexicdementor11 · 20/08/2025 22:07

Bitzee · 20/08/2025 21:23

Daily return journey is £580 or £680 (depending on distance from school) a term. And this is London and flipping Dukes Education so usually I’m not easily shocked by prices but £2500 a term is absolutely insane. Are you sure that isn’t the annual cost?

Yes, sorry, my original post was incorrect- £2500 for 3 terms.

OP posts:
TeenToTwenties · 20/08/2025 22:09

My DD's state college bus is £850 a year for a journey that takes us 25mins to drive but the bus circa 50mins. They break up end June.

RavenPie · 20/08/2025 22:15

State school £860/year - there are 3 zones and we live in the furthest and most expensive.

HanSB · 20/08/2025 22:16

Secondary school £2100 for 3 terms, SW London 40 min trip

dylexicdementor11 · 20/08/2025 22:23

Loveduppenguin · 20/08/2025 21:04

€75 for the school year. 25min journey

That’s amazing.

OP posts:
dylexicdementor11 · 20/08/2025 22:25

Overthebow · 20/08/2025 21:22

She spends 1hr 40 mins on the bus every day 5 days a week? That’s longer than most people commute to work!

Edited

A 50 min trip to school/work is quite normal where we are.

OP posts:
Wirdle · 20/08/2025 22:28

We've not taken up the place in the end but £1.4k annually, 15 minutes drive but I'm sure that journey would be longer on the bus. Yorkshire

dylexicdementor11 · 20/08/2025 22:30

Wirdle · 20/08/2025 22:28

We've not taken up the place in the end but £1.4k annually, 15 minutes drive but I'm sure that journey would be longer on the bus. Yorkshire

Wow, that’s very pricey for a short trip. Thanks.

OP posts:
Beammeupscotty2025 · 20/08/2025 22:35

dylexicdementor11 · 20/08/2025 22:06

Apologies- £2500 for 3 terms.

I understood from your OP this is what you meant. It was clear.

dylexicdementor11 · 20/08/2025 22:40

Beammeupscotty2025 · 20/08/2025 22:35

I understood from your OP this is what you meant. It was clear.

Thank you!

OP posts:
Nourishinghandcream · 20/08/2025 23:11

How many on the bus?

Our local private school runs several minibuses and one route carries only two pupils on a 50-minute each way journey.
When you factor in the staffing costs (2hrs AM & PM), fuel and cost of the minibus you can see how much it might cost when not subsidised in any way.

madgreenlemons · 20/08/2025 23:23

£700 per term for 45ish min journey. roughly a 25% increase from last year. Bus prices have really shot up this year-i checked out a few other private schools in my region and they’d also gone up by similar amounts