Consultation on proposed withdrawal of six school bus services

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This engagement has now closed, thank you for taking part. 


Please note this consultation has now closed. The Outcome Report can be viewed here.

The information and proposals from the consultation, which took place between Monday 29th September and Sunday 26th October can be found below.
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On 24 July 2025, the Combined Authority approved a new Travel to School Policy. This followed a consultation on how we support children and young people to travel to school. 

The Combined Authority’s policy is that in principle:  

  • Those who can walk, wheel, or cycle to school (active travel) should be encouraged to do so. 

  • Those who cannot walk, wheel or cycle should be able and feel confident to use public transport services to get to school. 

  • Those who are unable to use public transport services should have a dedicated ‘home to school’ bus service available to get them to the nearest, suitable secondary school at the cost of an equivalent conventional service (or for free if eligible under law), paid for through existing budgets and funding mechanisms.  

The introduction of the policy means that some bus services are being considered for withdrawal at the end of the 2025/26 school year. These are listed below: 

  • Appleton Academy, Bradford - B99 

  • Beckfoot School, Bradford - B50  

  • Cockburn School and Laurence Calvert Academy - S62  

  • Crossley Heath Grammar School, Halifax - C6 

  • St Mary’s Menston Catholic Voluntary Academy, Leeds - SM25  

  • Titus Salt School, Bradford - S64 and S66 (proposed to be replaced with one new service, S69) 

This is for one or more of the following reasons:  

  • There are possible active travel alternatives for students.  

  • There are suitable public transport alternatives for students.  

  • The service does not meet the Combined Authority’s value for money criteria (£2.35 per passenger trip).  

  • The service transports students to a school with an admissions policy based on academic selection, which is a specific exclusion set out in the Policy. 

However, before we make decisions about these school bus services, the Combined Authority is seeking feedback on the proposal from parents/carers of students who currently use any of these services or may be planning to use them in the future, the students themselves and from other interested parties.  

The consultation will close at 11:59pm on Sunday 26 October 2025.  

If you would like to have your say, please complete the questionnaire. 

Details of the public transport and/or active travel alternatives (where applicable), alternative school bus services (where applicable) and value for money considerations (where applicable) can be found under the 'Documents' section. 

The decision on whether or not to withdraw these services will be taken at the meeting of the Combined Authority on 4 December 2025. 

If you have any questions, need to respond in a different way, or require consultation materials in another format, you contact us by: 

 

Email 

EducationCustomerServices@westyorks-ca.gov.uk

Telephone 

0113 245 7676 (MetroLine) charged at the standard operator’s rate 

Post 

Freepost WEST YORKSHIRE COMBINED AUTHORITY (no stamp needed) 

Use the Q&A tool on Your Voice 

Submit your question here and we will get back to you within five working days. 



Please note this consultation has now closed. The Outcome Report can be viewed here.

The information and proposals from the consultation, which took place between Monday 29th September and Sunday 26th October can be found below.
____________________________________________________________________



On 24 July 2025, the Combined Authority approved a new Travel to School Policy. This followed a consultation on how we support children and young people to travel to school. 

The Combined Authority’s policy is that in principle:  

  • Those who can walk, wheel, or cycle to school (active travel) should be encouraged to do so. 

  • Those who cannot walk, wheel or cycle should be able and feel confident to use public transport services to get to school. 

  • Those who are unable to use public transport services should have a dedicated ‘home to school’ bus service available to get them to the nearest, suitable secondary school at the cost of an equivalent conventional service (or for free if eligible under law), paid for through existing budgets and funding mechanisms.  

The introduction of the policy means that some bus services are being considered for withdrawal at the end of the 2025/26 school year. These are listed below: 

  • Appleton Academy, Bradford - B99 

  • Beckfoot School, Bradford - B50  

  • Cockburn School and Laurence Calvert Academy - S62  

  • Crossley Heath Grammar School, Halifax - C6 

  • St Mary’s Menston Catholic Voluntary Academy, Leeds - SM25  

  • Titus Salt School, Bradford - S64 and S66 (proposed to be replaced with one new service, S69) 

This is for one or more of the following reasons:  

  • There are possible active travel alternatives for students.  

  • There are suitable public transport alternatives for students.  

  • The service does not meet the Combined Authority’s value for money criteria (£2.35 per passenger trip).  

  • The service transports students to a school with an admissions policy based on academic selection, which is a specific exclusion set out in the Policy. 

However, before we make decisions about these school bus services, the Combined Authority is seeking feedback on the proposal from parents/carers of students who currently use any of these services or may be planning to use them in the future, the students themselves and from other interested parties.  

The consultation will close at 11:59pm on Sunday 26 October 2025.  

If you would like to have your say, please complete the questionnaire. 

Details of the public transport and/or active travel alternatives (where applicable), alternative school bus services (where applicable) and value for money considerations (where applicable) can be found under the 'Documents' section. 

The decision on whether or not to withdraw these services will be taken at the meeting of the Combined Authority on 4 December 2025. 

If you have any questions, need to respond in a different way, or require consultation materials in another format, you contact us by: 

 

Email 

EducationCustomerServices@westyorks-ca.gov.uk

Telephone 

0113 245 7676 (MetroLine) charged at the standard operator’s rate 

Post 

Freepost WEST YORKSHIRE COMBINED AUTHORITY (no stamp needed) 

Use the Q&A tool on Your Voice 

Submit your question here and we will get back to you within five working days. 


This engagement has now closed, thank you for taking part. 

Do you have a question? Ask us here and we'll get back to you as soon as possible

  • Share The value for money calculation that is being used is a function of the total contract cost minus any fees paid divided by the number of pupils using the service. The contract cost of the Beckfoot service is significantly more expensive than the contract cost of any of the other bus services under consultation. Has the contract cost been benchmarked against other bus services? Could the cost per mile for each service be provided to provide this benchmark? on Facebook Share The value for money calculation that is being used is a function of the total contract cost minus any fees paid divided by the number of pupils using the service. The contract cost of the Beckfoot service is significantly more expensive than the contract cost of any of the other bus services under consultation. Has the contract cost been benchmarked against other bus services? Could the cost per mile for each service be provided to provide this benchmark? on Twitter Share The value for money calculation that is being used is a function of the total contract cost minus any fees paid divided by the number of pupils using the service. The contract cost of the Beckfoot service is significantly more expensive than the contract cost of any of the other bus services under consultation. Has the contract cost been benchmarked against other bus services? Could the cost per mile for each service be provided to provide this benchmark? on Linkedin Email The value for money calculation that is being used is a function of the total contract cost minus any fees paid divided by the number of pupils using the service. The contract cost of the Beckfoot service is significantly more expensive than the contract cost of any of the other bus services under consultation. Has the contract cost been benchmarked against other bus services? Could the cost per mile for each service be provided to provide this benchmark? link

    The value for money calculation that is being used is a function of the total contract cost minus any fees paid divided by the number of pupils using the service. The contract cost of the Beckfoot service is significantly more expensive than the contract cost of any of the other bus services under consultation. Has the contract cost been benchmarked against other bus services? Could the cost per mile for each service be provided to provide this benchmark?

    GarethJ asked about 2 months ago

    Thank you for your question. The Combined Authority operates around 330 school bus services. The price per passenger trip varies depending on the cost of the service, the numbers of passenger journeys made and the ticket types that are available on the service. Therefore, to assess value for money, the Combined Authority uses a benchmark of £2.35 per passenger trip, which will normally be achieved if a service is around 75% full. In response to your query about the price per mile, this measure is less helpful as most of the cost relates to the driver (salary, pensions etc) and vehicle (Maintenance, tax, insurance, depreciation). As result, the contract prices don’t differ much because of the length of the journey.

  • Share Will there be a safety crossings made to certain roads to enable safety for children who struggle crossing roads on Facebook Share Will there be a safety crossings made to certain roads to enable safety for children who struggle crossing roads on Twitter Share Will there be a safety crossings made to certain roads to enable safety for children who struggle crossing roads on Linkedin Email Will there be a safety crossings made to certain roads to enable safety for children who struggle crossing roads link

    Will there be a safety crossings made to certain roads to enable safety for children who struggle crossing roads

    Ellamarie asked 2 months ago

    Services would only be considered for withdrawal on this basis if the walking route was already paved, already lit during the hours of darkness and there were already pedestrian crossing facilities in place. 

  • Share where to a find information to appeal this decision? on Facebook Share where to a find information to appeal this decision? on Twitter Share where to a find information to appeal this decision? on Linkedin Email where to a find information to appeal this decision? link

    where to a find information to appeal this decision?

    LP asked 2 months ago

    No decision has yet been taken. However, for information, the Appeal process is set out in the Combined Authority’s Travel to School policy. A link to the policy is provided here. 

  • Share How will removing the SM25 service impact the p98 ? The SM25 bus becomes the p98 after it drops secondary children at St Mary’s. So if you withdraw the SM25 I assume that will mean the end of the p98? on Facebook Share How will removing the SM25 service impact the p98 ? The SM25 bus becomes the p98 after it drops secondary children at St Mary’s. So if you withdraw the SM25 I assume that will mean the end of the p98? on Twitter Share How will removing the SM25 service impact the p98 ? The SM25 bus becomes the p98 after it drops secondary children at St Mary’s. So if you withdraw the SM25 I assume that will mean the end of the p98? on Linkedin Email How will removing the SM25 service impact the p98 ? The SM25 bus becomes the p98 after it drops secondary children at St Mary’s. So if you withdraw the SM25 I assume that will mean the end of the p98? link

    How will removing the SM25 service impact the p98 ? The SM25 bus becomes the p98 after it drops secondary children at St Mary’s. So if you withdraw the SM25 I assume that will mean the end of the p98?

    Chris 1000 asked about 2 months ago

    No, the service will still operate in in the 2026/27 school year regardless of the outcome of this consultation. However, all primary school services will be reviewed ahead of the 2027/28 school year and any consultations relating to these services will take place in September 2026.

  • Share What is the proposed route of the new S69 service and will those children who have access to the S64 or S66 be automatically moved to this new service? on Facebook Share What is the proposed route of the new S69 service and will those children who have access to the S64 or S66 be automatically moved to this new service? on Twitter Share What is the proposed route of the new S69 service and will those children who have access to the S64 or S66 be automatically moved to this new service? on Linkedin Email What is the proposed route of the new S69 service and will those children who have access to the S64 or S66 be automatically moved to this new service? link

    What is the proposed route of the new S69 service and will those children who have access to the S64 or S66 be automatically moved to this new service?

    LauraJS asked 2 months ago

    Details of the proposed new service can be found here. As is the case every year, parents/carers would be required to apply for place for their children. Priority would be given to those who do not have access to public bus service 626.

  • Share Hi, please can you tell me where to find the information on the route and timings of the proposed S69 bus for Titus Salt? on Facebook Share Hi, please can you tell me where to find the information on the route and timings of the proposed S69 bus for Titus Salt? on Twitter Share Hi, please can you tell me where to find the information on the route and timings of the proposed S69 bus for Titus Salt? on Linkedin Email Hi, please can you tell me where to find the information on the route and timings of the proposed S69 bus for Titus Salt? link

    Hi, please can you tell me where to find the information on the route and timings of the proposed S69 bus for Titus Salt?

    Kate Hopton asked 2 months ago

    The route for the S69 can be found on YourVoice here.

  • Share Please could you confirm the route of the S69. Thanks. on Facebook Share Please could you confirm the route of the S69. Thanks. on Twitter Share Please could you confirm the route of the S69. Thanks. on Linkedin Email Please could you confirm the route of the S69. Thanks. link

    Please could you confirm the route of the S69. Thanks.

    Sam16 asked 2 months ago

    The route for the S69 can be found on YourVoice here.

  • Share What is the proposed route of the S69 school bus to Titus Salt School? Will there be enough spaces for all the children who currently use the S64 and S66 buses? What will happen to the primary school bus service currently provided by the S64 and S66, which continue their journey as the P64 and P66? on Facebook Share What is the proposed route of the S69 school bus to Titus Salt School? Will there be enough spaces for all the children who currently use the S64 and S66 buses? What will happen to the primary school bus service currently provided by the S64 and S66, which continue their journey as the P64 and P66? on Twitter Share What is the proposed route of the S69 school bus to Titus Salt School? Will there be enough spaces for all the children who currently use the S64 and S66 buses? What will happen to the primary school bus service currently provided by the S64 and S66, which continue their journey as the P64 and P66? on Linkedin Email What is the proposed route of the S69 school bus to Titus Salt School? Will there be enough spaces for all the children who currently use the S64 and S66 buses? What will happen to the primary school bus service currently provided by the S64 and S66, which continue their journey as the P64 and P66? link

    What is the proposed route of the S69 school bus to Titus Salt School? Will there be enough spaces for all the children who currently use the S64 and S66 buses? What will happen to the primary school bus service currently provided by the S64 and S66, which continue their journey as the P64 and P66?

    LD asked 2 months ago

    Route and timetable information for proposed Service S69 has been uploaded to Your Voice for ease of reference. 

    The service would not accommodate all current users of Services S64 and S66. It would provide transport for students who do not have access to public transport service 626 and who do not live within active travel distance of the school i.e. they currently board after Cliffe Avenue/Baildon Road.  

    Services P64 and P66 will operate in the 2026/27 school year regardless of the outcome of the consultation. They will however be reviewed in advance of the 2027/28 schools year. If they are to be considered for withdrawal at that time, there would be a consultation in September 2026.