School Bus Information
What is the Bee Network?
The Bee Network is Greater Manchester's vision for a joined-up London-style transport system. Eventually it will offer safe, seamless and affordable end-to-end journeys across public transport and active travel (cycling, walking and wheeling).
Through the Bee Network we are gradually bringing all local bus services under local control through a system called ‘bus franchising’. This is a major step on Greater Manchester’s journey to delivering a joined-up transport system.
Your child will be able to continue using their school bus services as normal.
Some school bus service numbers and timetables may be slightly different to meet new school start and finish times. But most routes and timetables won’t change. See North Chadderton School | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM for the new timetable.
Fares and Tickets
Your child can also continue to pay low fares and use their igo cards igo card | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM on school services. Bringing bus services under local control as part of the Bee Network has allowed us to introduce consistent fares across all of our schools services.
In Greater Manchester, a range of child bus tickets are available:
- Children aged 5-16 years old: Pay child fares on buses (£1 single/£2 return/£10 7-day) and trams (prices vary by zone).
- Young people aged 11-16 years old: Must have an igo card to travel using a child ticket on buses and trams in Greater Manchester.
- TfGM school bus only tickets: A 5-day school-week ticket costs £7.60. A carnet ticket with 10 single trips is available for £10. Tickets can be bought on school buses (or at Bee Network Information and Ticket Offices) and will be loaded on to igo cards.*
Fares and passes for young people | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM
What should I do if my child loses something on a Bee Network school service?
If a student has lost something when travelling on a Bee Network school bus, then please get in touch with the Bee Network Customer Contact Centre:
Online - using the Bee contact form Report lost property | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM
Telephone – 0161 244 1000
In person – at an Information and Ticket Office Where to find us | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM
A responsible guardian/adult will need to make the enquiry on behalf of under 13-year-olds.
Read more about lost property on Bee Network bus services. Lost property on Bee Network stations and services | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM
Other Information
The new Bee Network app is supporting customers in making seamless journeys. Customers can use it to plan journeys, get live departure times for local bus, tram and train stops and stations, buy from a range of buy bus and tram tickets, see travel alerts, quickly rate their journeys and get contact information.
TfGM/Bee Network have a new webpage https://tfgm.com to help give information and advice about school services in areas joining the Bee Network. The following link will direct you to School Bus Services for North Chadderton School: https://tfgm.com/schools/oldham/north-chadderton-school
More generally, you can also see their school travel pages on the following website: https://tfgm.com/travelling-to-school
We expect students to:
- Communicate with the driver politely and respectfully
- Show any bus passes or provide the fare for any journey undertaken
- Sit calmly on a seat wherever possible
- Avoid any behaviour which may disturb the concentration of the driver, or may damage the bus environment, such as throwing food or tampering with the emergency exit
- Refrain from smoking on the bus
- Show respect for all other passengers travelling on the bus
Any student who does not adhere to these expectations will have a consequence in line with the school standards and expectations policy. This may involve banning a student from using the bus for a determined period of time.
This is in line with Government guidance, which refers to school’s power to sanction students for “misbehaviour" when the pupil is:
- Taking part in any school-organised or school-related activity or travelling to or from school or wearing school uniform or in some other way identifiable as a pupil at the school or misbehaviour at any time, whether or not the conditions above apply, that could have repercussions for the orderly running of the school or poses a threat to another pupil or member of the public or could adversely affect the reputation of the school.
Before travelling to and from school it is important to plan-ahead and consider different options.
If you can, please consider whether your child can walk or cycle to school – it can be a safe and healthy way to make shorter trips. With new cycling and walking routes popping up across the region, it is safer and easier than ever to get about on foot or by bike.
If you do need to drive, please switch off your engine when waiting outside to reduce air pollution and, if possible, try parking further away and walking the last part of the journey.