Welcome
Dear Parents / Guardians
We employ our own drivers who drive our own fleet of branded minibuses We allocate regular drivers to the same route each day, allowing you and your child to get to know the driver on your route
All drivers hold full DBS checks as standard, and all of our minibuses have seatbelts fitted to every seat Frequent maintenance is performed to ensure that every vehicle is safe and mechanically sound
Please contact transport@dcsf org uk for more information and how to book.
Prices for the current year (2025/2026) range from £2 50 to £10 for single journeys and £4 to £18 for return journeys on termly sign ups We offer flexibility in terms of choosing single or return journeys, different pick up and drop off locations and a choice of days
All routes will drop off at the White Gates for the walking bus to Chorister School at 8 15am, then proceed to Durham School.
All return journeys will leave Durham School at 5.30pm, allowing pupils time to take part in an activity or complete their prep. A return walking bus from Chorister School will be introduced for those wishing to get return transport.
Our own drivers will operate the routes and all have full DBS checks. For more information please email: transport@dcsf.org.uk
5 star service
All of our routes are operated by Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation. We take pride in ensuring that our vehicle maintenance is of the highest standard, giving you peace of mind that your child is travelling to and from school in safety and comfort.
We use dedicated drivers who work on the same route every day, so they can get to know their passengers. All drivers are subject to a full Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
We offer a wide range of different tickets on our School Minibus Service From a single fare for a one-off journey through to return passes for the entire academic year, there are options for everybody’s travel preference You can book tickets at any time throughout the year, so it’s simple to book an extra journey or arrange travel for a visiting friend
Our School Minibus network serves 100+ coach stops We want to offer you a travel solution that works for you and your child, so if you need any assistance working out the best route to School then please do get in touch via the dedicated transport email transport@dcsf org uk
Zones & Pricing
Charges are now based on zones (distance from school). The daily prices when signing up for the whole term are as follows:
*Ad-hoc journeys are available and are charged at a slightly higher rate
Travel Routes
Collection/dropoff
Waitrose/Wentworth Leisure Centre, Hexham
Corbridge Station, NE45 5AY
Townhead, Slaley, NE47 0AT
Priestman Avenue, Consett, DH8 8AT
Morrisons car park, Consett
Lanchester Bowling Club, DH7 0LG
Pet Shop, King’s Head, Lanchester
FrontStreet,Cleadon Village, SR6 7PF
NewcastleRoad (Miller & Carter bus stop), Sunderland, SR5 1HW
Monkwearmouth Hospital, Sunderland, SR5 1NA
St Timothy’sChurch, Queen Alexandra Road, SR2 9BU
HawksleyGrange, Stockton Road, SR2 0LH
The Mill Inn,Durham Rd, Houghton le Spring, DH5 8NH East Rainton
BramhallDrive, Washington, NE38 9DB
BiddickWoods Estate, Houghton le Spring, DH4 7TU
BoardInn,Durham Road, Sunderland, SR3 3NS
TunstallLodge, Doxford Park
NeashamPlace
The MillInn,Durham Road, Houghton le Spring, DH5 8NH
PembertonBank, High Street, Easington Lane, DH5 0JH
Retail Park, Easington Way, Peterlee, SR8 5AR
Just past Elwick Stud Farm (A19)
Wolviston Services, Wynyard, TS22 5PZ
Wynyard Shops (The Co-Op), The Wynd, TS22 5QQ
High Stotfold Farm, Wynyard, TS22 5QQ
The Avenue pub, High Shincliffe, DH1 2PT
Terms & Conditions
1.
This agreement is made between all those who travel on the School Minibus Service, their parents and Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation in order to provide safe, comfortable and civilised journeys for all passengers.
2.
Arrangements for students’ journeys to and from school are the responsibility of their parents. To assist with discharging this responsibility, Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation provides a School Minibus Service.
3
Transport on the School Minibus Service must be arranged in advance
4.
Bookings of the School Coach Service are nonrefundable in the event of a student failing to travel.
5.
For information about how to make a booking, please contact transport@dcsf org uk
6.
It is the parents responsibility to inform Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation, via transport@dcsf.org.uk, if they no longer wish their child to use the School Minibus Service One full term’s notice must be given by a parent or their guardian prior to the removal of a student from the School Minibus Service or a reduction in the number of journeys made per week by a pupil
7.
If you wish for your child to use the School Minibus Service on an ad hoc basis, or to vary the details of their travel as a one-off, please contact transport@dcsf.org.uk. A charge is levied based on the zone in which the passenger boards / alights. If a trip is undertaken without prior booking, a fee of £20.00 must be paid.
8.
Students must travel to and from Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation in full school uniform or a full school tracksuit, unless prescribed otherwise by the school.
9
Pupils should be at the bus stop five minutes before the scheduled time of departure to ensure they don’t miss the service In the evening, parents should be at the bus stop five minutes before the scheduled time of arrival to collect a passenger
10
Good conduct is required at all times Bullying, shouting, use of foul language, dropping litter, playing music, or any other misbehaviour is strictly forbidden
11.
Except when embarking or disembarking, or when asked to move to a different seat in accordance with condition 12, all passengers must remain seated with their seatbelts fastened correctly.
12
Whilst on a School Minibus, all passengers must accept without question the authority of a member of Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation staff, or school prefect, who may require them to obey any reasonable instruction such as to pick up litter, desist from certain actions or to move to a different seat
13.
Failure to comply with these conditions may result in disciplinary action, including temporary or permanent withdrawal of permission to use the School Minibus Service.
14
Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation aims for 95% of journeys to operate within the industry window of tolerance of one minute early to five minutes late, however timings may vary due to traffic conditions or unforeseen circumstances Drivers will not wait