TRANSPORT & TRAVEL GUIDE
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. 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
To book your child’s travel and find your nearest Minibus stop, please contact 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 Hexham – Corbridge Route Morning Pick up Time 0650 0700 0710 0725 0730 0740 --
Collection/dropoff point 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
Afternoon Drop off Time 1825 1830 1820 1805 1800 -1745
Sunderland/Cleadon Route 0700 0705 0710 0715 0730 0735 0745
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
1830 -1815 -1800 ---
Washington Route 0715 0720 0730 0740 0750 -0755
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
1825 1820 1815 --1745 --
Wynyard Route 0700 0710 0720 0730 -0755
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
1835 1820 -1800 1810 1740
This information is based on routes currently offered. We try to accommodate requests for new locations and routes each year.
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.
Meet the Team Meet Dave I’m Dave Fitzpatrick, I do the Wynyard Easington Peterlee bus route. I’m a retired Detective Constable I served with Durham Constabulary for 30 years and was an advanced police driver. I’m a qualified mini-bus driver, and generally love driving all types of vehicles.
Meet Ian I drive the Washington and Houghton le Spring route. I enjoy being part of the hustle and bustle of the school and helping the students in their journey through the school. I would describe myself as a friendly, reliable, conscientious person who is approachable and willing to help where I can. I am a retired police sergeant, having served 30 years within Northumbria Police Force. I enjoy most sports, especially football I support Sunderland as well as Rugby and cricket.
Meet Kev My name is Kev and I drive on the Hexham, Corbridge, Slaley and Consett route. I enjoy being out and about rather than stuck in an office or factory and even though I drive the same route everyday each journey is different with it's unique obstacles to overcome. I served 22yrs in the RAF Police before working on the Cash in Transit vans for 14yrs. I have over 42yrs of driving experience in a wide variety of vehicles. I also spent 3yrs as a RAF Police Motorcycle convoy escort rider. I enjoy watching most sports but in particular Motorsport and have been to several British F1 go's and once to the Monoco Gp.
0191 7319270 transport@dcsf.org.uk
www.dcsf.org.uk