New Joint Bus Partnership
Headington is joining forces with Magdalen College School to provide a new joint bus partnership.
The new service, which will operate from September 2023, follows the announcement that the Oxford Schools’ Bus Partnership will cease operations at the end of the academic year.
The new partnership will ensure pupils have access to a safe, reliable and affordable bus network while furthering our aim to become more sustainable schools by reducing the number of journeys made by private vehicles.
Due to the location and size of the two schools, the intention is to continue to operate a network of 12 routes, while minimising journey times for pupils. In addition, the partnership is exploring the possibility of providing additional, later buses on some routes to allow pupils to take full advantage of the extensive range of extra-curricular activities. We anticipate this would encourage more parents to make use of the buses, reducing the number of car journeys required.
A significant amount of work establishing this exciting new partnership has already been completed, we have collaborated with Oxfordshire County Council and are delighted that coach operators, Horseman, Heyfordian and Pearces have committed to run the routes. Both schools have long-standing relationships with all three operators, and we value their high-quality coaches and drivers.
Mrs Caroline Jordan, Headmistress at Headington, said “Reducing our impact on the environment is hugely important for us, along with working closely and sympathetically with our neighbours within the city of Oxford and beyond. We believe this new partnership will make it easier for parents to choose sustainable travel options and we will continue to do everything we can to make car-free journeys a viable option to our families.”
Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways Management, said: “We welcome schools being proactive in changing their travel arrangements to continue to encourage pupils to use the bus.”
