School Bus Service Update

Dear Parents/ Carers, 

We have been advised that from January 2023, our school bus service routes will be changing. Please see the statement below for full details from West Yorkshire Combined authority, who schedule school services:

Services R1, R2, R4 and R5 are arranged and subsidised by West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The funding is provided by the five West Yorkshire local councils and services are ultimately paid for by local taxpayers.

The Combined Authority has a duty to ensure that public money is used wisely and has been reviewing school bus networks across the county where the number of passengers travelling does not warrant the number of services that are currently being provided.                         

Having reviewed the network at Oulton Academy, it has been decided that Services R1, R2 and R4 will be combined into two double decker services (OA2 and OA3) from the start of the spring term in January 2023. There will be no change to service R5.      

Except for bus stops on Winrose Drive and Town Street, all the bus stops currently served will be served by the new services. Children who currently board at stops on this section of the current R1 route will need to board a bus on Belle Isle Road or Middleton Ring Road, depending on where they live, which will involve around a 600 metre (10-minute walk). This is considered acceptable under the Combined Authority’s guidelines.

Please be aware that children who use the current services should already have a Priority PhotoCard to use them. These will be more strictly enforced in January and so, if you haven’t done so already, please apply using the following link. You should receive your child’s pass around a week after submitting the application form. 

We have emails for all those with existing passes and will be contacting them directly.  

https://metro.flexiroute.net/app_form_new_secondary.html

Route/timetable information can be found at https://www.wymetro.com/your-school/a-z-school-finder/o/oulton-academy/

If you require any assistance with this, please telephone (0113) 348122 or email EducationCustomerServices@westyorks-ca.gov.uk 

As previously communicated, the academy is unable to make any changes to the services or routes, therefore, please use the contact number above should you have any concerns. 

Kind regards, 

Oulton Academy