School Transport

Please find below information regarding the availability of school transport to The Gryphon School for the academic year 2019/20.

Students in Years 7 – 11 within Catchment

Free transport is provided for pupils in Years 7-11 to attend their catchment or nearest appropriate school if they live between 2 miles (shortest walking) and 6 miles (shortest driven) distance from home to school.

The catchment area of The Gryphon includes Sherborne, Yetminster, Bradford Abbas, Bishop’s Caundle, Buckland Newton, Thornford, Trent and the surrounding Dorset area.

Dorset Council or Somerset County Council are responsible for providing school transport for these students. You can find further information and contact them on the details below.

Dorset Council

Tel: 01305 224537

Email: dt@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

Website: www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/education-and-training/school-transport/apply-renew-or-appeal-school-transport/free-school-transport-entitlement.aspx

Information about disruption to school transport can be found by visiting the Dorset Council website: www.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/school-transport/school-transport-updates

Somerset County Council

Tel: 0300 123 2224

Email: transport@somerset.gov.uk

Website: www.somerset.gov.uk/education-and-families/school-transport/

The Gryphon is the nearest appropriate school for some Somerset villages and locations, for example Milborne Port and parts of Henstridge by distance. It is important to check with Dorset or Somerset Admissions to confirm eligibility. Whilst pupils in these villages are not in the catchment area they do qualify by agreement with Somerset County Council for free transport.

If you are allocated a place and are entitled to free transport from Dorset Council you will automatically be contacted by their School Passenger Transport before your child starts school. This is usually in June prior to starting. Somerset parents should contact Somerset County Council directly.

Students in Years 7 – 11 Out of Catchment and Students in Years 12 – 13

For pupils not eligible to free transport, parents are responsible for the transport arrangements for the journey to and from school. Please find payable options below;

Dorset Council

‘Surplus Seat’  

It is possible to apply for a surplus seat on a contract bus run by Dorset School Transport, operated by South West Coaches (SWC). Applications can be made direct to SWC on the attached application form.  The cost of a surplus seat is £790 or discounted to £730 if paid in one payment, see terms and conditions attached. Parents should contact SWC on 01935 475872 or visit www.southwestcoaches.co.uk/school-services for more information.

Somerset County Council

‘Paid Seat’

If your child does not qualify for free school transport, SCC can offer spare seats on their contracted transport on a paying basis. The cost of the paid seat currently is £795 (2018/19 prices, 2019/20 prices TBC). SCC will be writing to all current Year 11 students who receive free transport to inform them of the application process for a paid seat. Current Year 12 students will also have to apply for a new seat (dates to be confirmed by SCC). Further information can be obtained from SCC on 0300 123 2224.

Gryphon School Bus Services

We also provide our own contracted bus service to provide transport to out-of-catchment students. There are currently 6 routes run and subsidised by The Gryphon School, covering the areas of Yeovil, Sturminster Newton, Hazelbury Bryan, Kings Stag, Castle Cary, Galhampton, North Cadbury, Queen Camel, Marston Magna, Sparkford, Wincanton, North Cheriton, Templecombe and Henstridge.

Further information on how to apply and our terms and conditions can be found below.

Transport provided by The Gryphon School 2019-20Download

Gryphon transport - Terms and ConditionsDownload

Routes can be found here

All GRY Routes 2019-20Download

The cost of a seat will be £950 for the academic year payable in full or by twelve instalments.

The school’s current contract for these routes will end August 2020, it is likely that we will re-tender these contracts. Please bear in mind we will make every effort to continue the current routes where financially feasible but cannot guarantee anything past the contract end date. This should be considered when deciding on how your child will get to and from school.

Behaviour

A good standard of behaviour is expected on all buses and any student who misbehaves runs the risk of being asked to find alternative transport.

Please note this information is correct as of April 2019. Local and national changes to education policy could result in changes to these arrangements.

Personal arrangements

Other parents make their own arrangements to bring their child to school, for example by car or taxi. Please bear in mind we have limited parking on site and it is recommended that the afternoon pickup is arranged from 4pm onwards to ease congestion. Students have full use of the LRC up to this time. There is limited parking on site for Sixth Form students and car sharing is encouraged where possible.

Bicycles

The school has bike racks for security, although students will need to bring their own lock.