Spare seat scheme

Service update - application window closed

The application window for the 2024 to 2025 academic year, which opened at 9am on Monday 28 October 2024, is now closed. 

We cannot accept any applications sent after the window has closed.

No more applications can be made at this time for the 2024 to 2025 academic year.

If you would like your child to travel on a contracted school bus, spare seats may be available for you to buy. Your child must not be eligible for local authority funded transport help.

When to Apply for a School Bus Seat

You can apply online for a spare seat during the first application window for the 2025/2026 academic year.

This will be open for two weeks starting 9am on Monday 30 June 2025 and closing at 4pm on Friday 11 July 2025.

You can apply for a seat on any school bus service that has space. But please be aware there are only a limited number of seats, so not everyone will get one. Seats will only be available on particular services.

A list of the bus services will be available before the application window opens. 

• School bus routes (iow.gov.uk)to see bus service information

Please note: Applying for a spare seat  does not guarantee a seat.

Information for Post-16 Students (Sixth Form)

When the first application window opens, post-16 students will not be able to apply for a school bus seat.

There might be an opportunity to apply later in the year, but only after the academic year has started. We are unable to confirm the date at this stage.

If you are in sixth form, you will need to make your own travel plans/ arrangements for at least the first half term.

Seat allocation process

After the application window closes, the Transport Team will start start the allocation process. Seats are allocated on a randomised basis, using a random number generator (RNG) in the following way:

Here’s how it works:

• All submitted applications are given a reference number (RNG). 
• All 50 applications will have a reference number, and all 50 reference numbers will be placed into the RNG at the same time. 
  
• A RNG is used to allocate children to bus services. This means a computer picks numbers at random to decide who gets a seat.
• If there are more applications than there are seats, children will be added to a waiting list.

Let’s say there are 46 seats on Bus 201, but 50 children apply.

• All 50 applications will have a reference number, and all 50 reference numbers will be placed into the RNG at the same time. 
• The computer mixes up the numbers and puts them in a random order, from one to 50.
• The order will be recorded against the application.
  
• The first 46 children in that order will be offered a seat.
• The other 4 children will go on the waiting list, in the same order the computer picked.

This is just an example — and does not represent the actual number of seats or service available.

Seat allocation outcome

We will aim to contact you by 25 July 2025 using the email address you gave us on the application form.

• If your child has been selected as having a seat, you will be sent details of how you can pay.
• If your child has not been successful in securing a seat, they will be placed on a waiting list for the bus service(s) applied for.

You will get an email to let you know they are on the waiting list(s). We will contact you again if a seat becomes available.

Ticket costs and payment

Important Information About Ticket Prices

Please note that the cost of spare seats will increase from the start of the 2025 academic year.

This change was agreed by the Council after a meeting on 9 May 2024, following last year’s School Transport Policy Consultation.

If you’d like to read more about that meeting, you can visit this webpage: Cabinet Meeting – 9 May 2024 (moderngov.co.uk)

The cost of a ticket from September 2025 is:

These can be paid in half term payments, full term payments or a one-off payment for the whole year. You will need to make payment by the deadline which is two weeks from the date of the offer email.

Failure to pay by the deadline will result in your spare seat offer being removed. Your seat will then be offered to a child that may be on the waiting list. You would then need to reapply during a new application window should you want to take up a seat again.

If you have difficulty in making payment by the deadline ‘Contact School Transport’. 

Remember that if you have not made payment your child will not be permitted to travel. This will be strictly enforced.

Spare seat services you can apply for

Should the service you require not be listed, you cannot apply for that service at this time.