Gateshead Council currently provides free home to school transport for:

• children aged up to 8 who live further than 2 miles away from their appropriate neighbourhood primary school
• children aged 8 years and over who live further than 3 miles away from their appropriate neighbourhood secondary school
• children from a ‘low income’ family if they are aged 8 and over but under 11 and live more than 2 miles from their nearest suitable school
• children aged 11-16 from a ‘low income’ family attending a qualifying school that is between 2 and 6 miles away from where they live (there must not be three or more nearer qualifying suitable schools)
• children aged 11-16 years from a ‘low income family’ and attending their nearest school preferred on the grounds of religion or belief that is between 2 and 15 miles from their home.

Applications for school transport can be submitted to the child’s school anytime but if a new pass is required for the beginning of September applications must be submitted by mid June annually to the Council’s Benefits Section. Further information about eligibility and the application process can be found by contacting the Council’s Benefits section via the number/email address below.