About School Passes
Please find below answers to queries you may have about the various bus cards available to pupils:
What is a Scholar Permit?
On school-specific routes (commercial routes, i.e. open to everyone)
A scholar permit on a commercial route is a bus transport service purple pass provided by the Local Authority for school pupils who live 3 or more miles from their catchment or nearest available school including Welsh Medium and faith schools. A child also qualifies for this scholar travel permit to an alternative school, as long as:
- The school is nearer than the catchment school.
- The qualifying distance is met.
- You believe there is an unsafe walking route to school (you need to contact Newport City Council so they can confirm.).
The scholar permit is issued by Newport Transport on behalf of the Local Authority with the following information printed:
- Academic year
- School name
- Pupil Name
- Bus service
- Unique Reference Number
This means the child MUST use the allocated bus service printed on the permit, and parents must notify the Local Authority of any change of school or address. This bus permit is only available for use Monday to Friday during school terms for one journey to and from their designated school. If a pupil gets on a bus service not valid on their scholar permit, they will be asked to pay for a bus ticket.
Parents can only apply for this pass via the Newport City Council website (see useful links below).
Lost Scholar Permit?
If your child has lost their commercial scholar permit, you must provide Newport Transport customer service with:
- Pupil name
- Address
- Postcode
- School service number
- Contact number
This allows us to verify the pupil's permit and reprint one. A replacement card cost £10 and can be collected at 160 Corporation Road once we inform you it’s ready.
Please contact your local authority directly for any change of address.
Dedicated School Contract
This is a closed contract ‘home to school’ coach or minibus service provided by Newport Transport on behalf of the Local Authority. The different coach and minibus services will lead to different colour permits. They are issued by the Local Authority and contain similar pupil information as above. The same terms and conditions as above apply.
Lost your dedicated school contract permit?
If your child has lost their Dedicated School Contract Permit, you must contact Newport City Council, so they can provide a new one.
Parents can check eligibility and apply for either a school-specific (commercial) or non-commercial Scholar Permit via the following websites:
Newport City Council website: School transport | Newport City Council. Telephone 01633 656656
Monmouthshire County Council website: School Transport - Monmouthshire. Telephone 01633 644644
The responsibility for eligibility requirements lies with the respective Local Authority.
Other school tickets and passes
If your child is not eligible for a scholar permit, you can purchase good value Newport Bus Bamboo tickets, available as daily, weekly, 4-weekly or even annual tickets. The Bamboo tickets are valid on any of Newport Bus services. These are available on our ‘Newport Bus’ app (tickets can be gifted), on a Bamboo smart card, contactless (bank card or mobile pay, or again with exact cash (no change provided) from the bus drivers.
The fares as of February 2024 are:
- Bamboo Single - £1.55
- Bamboo City Day - £3.10
- Bamboo Weekly - £13.25
- Bamboo 4 Weekly - £40.00
- Bamboo Annual Passport - £385
With the exception of the Bamboo Single, which is valid for one bus journey only, these tickets can be used on both commercial school and regular commercial routes. They will enable your child to catch connection buses and utilise them outside of school hours and on weekends.
Our Newport Bus app is a great way for your child to purchase a ticket, and not have to worry about losing it, as it remains on the app until it is null and void.
Our Newport Bus app also offers ‘gifting’ which enables a parent to purchase one of the tickets above with their bank card and gift it to their child in an easy and accessible way. As stated above, this will stay on your child’s phone until it expires.