KINGS SCHOOL, WINCHESTER ROMSEY ROAD, WINCHESTER, HPSHIRE, SO22 5PN Tel: (01962) 861161 Fax: (01962) 849224 www.kingswinchester.hants.sch.uk HEADTEACHER - MR. MATTHEW LEEMING, B.A.(Hons), M.Sc(Eng) Dear Parents 31 st March 2017 Changes to Out of Catchment Bus Routes and Fares effective from 1 September 2017 Schools nationwide are continuing to face increasing financial pressure and must strive to make savings and efficiencies in an effort to protect the core delivery of education. The out of catchment bus service operated by the school has benefitted for many years from a significant subsidy by the school which has allowed pupils to use the service at significantly reduced cost. The number of pupils applying to Kings School from within the catchment area continues to rise. In time, it is envisaged that the vast majority of our pupils will live within catchment, travelling only short distances to the school. The demand for the out of catchment bus service is expected to markedly reduce. The contract with First Bus for the out of catchment routes towards Waltham Chase, Southampton and Romsey has recently been re-examined. Previously five of the First yellow school buses have served these routes but not all have been running at capacity. In order to achieve cost savings whilst still delivering an affordable service to parents the number of routes will be reduced to three from September. These will still service the majority of the areas from which pupils travel but should result in fewer unused seats, enabling the service to continue. The new bus routes and timings for all of our out of catchment services are listed at the end of this letter. It is planned to continue with the out of catchment bus service for at least the next 2 years after the September 2017 intake. It is anticipated that after this time, the numbers wishing to use the service will be insufficient to make the service financially viable. It is therefore planned that the out of catchment service will cease after the school year completes in July 2019. Whilst this will be kept under review parents are advised to plan on there being no out of catchment service to Kings School from September 2019. Bus services from Colden Common are not affected by these changes, as Colden Common lies within the catchment area and these buses are provided by the Local Authority. The cost of the buses continues to increase. The school will continue to subsidise the out of catchment service by a significant amount but some of these increased costs will need to be passed to parents. From 1 September the annual cost of the catchment bus will increase to 960 per academic year, effectively consisting of 10 months September to June. This makes the termly cost 320 per term or the monthly cost 96 per month. The full charge applies to all Year groups - a discount for those in Year 11 will not be applied. Payment for use of the out of catchment buses must be made in advance and can be paid as one annual sum, 3 termly instalments or 10 monthly payments. Pupils who have not paid for their forthcoming travel will be denied use of the bus.
If capacity allows, single trip tickets may be purchased from reception at 3 per trip. The Late Buses will continue to run as before with both buses departing at 5pm for routes via Otterbourne and Colden Common. Details of the Late Bus routes are at the end of this letter. These buses are also operated by First Bus but use of the Late Bus will incur a payment of 2 for each trip, paid directly to the bus driver, from September 2017. It is very much hoped that the reduction in the number of bus routes from September will have very little impact on the service pupils receive. The bus application letters will be sent to parents shortly and allocation of places will be on a first come basis. Any pupils who have not fully paid their bus charges from the previous academic year will not be considered for places. Yours faithfully Ian Pickles School Business Manager
Bus Routes from 5 Sep 2017 Romsey To Kings School - Route: Kings ONE Romsey Bus Station 7.07 16.43 Fishlake Meadows 7.14 16.36 Sandy Lane 7.16 16.34 Briashfield Road/A31 7.19 16.31 Potters Heron 7.26 16.24 Ashdown Arms 7.31 16.19 Knightwood Rd/Shannon Way 7.41 16.09 Asda Roundabout 7.45 16.05 Chandlers Ford Precinct 7.50 16.00 Fryern Arcade 7.55 15.55 Kings School 8.20 15.30 Waltham Chase to Kings School - Route: Kings TWO Winchester Rd/Church Road 07:03 16:47 Waltham Chase (Forest Road) 07:08 16:42 Swanmore Shops 07:11 16:39 Hoe Road 07:16 16:34 Shore Lane 07:18 16:32 Bishops Waltham Square 07:21 16:29 Albany Road 07:23 16:27 Durley (Robin Hood) 07:27 16:23 Brigidier Gerard 07:33 16:17 Fair Oak Square 07:37 16:13 Sandy Lane 07:39 16:10 Welcome Inn 07:42 16:08 Underwood Road 07:47 16:03 Stoke Park Road 07:49 16:01 Eastleigh Bus Station 07:55 15:55 Twyford Road 07:57 15:53 Kings School 08:20 15:30
Swaythling to Kings School - Route: Kings THREE Cat & Mouse 07:05 16.35 Cerne Close 07.07 16.32 Chartwell Green 07.10 16.30 Swaythling Opposite McDonalds 07.20 16.25 Portswood Junction ( Mitre Pub) 07.25 16.22 Highfield Church 07.28 16.20 Holly Hill 07.32 16.10 Chilworth Roundabout 07.40 16.05 Asda Roundabout 07:43 16.00 Chestnut Avenue 07:46 16:04 Eastleigh Train Station 07.55 15.50 Allbrook 08.00 15.45 Otterbourne 08:10 15.40 Kings School 08:25 15.30 Andover To Kings School Via Stockbridge - Route: Kings North 1 (KN1) Provider - Wheelers Andover Bus station 7.25 16.24 Hexagon 7.29 16.21 Abbots Ann 7.32 16.18 Upper Clatford 7.34 16.16 Royal Oak 7.37 16.13 Wherwell 7.42 16.08 Chilbolton 7.45 16.05 Cottonworth 7.49 16.01 Leckford Shop 7.53 15.57 Stockbridge 8.02 15.48 Kings Somborne 8.06 15.44 Up Somborne 8.12 15.38 Rack & Manger 8.14 15.36 Sparsholt 8.17 15.33 Weeke 8.20 15.30 Kings School 8.25 15.25 Sutton Scotney to Kings School - Route: Kings North 2 ( KN2) Provider - Wheelers
Sutton Scotney 7.50 16.00 South Wonston (Wrights Close) 7.54 15.56 Littleton 8.02 15.48 Kings School 8.25 15.25 Kings School - Late Bus Routes Fare of 2 per trip payable to the driver Late Bus 7 Late Bus 5 DEPART KINGS SCHOOL HURSLEY COMPTON OTTERBOURNE HILTINGBURY (ASHDOWN ARMS) ALLBROOK EASTLEIGH (BUS STN) STOKE PARK RD WELCOME INN (OLD FAIROAK RD) SANDY LANE FAIR OAK SQUARE HORTON HEATH BRIGADIER GERRARD MOORGREEN HOSPITAL WEST END CENTRE CHARTWELL GREEN SHOPS CAT & MOUSE BITTERNE PARK TRIANGLE PORTSWOOD JUNCTION RETURN TO GARAGE 5.00 5.07 5.19 5.22 5.29 5.35 5.38 5.43 5.49 5.53 6.00 6.08 6.10 6.13 6.17 6.20 6.23 6.28 6.30 DEPART KINGS SCHOOL BADGER FARM ROUNDABOUT TWYFORD COLDEN COMMON,SPRING LANE MARWELL UPH DURLEY (WINTERS HILL) BISHOPS WALTH SQUARE SWANMORE WALTH CHASE X ROADS BOTLEY SQUARE MAYPOLE ROUNDABOUT DRUMMOND CENTRE MAUNSELL WAY (MARTLEY GARDENS) MANSBRIDGE SWAYTHLING CHILWORTH RBT HOLLY HILL HIGHFIELD CHURCH RETURN TO GARAGE 5.00 5.03 5.10 5.14 5.20 5.23 5.30 5.33 5.38 5.41 5.51 5.55 5.58 6.00 6.15 6.25 6.30 6.35 6.40 6.45