Winterbourne Academy

Local Authority-operated buses

The following buses are operated by South Gloucestershire Council / West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and timetables effect from September 2024 can be found below: 

The 427 & 459 bus drop-off and pick-up is at the back of the school in the bus park.

Any students starting at Winterbourne Academy who are eligible for free transport will be contacted directly by South Gloucestershire Council prior to their admission in September (usually by mid-June). If you feel your child may be entitled to free school transport and you haven't been contacted automatically, please speak to South Gloucestershire Council Student Access and Support Department on 01454 868008 or by emailing them at admissionsandtransport@southglos.gov.uk.

Services from September 2024

The 427 and 459 routes are primarily for Winterbourne Academy students who are entitled to school transport under South Gloucestershire Council's school travel assistance policy. However, where there are spare seats, the local authority can offer concessionary passes. Please note, there will be no spaces available to pay for on the day to ensure there are no capacity issues on the services. Concessionary application forms should be submitted to the local authority by 31st August 2024. If there are more applications that seats available, a draw will take place on 2nd September. There will be no cost to students who are entitled to transport. However, due to demand on the routes, students not entitled to school transport will need to pay £209 in advance if allocated a seat for September to Christmas, covering terms 1 and 2; then again before January for terms 3 and 4, and again before Easter for terms 5 and 6. For more information and FAQs on these concessionary passes and how to apply - Help with transport to and from school (concessionary travel scheme) | South Gloucestershire (southglos.gov.uk).

School-operated buses 

The school operates a daily late bus, which is a free service designed for students at Winterbourne Academy who have period 6 lessons or are participating in pre-approved extracurricular activities.

The late bus (Turners) departs from the front entrance to the school at 4.35pm each afternoon.  

The route and timings of the late bus vary dependent on who is using the service and therefore it is important that students inform the driver of their intended destination as they board the bus. The general route consists of:

  • Bristol Road
  • Church Road, Frampton Cotterell
  • Badminton Road, Coalpit Heath
  • Left at the Badminton Road roundabout along the ring road towards Lyde Green, stopping at any metro bus stop on the way
  • Lyde Green
  • Emersons Green (Sainsbury’s only)
  • Turn and continue on Emersons Way and turn left onto Westerleigh Road
  • Turn right onto Westbourne Road, Downend (they will stop at either end on request)
  • Right onto Badminton Road
  • Not turning into Bromley Heath but stopping at the top of Four Acre Road or Oakdale Road
  • Badminton Road shops (The Horseshoe)
  • Along Downend Road towards the Straits Parade at Fishponds
  • Turn right into Manor Road
  • Continue onto Blackberry Hill
  • Continue onto Broom Hill
  • Right onto Frenchay Park Road
  • Along Bromley Heath Road
  • Continue onto Bristol Road
  • Left onto Ring Road
  • Carry along the Ring Road down to the new turning by the Holiday Inn towards Stoke Gifford
  • Across the roundabout towards Bradley Stoke
  • Along Bradley Stoke Way
  • Gloucester Road, Patchway
  • Gypsy Patch Lane

General information

When travelling to and from the Academy, please remember you are a member of the Academy and you are expected to behave both sensibly and safely. The bus companies reserve the right to refuse entry to any students travelling to school on the bus who behave inappropriately.

Parent/carers are responsible for making sure that cycles, scooters and cars used to and from the Academy are legally safe. Students should ride in a manner which is safe and in keeping with the law. Cycles and scooters should be wheeled through the entrances and kept in the designated bicycle racks and should be secure. Under no circumstances should they be allowed in any part of the Academy building. The Academy will investigate damage to/theft of cycles but they are left at the owner’ risk. To avoid possible damage students should avoid loitering near cycles or any other vehicles. Motorised scooters are not permitted transport for any student aged 16 and under.