School transport arrangements for the 2025/26 academic year
We’ve been working with Brighton & Hove Buses to ensure bus routes in the city reflect pupil travel patterns for the new academic year following recent changes to secondary school admissions arrangements.
These changes include the launch of the 94B, a new school bus service linking Whitehawk, Manor Hill and Elm Grove with Varndean and Dorothy Stringer Schools.
Wider improvements are also being delivered as part of our Bus Service Improvement Plan, including the introduction of the new 3X service which will launch on 28 September serving the city between Hangleton and Falmer, connecting King's School, Hove Park School, Cardinal Newman School, BHASVIC and BACA.
More changes to bus routes will come in September with specific links to BACA as well as cross-city routes.
School transport
We’ll be continuing discussions with our transport partners on any further changes for school travel for September 2026. These will be informed by allocations to school places to make sure pupils have the travel options to attend the school places offered.
We have begun an internal review to explore potential changes to our School Transport Policy. This will focus on whether any school transport arrangements need to change around the new admission arrangements for secondary schools in 2026/27.
We will be considering options around bus pass eligibility and working with transport providers to ensure capacity and coverage is reviewed and amended as required.
Supporting sustainable transport for our city’s schools
Councillor Emma Daniel, Cabinet member for Children, Families and Youth Services, said: “I’m delighted that the new 94B and 3X services will offer pupils across Brighton & Hove more efficient and equitable travel to secondary school.
“Over the course of the coming academic year, we will also be reviewing any potential changes for September 2026 so that public transport options in the city reflect pupil travel patterns in line with places offered.”
Councillor Trevor Muten, Cabinet member for Transport and City Infrastructure, said: “Improving our bus services is a priority. The introduction of new bus routes and enhanced services are to encourage more residents to take the bus.
“Reducing car journeys during the school run by taking a bus offers a range of benefits – reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality and safety at the school gate. Better connections for pupils and schools makes a big difference to young people.”
Nick Hill, Commercial Director at Brighton & Hove Buses, said: “We have been listening to feedback from the Youth Council and from schools which has helped us shape these improvements for transport for young people in the city.”
Admissions arrangements for 2026/27
The Schools Adjudicator is considering a number of appeals to the 2026/27 secondary school admission arrangements. However, this review is unlikely to be completed before the beginning of September.
As such, secondary school admissions for the 2026/227 school year will open in the first week of September and will be based on the published admissions arrangements that were agreed in February.
More information about school admissions, and how parents can make an application, can be found on our apply for a school place page (from the first week of September).