Over the last few months we have listened carefully to feedback from learners, parents and carers about the cost and effectiveness of student travel. In addition to working with First Bus to increase certain route frequencies, as well change journey routes to better accommodate our learners, we have reviewed the way the College subsidises student travel for the 2026/27 academic year.
What is changing?
We want to be open and transparent about how our student travel support works and why changes have been made this year.
From September 2026, the College subsidy for student bus passes will be based on the distance a learner travels to College.
This means that learners travelling further will receive a higher level of College subsidy, with any learner whose travel is greater than 1.5 miles receiving subsidised transport, and the greatest level of support being provided to those travelling more than 15 miles.
We recognise that this change will mean some learners and families paying more than they did in 2025/26. We understand that this may be disappointing, particularly at a time when families are carefully managing household budgets.
Our analysis indicates that around 95% of learners who access a College-supported bus pass will get their college bus pass for free or pay less under the new model. Whilst we see this is as a positive step in our work around equity and equal opportunities, as part of our new Inclusion Strategy, we do acknowledge that this change will impact a very small number of learners and families in needing to pay slightly more than they did in 2025/26, when calculated over the course of the academic year.
Whilst this will be disappointing for those within this small group, we have ensured that even those who would pay the full price, still pay significantly less than the equivalent at other local colleges.
We are working on further strategies on how we can improve not just cost, but access and effectiveness of our transport offer with our partners. We are hopeful to be able to provide some exciting updates in the coming months.
How much will I pay?
The full cost of the First Bus pass varies by term because each pass covers a different number of travel days.
Autumn Term
| Band | Distance from Weston | First Bus Charge | College Subsidy | Charge to Learner |
|---|
| Band A | 0-1.5 miles | £295 | 0% | £295 |
| Band B | 1.51-5 miles | £295 | 25% | £221.25 |
| Band C | 5.1-15 miles | £295 | 50% | £147.50 |
| Band D | Over 15.1 miles | £295 | 75% | £73.75 |
| Bursary | Bursary | £295 | 100% | £0 |
Spring Term
| Band | Distance from Weston | First Bus Charge | College Subsidy | Charge to Learner |
|---|
| Band A | 0-1.5 miles | £245 | 0% | £245 |
| Band B | 1.51 - 5 miles | £245 | 25% | £183.75 |
| Band C | 5.1 - 15 miles | £245 | 50% | £122.50 |
| Band D | Over 15.1 miles | £245 | 75% | £61.25 |
| Bursary | Bursary | £245 | 100% | £0 |
Summer Term
| Band | Distance from Weston | First Bus Charge | College Subsidy | Charge to Learner |
|---|
| Band A | 0-1.5 miles | £205 | 0% | £205 |
| Band B | 1.51 - 5 miles | £205 | 25% | £153.75 |
| Band C | 5.1 - 15 miles | £205 | 50% | £102.50 |
| Band D | Over 15.1 miles | £205 | 75% | £51.25 |
| Bursary | Bursary | £205 | 100% | £0 |
The Autumn Term pass costs more because it covers more travel days. The cost reduces in the Spring and Summer Terms to reflect the number of days included in each pass.
Why has the College changed the subsidy?
The cost of the bus pass is set by First Bus, rather than Weston College.
The College provides a significant subsidy towards the cost of student passes for eligible learners. We have reviewed how this financial support is distributed to make sure that a greater proportion of the available support is directed towards learners who face the highest travel costs.
Feedback gathered through learner voice activities highlighted concerns about the affordability of longer-distance travel. This feedback helped inform our decision to introduce a distance-based subsidy model.
Under the new model:
- Learners living more than 1.5 miles from the College receive a minimum subsidy of 25%.
- Learners travelling further receive a higher level of subsidy under the tiered model.
- Learners travelling more than 15 miles receive a 75% subsidy.
- Learners eligible for the College bursary will receive fully funded travel.
We believe this approach provides greater support to learners who face the highest travel costs.
What if my family is struggling to afford the bus pass?
We are committed to ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent learners from accessing education.
Families with a household income of £45,688 or below may be eligible for support through the College bursary scheme, subject to the bursary eligibility criteria.
Eligible learners can receive fully funded travel, meaning there is no cost for their bus pass.
If you think your family may be eligible, we strongly encourage you to apply for bursary support by clicking this link.
Greater flexibility for learners
First Bus has decided to no longer offer the five-day pass. As a result, all Weston College student passes are now valid seven days a week, giving learners greater use of their pass outside their normal College timetable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the subsidy changed?
The College has reviewed its travel support to prioritise learners who face the highest travel costs. Feedback from learners highlighted concerns about the affordability of longer journeys, which helped inform the new distance-based model.
How do I know which subsidy applies to my child?
The subsidy is based on the distance between your home postcode and the College. Applicants complete a form via the College website, which is then verified by the College Finance Team.
Can I apply for financial help if I cannot afford the bus pass?
Yes. Families meeting the bursary eligibility criteria should apply for support through the College bursary scheme.
Why is the Autumn pass more expensive?
The Autumn pass covers more travel days than the Spring and Summer passes, so it has a higher cost. The 2026/27 Autumn Term consists of teaching days spread over 15 teaching weeks, compared with the Summer Term, which is spread over 10 teaching weeks.
Can my child use the pass at weekends?
Yes. All Weston College student passes are valid seven days a week across the West of England, not just for travel to and from College.
Are bus passes more expensive this year?
Under the previous arrangements, the College subsidy was not based on travel distance in the same way. Under the new model, higher levels of subsidy are directed towards learners travelling further to College.
Based on last year's prices and with only a seven-day pass now available, the cost of three term passes would have been £525 (3 × £175) for the academic year. College bus passes now for each band are shown below.
| | 2025/26 Price | 2026/27 Price |
|---|
| Band A | £525 | £745 |
| Band B | £525 | £558.75 |
| Band C | £525 | £372.50 |
| Band D | £525 | £186.25 |
| Bursary | £0 | £0 |
You will see that learners in Bands C and D receive considerably more affordable transport to and from College. Band B learners have experienced a slight rise in the cost of the pass for the academic year.
Whilst Band A represents a notable increase, learners within a 1.5-mile radius informed us that their main mode of transport is walking. This also supports our commitment to encouraging greener modes of transport where possible.
How is the Band for my postcode determined?
The College uses a straight-line radius model, for a singular journey, based on a central point between the College’s three main campuses. This creates a tiered system, with learners living further from the College receiving a greater discount on the cost of a termly bus pass. This means that all learners whose postcode has a straight line radius of more than 1.5 miles, will receive a minimum of 25% discount.
The tier a learner falls into is determined using the area, district and sector elements of their postcode. For example, BS23 1 falls within Band A, BS22 8 falls within Band B, and TA8 9 falls within Band C.
Importantly, the model is based on straight-line distance and does not take into account the mileage of a journey by road. This means the distance is measured directly from the central point, rather than based on the route a learner would travel by car or bus.
Have you got any future plans to make transport even more affordable?
Yes. We are currently working on this and hope to communicate further improvements in the near future. As we did last year, we will continue to engage learners as a key stakeholder as we review our transport arrangements and work with transport partners.
You can purchase your bus pass, by clicking here.
