Marchants Coaches are a leading provider of dedicated school bus services with a team of friendly & committed professional drivers & operations staff, all of whom have been checked & authorised with the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS).

 

Changes To Our Routes

 

We work closely with Winchcombe School to ensure that students from a wide range of areas have the opportunity to attend the school. Following discussions and review of the admissions data for September 2025, we have made several adjustments to our school bus services to reflect current demand.

 

The existing M16 service will be split into two routes, with the introduction of a new M19 service to accommodate additional demand from the Tewkesbury area. Due to a reduction in demand from the Cheltenham area, the M15 and M18 services will be amalgamated into a new M15 service. Please note that all existing bus stops will continue to be served, though some may now fall under a different route. Please click here for details of the changes to bus stops/routes.

 

We acknowledge that the revised M15 service will start earlier than in previous years, resulting in a longer journey for some students. While this is not ideal, we are working to balance service efficiency with student wellbeing. These changes will be reviewed again for 2026 and beyond, and we welcome any concerns or feedback from parents.

 

 

Winchcombe School Transport Subsidy

 

We recognise that rising transport costs can present a barrier for students wishing to attend their chosen school. While some students qualify for free transport, we are aware that many families choose Winchcombe School over their nearest school, meaning they do not meet the criteria for free travel.

 

In response to this, discussions were held with Winchcombe School and an agreement was made in 2023 that the school would subsidise transport costs in order to ease the financial burden on families. This has come at significant cost to the school, particularly during a period of reduced funding and rising inflation across many expenditure areas. The school reviews the subsidy annually, and due to increased demand for our school bus services, they will be reducing the subsidy from 25% to 20% for September 2025. Combined with a standard fare increase, we understand that this may affect families, and we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.

 

Winchcombe School are hopeful that they can reinstate the full subsidy in 2026, but this will depend on future demand and anticipated improvements in government funding, particularly through the upcoming spending review.

 

 

M15 Digital bus passes for September 2025 - July 2026 now on sale!

 

Notes:

• Timetable effective from Tuesday 2^nd September 2025, until further notice

• Operates on Winchcombe School term days only

• Times shown bold are known as 'Timing Points' which we use to regulate the service. These are the bus stops drivers will wait at if the bus arrives ahead of time. The times shown in ( ) for all other bus stops are indicative, drivers will not wait if arriving earlier. For this reason, we strongly recommend passengers arrive at their bus stop 5 minutes ahead of the departure time

• All of our dedicated school bus services are operated as limited stop services. Intermediate bus stops are not served

• Passengers are able to board/alight the bus using their digital bus pass, at any bus stop on their route that falls within the same pricing zone

• We reserve the right to make adjustments to routes and times to ensure timetable punctuality. This may mean passengers will be required to travel at a different time and/or on a different route to a previous time/route, however, their bus stop will remain unchanged

• A valid digital bus pass (QR Code) must be scanned on the commencement of each journey. We do not offer the option of cash fares or single journeys

• School bus passes issued by Gloucestershire County Council (G.C.C) are accepted on this service. G.C.C will notify us directly of pupils with entitlement

• This is a dedicated school bus service and is not available for members of the general public to use

• We aim to operate dedicated school bus services as advertised in our timetable. There may be occasions when journeys take longer than expected and/or may need to be diverted or cancelled due to factors beyond our control. These factors may include, breakdowns, traffic congestion, road traffic accidents, road works including road closures, major events, adverse weather conditions or other unforeseen operating circumstances

• Whenever possible, we will advise of any disruption to our dedicated school bus services via text message to parents/carers, our website and on social media. However, in the event of cancellation, delay, diversion or termination of any of our dedicated school bus services, we shall not be liable for direct or indirect losses, damages, cost or inconvenience that customers or passengers suffer as a result

• Customers are responsible for the passengers onward travel arrangements. We do not guarantee that our dedicated school bus services will connect with any bus, train or other service unless stated on the timetable

 

To purchase your digital bus pass for September, please click here!

 

 

To download & print a copy of the current M15 timetable until Friday 18th July 2025, click here

To download & print a copy of the new M15 timetable from Tuesday 2nd September 2025, click here

For all enquiries, please email hometoschool@marchants-coaches.com

 

 

M16 Digital bus passes for September 2025 - July 2026 on sale now!

 

Notes:

• Timetable effective from Tuesday 2^nd September 2025, until further notice

• Operates on Winchcombe School term days only

• Times shown bold are known as 'Timing Points' which we use to regulate the service. These are the bus stops drivers will wait at if the bus arrives ahead of time. The times shown in ( ) for all other bus stops are indicative, drivers will not wait if arriving earlier. For this reason, we strongly recommend passengers arrive at their bus stop 5 minutes ahead of the departure time

• All of our dedicated school bus services are operated as limited stop services. Intermediate bus stops are not served

• Passengers are able to board/alight the bus using their digital bus pass, at any bus stop on their route that falls within the same pricing zone

• We reserve the right to make adjustments to routes and times to ensure timetable punctuality. This may mean passengers will be required to travel at a different time and/or on a different route to a previous time/route, however, their bus stop will remain unchanged

• A valid digital bus pass (QR Code) must be scanned on the commencement of each journey. We do not offer the option of cash fares or single journeys

• School bus passes issued by Gloucestershire County Council (G.C.C) are accepted on this service. G.C.C will notify us directly of pupils with entitlement

• This is a dedicated school bus service and is not available for members of the general public to use

• We aim to operate dedicated school bus services as advertised in our timetable. There may be occasions when journeys take longer than expected and/or may need to be diverted or cancelled due to factors beyond our control. These factors may include, breakdowns, traffic congestion, road traffic accidents, road works including road closures, major events, adverse weather conditions or other unforeseen operating circumstances

• Whenever possible, we will advise of any disruption to our dedicated school bus services via text message to parents/carers, our website and on social media. However, in the event of cancellation, delay, diversion or termination of any of our dedicated school bus services, we shall not be liable for direct or indirect losses, damages, cost or inconvenience that customers or passengers suffer as a result

• Customers are responsible for the passengers onward travel arrangements. We do not guarantee that our dedicated school bus services will connect with any bus, train or other service unless stated on the timetable

 

To purchase your digital bus pass for September, please click here

 

 

To download & print a copy of the current M16 timetable until Friday 18th July 2025, click here

To download & print a copy of the new M16 timetable from Tuesday 2nd September 2025, click here

For all enquiries, please email hometoschool@marchants-coaches.com

 

 

M19 Digital bus passes for September 2025 - July 2026 on sale now!

 

Notes:

• Timetable effective from Tuesday 2^nd September 2025, until further notice

• Operates on Winchcombe School term days only

• Times shown bold are known as 'Timing Points' which we use to regulate the service. These are the bus stops drivers will wait at if the bus arrives ahead of time. The times shown in ( ) for all other bus stops are indicative, drivers will not wait if arriving earlier. For this reason, we strongly recommend passengers arrive at their bus stop 5 minutes ahead of the departure time

• All of our dedicated school bus services are operated as limited stop services. Intermediate bus stops are not served

• Passengers are able to board/alight the bus using their digital bus pass, at any bus stop on their route that falls within the same pricing zone

• We reserve the right to make adjustments to routes and times to ensure timetable punctuality. This may mean passengers will be required to travel at a different time and/or on a different route to a previous time/route, however, their bus stop will remain unchanged

• A valid digital bus pass (QR Code) must be scanned on the commencement of each journey. We do not offer the option of cash fares or single journeys

• School bus passes issued by Gloucestershire County Council (G.C.C) are accepted on this service. G.C.C will notify us directly of pupils with entitlement

• This is a dedicated school bus service and is not available for members of the general public to use

• We aim to operate dedicated school bus services as advertised in our timetable. There may be occasions when journeys take longer than expected and/or may need to be diverted or cancelled due to factors beyond our control. These factors may include, breakdowns, traffic congestion, road traffic accidents, road works including road closures, major events, adverse weather conditions or other unforeseen operating circumstances

• Whenever possible, we will advise of any disruption to our dedicated school bus services via text message to parents/carers, our website and on social media. However, in the event of cancellation, delay, diversion or termination of any of our dedicated school bus services, we shall not be liable for direct or indirect losses, damages, cost or inconvenience that customers or passengers suffer as a result

• Customers are responsible for the passengers onward travel arrangements. We do not guarantee that our dedicated school bus services will connect with any bus, train or other service unless stated on the timetable

 

To purchase your digital bus pass for September, please click here!

 

 

To download & print a copy of the new M19 timetable from Tuesday 2nd September 2025, click here

For all enquiries, please email hometoschool@marchants-coaches.com

 

 

Useful links & information....

 

• For Terms & Condition of travel, click here

• For service information and weather related travel updates, click here

• For updates on school closures click here to visit the Gloucestershire County Council website

 

 

We're here to help....

 

Please contact a member of our Home to School Team if you require any assistance

 

• Call: 01242 257585

• E-mail: hometoschool@marchants-coaches.com

• Visit: Marchants Travel Shop, 61 Clarence Street, Cheltenham, GL50 3LB.