Please read, information about changes to Hedingham/Chambers and Beestons Buses from January 2024
https://tgschool.net/news/school-bus-changes-from-2nd-january-2024
Transport to Thomas Gainsborough School from September 2023
Link for Chambers Boomerang timetable - https://images-hedinghamandchambers.passenger-website.com/downloads/Chambers%20Boomerang%20-%204th%20September%2020222.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2Y4V53eZ7jUavxjsnDhVeLwpqPJLRKIDD42FAeUv6bdH0pbIjJUkcIBzU
If you are entitled to transport provided by Suffolk County Council
With the changes in the Suffolk County Council Policy for transport to schools taking effect from September 2019 we have put together a summary to ensure everyone is aware of how it will affect school travel.
Pupils who joined TGS before September 2019
Pupils who live less than 3 miles from TGS are not entitled to paid for transport to school.
Pupils who live more than 3 miles from TGS and are in the ‘transport priority area’ for the school must opt in via the county website www.suffolkonboard.com. The deadline for ‘opting in’ was 31st May 2023.
Pupils who live outside the schools’ transport priority area have to make their own arrangements for transport to school but options do exist using public transport. Please check the information below for the options from your location.
Pupils joining TGS from September 2019
Pupils who live less than 3 miles from TGS are not entitled to paid for transport to school.
Pupils who live more than 3 miles from TGS and are going to their nearest school according to the Suffolk County Council measure (available at http://nearestschool.suffolk.gov.uk) must opt in via the county website www.suffolkonboard.com. The deadline for ‘opting in’ was 31st May 2023.
Pupils who are travelling to a school that is not their nearest have to make their own arrangements for transport to school. Options do exist using public transport. Please check the information below for the options from your location.
Post 16 Pupils (current and new)
Pupils who are in post 16 education are not entitled to funded transport to school and must make their own arrangements. Options do exist using public transport. Please check the information below for the options for your location.
Transport to TGS that is NOT provided by Suffolk County Council
Legally it is the parents’ responsibility to get students to school on time. To help parents we have put together a number of options.
A summary is as follows:
Travel to and from Acton and Great Waldingfield and Lavenham:
Chambers are running the 716 service through Lavenham and Great Waldingfield. Passes, times and fares are available from the Chambers website.
Travel to and from Sudbury (Chilton Roundabout stop only):
Chambers are running the 757. Passes, times and fares are available from the Chambers website.
Travel to and from Sudbury (Melford Road and the town centre):
The Chambers service 784, which is a public bus. Pupils can purchase passes direct from Chambers. Students will also be able to pay daily at standard rates for this service. N.B this service becomes the 753 when it reaches Sudbury Bus Station.
Travel to and from Sudbury (near Tesco), Long Melford, Glemsford, Cavendish and Clare:
Chambers are running the 757 public service which will run from Clare to TGS via Cavendish, Glemsford, Long Melford, and Tesco. The prices for this service will vary depending on distance from the school. Passes are available directly from Chambers.
Travel to and from Colchester, Great Horkesley and parts of Nayland:
Pupils will be able to catch the 713 (Beestons) or the 84 (Chambers), please check the routes for your location. Beestons or Chambers will issue a pass for this service. Students will also be able to pay daily at standard rates for this service.
Travel to and from Colchester, Wormingford and parts of Bures (Essex side of the river):
Pupils will be able to catch the Chambers service 754, which is a public bus but many of our students catch it from Bures. Passes are available from Chambers. Students will also be able to pay daily at standard rates for this service.
Travel to and from Hadleigh and parts of Boxford (and surrounding villages):
Beestons run the 90 service to suit the times of the school. This is a public service and passes are available directly from Beestons. You can also pay on a daily basis if you prefer.
Travel to and from Halstead and surrounding villages
Arrow’s run the F315 flexible service between Halstead and Sudbury. You will need to contact them via this link.
https://www.essexbus.info/pdf/ARWT_F315.pdf
Safety and Behaviour
We expect the highest standards of behaviour whilst travelling to and from school. The bus companies and Suffolk County Council reserve the right to withdraw bus passes for students who are unable to behave in an acceptable way. In addition, we expect students to leave the bus as they find it (e.g. no litter).
Late Bus Provision
Extracurricular activities on offer after school will sometimes require students to catch a later bus. The school has provision for 3 late buses. These services are public ones and will depart the bus park at a variety of times after 4.30pm each day. There is no charge for the use of these services if you hold an appropriate Suffolk, Chambers, or Beestons pass. Other students are able to pay as they go on these routes.
Links to all timetables are provided below.
Please note that sports fixtures and other events may finish even later than this and parents will need to make their own arrangements in these cases.
Further details are available from:
Suffolk County Council - www.suffolkonboard.com
Suffolk CC Nearest School Checker - http://nearestschool.suffolk.gov.uk/
Chambers Bus Company - www.chambersbus.co.uk (Chambers buses have an app available on both the Apple Store & Google Play store - https://www.hedinghamandchambers.co.uk/app)
Beestons Bus Company – http://www.beestons.co.uk
Essex CC - https://www.essexbus.info
|
Bus No. |
Serving |
Provider |
Passes from? |
|
711 |
Milden, Edwardstone, Groton, Boxford, Newton See Suffolk CC website – www.suffolkonboard.com/school-travel |
Beestons via SCC |
SCC |
|
713 |
Great Horkesley, Honey Tye, Leavenheath, Newton See Suffolk CC website – www.suffolkonboard.com/school-travel or http://www.beestons.co.uk |
Beestons (SCC and Public) |
SCC or Beestons |
|
716 |
Chelsworth, Monks Eleigh, Brent Eleigh, Bridge Farm, Lavenham, - See Chambers website - www.chambersbus.co.uk |
Chambers (SCC and Public ) |
Chambers |
|
84 |
Nayland, Stoke by Nayland, Assington, Newton See Suffolk CC website – www.suffolkonboard.com/school-travel or Chambers website - www.chambersbus.co.uk |
Chambers (SCC and Public) |
SCC or Chambers |
|
753 |
Sudbury, Long Melford, Acton, Great Waldingfield, Lavenham (Evenings only) See Chambers website - www.chambersbus.co.uk |
Chambers (Public) |
Chambers |
|
754 |
Bures, West Begholt, Colchester See Chambers website - www.chambersbus.co.uk |
Chambers (SCC and Public) |
Chambers or via SCC |
|
757 |
Tesco, Long Melford, Glemsford, Cavendish and Clare (Evenings only) See Chambers website - www.chambersbus.co.uk |
Chambers (Public) |
Chambers |
|
236 |
Acton, Great Waldingfield, Chilton Roundabout (Mornings only) See Chambers website - www.chambersbus.co.uk |
Chambers (Public) |
Chambers |
|
90 |
Boxford and Hadleigh via villages See Beestons website - http://www.beestons.co.uk |
Beestons (SCC and public |
Beestons or via SCC |
|
Late buses |
|||
|
‘Late’ 754 |
at 1634 – to Little Cornard, Bures, Wormingford, West Bergholt and Colchester See Chambers website - www.chambersbus.co.uk |
Chambers (Public) |
All passes valid or PAYG |
|
‘Late’ 756 |
at 1651 – to Sudbury, Glemsford, Cavendish and Clare and Change at Sudbury Bus Station for the 753 at 17:17 - to Acton, Great Waldingfield, Lavenham, Cockfield and Bury St Edmunds. See Chambers website - www.chambersbus.co.uk |
Chambers (Public) |
All passes valid or PAYG |
|
‘Late’ 754 |
at 1621 – to Sudbury, Long Melford, Acton, Great Waldingfield (N.B. This becomes the 753 at Sudbury Bus Station) See Chambers website - www.chambersbus.co.uk |
Chambers (Public) |
All passes valid or PAYG |
|
All buses depart from the TGS Bus Park - including late buses. N.B. Times are correct as of 14th September 2023. |