Transport to Thomas Gainsborough School from September 2026.
Updated 03/09/26
If you are entitled to transport provided by Suffolk County Council
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 20266.
Pupils who live less than 3 miles from TGS or who are not attending their nearest secondary school are not entitled to funded transport to school .
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 provided by Suffolk County Council
Once you have checked your eligibility for funded transport and ‘opted in’ via the Suffolkonboard website, Suffolk County Council will send you a bus pass and timetable for the most appropriate bus route. This usually happens during August.
Your pass only entitles your child to travel on that route and is not transferable to other bus routes. This is to ensure safe numbers on each route and avoids overloading.
All details are available on the Suffolk School Transport webites here: www.suffolkonboard.com
Transport to TGS that is NOT provided by Suffolk County Council
Legally it is the parents’ responsibility to get students to school on time. If you are not eligible for funded transport from Suffolk County Council there are a number of options. These are run by Central Connect and Besstons Buses. Most of these routes are also avaiable via the SuffolkonBoard website above. However, Timetables are also avaible via the websites below. Please take some time to ensure that you know the times and routes of the bus your child will be using.
Central Connect - Connecting Communities One journey at a time
Safety and Behaviour
We expect the highest standards of behaviour whilst travelling to and from school and the schools behaviour policy applies in the same way as it does at 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 or damage).
Late Bus Provision
Extracurricular activities on offer after school will sometimes require students to catch a later bus. The school has provision for some late buses. These services are public ones and will depart the bus park at a variety of times after 4.20pm each day. There is no charge for the use of these services if you hold an appropriate Suffolk, Konect, 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/
Konect Buses (formerly Chambers Bus Company) - KonectBuses - Explore Essex and Suffolk by bus with us - Konect buses have an app available on both the Apple Store & Google Play store
Beestons Bus Company – http://www.beestons.co.uk
Essex CC - https://www.essex.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/school-transport
All buses depart from the TGS Bus Park - including late buses.
Pupils with SCC passes will be able to use any late bus from either Beestons or Konect at no extra cost. Konect will accept Beestons passes and vice versa.
Pupils catching ‘Late’ buses may wait in the Library but must be in the bus park at least 10 minutes before their bus is due.
N.B. Information correct as of 3rd September 2026