School Buses in the UK

I was told by my husband that students don't use school buses like they do here in the States, is that true? (I shouldn't doubt what he says right? but after being out of school for 15 years, maybe things changed).

We are moving to Manchester next month and I am concerned about my son getting to school everyday. Do they take public transportation?

Can someone please help me understand how the school transportation system works?

Thanks!

I'm sure it's different in every village/town/city/etc.  In the villages around here, there are a few schools every few miles so the most you'd have to walk is 2 miles.  Supposedly if the walk is more than 2 miles, they provide some kind of transportation for a parent and the child (I think it is a free pass to ride the local bus).

The high schoolers get a free pass to ride into town because there aren't as many high schools (one every 10-20 miles or so).  They ride the regular buses.

One of the private high schools has an actual yellow school bus that picks up/drops off kids from one spot in the center of the village.

I live next to a Primary School and there are no buses for the school. Most of the parents seem to drive the kids to school which creates a headache for us when we need to leave or happen to arrive at the wrong time during the school run. We've often found parents parking in our buildings car park & in our space! So from what I can tell is that most parents bring the kids or they walk to school.

They mainly take public buses where I live.  Some private schools have buses.

Whenever I take the train to work, I see schoolchildren of all ages on it, mostly without parents. 

in Leeds, they have some school buses.  My dad (who is politically active in Leeds) really wants them to buy a fleet of yellow buses from the US.  Not gonna happen under the current  economic climate, sadly

It depends on the school. I have occasionally seen buses for a few of the schools around Manchester, but they may have been for a specific purpose (like some sort of sporting event or something). I *know* that a LOT of them take public transport when they are a bit older, and the young ones seem to be walked to/from school with their parents.
Where in Manchester are you moving?

Our kids walk about 1 mile to school.  There is a free school bus, but it's more for people who live further away.

Each school should have a School Travel Plan, which sets out how its students get to school.  There is a big emphasis here on having kids walk or cycle to school, if possible.

Check with the school that your son will be attending.  It should have a website.

Thanks for all the replies. It looks like my son will have to take public transport unless his school provides a bus if we aren't close enough. We have a couple of secondary schools in mind but they told us we must wait until we arrive to town and then go through the process. We won't have a car for a few more months and I don't mind public transportation, the only thing that worries me is crossing the streets but I am sure he will learn quickly.

How old is he?  Is it possible for you to walk to school with him?  I'm sure most schools have lollipop ladies who cross all the kids over but we have to cross the street before that to get to school.  There are some kids that are younger who walk to school on their own...and we'll always help them cross the street with us if they're there at the same time.  It can be tricky at first since you have to get used to looking the opposite direction for oncoming traffic (we have a lot of one-way streets here).

I am in a suburb in South Manchester and there are no school busses, most primary school kids walk with their parents to school because of limited parking around the buildings, and older kids take public transport, but there are no yellow school busses. My next door neighbours daughter goes to a high school about 13 miles away and she takes a proper coach there, but nope. You won't see many yello school busses!

How old is he?  Is it possible for you to walk to school with him?  I'm sure most schools have lollipop ladies who cross all the kids over but we have to cross the street before that to get to school. 

He is 14, so not a little child anymore but has never taken public transport so it will be a new thing for him. At the beginning, I am going to either walk with him (if he is not embarrassed of walking with mom) or take the bus with him until he feels comfortable on his own. Am I being over protective? I know over there is the everyday thing, so I guess it will be another thing to adjust. So sad there aren't yellow buses.

here's an idea:

will there be any time between when you get there and when he starts school?

If so, take a day, and just ride the buses.  Most places will issue you with a "dayrider" or similar ticket that lets you ride any bus for one fee for the whole day, so you can hop on and hop off buses wherever you like.  Just ride around and get used to them, so when it comes time to take the bus to school he'll be used to it.

Am I being over protective?

Maybe just a little.   

I can't imagine he would need more than one bus ride with you, before he is comfortable on his own.  It is just a bus.

Honestly, I thought you were going to say he was 7 or 8.

Have you talked to him about it? Maybe he can do some research and help you plan, that might make it more "his" thing. And then, when you get here, he can show you how to get there (or to the closest shops or whatever). A combination of google maps street view and the Manchester transportation website could really give both of you a feel for the area you are moving to! (as an aside I rode public transport back and forth all through middle school in the US. It wasn't a big deal, especially as there were a number of other kids with me.)