Bus partnership
Since September 2023 Headington School in partnership with Magdalen College School has operated a home to school bus service HMbus. An extensive network of 12 routes, including a cross-Oxford service for girls from Year 3 upwards. Maps are provided below but for full, up-to-date routes, timetables and fares, and to book, please visit the HMBus website. There is also an FAQ section which should provide all the additional information parents may need about the service.
By working together and investing in this service, Headington Rye and MCS aim to provide an enhanced home to school coach transport network that not only meets the needs of busy working families, but also demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and the environment by reducing the number of car journeys into the city. We hope as many families as possible take advantage of this new service and we look forward to welcoming pupils aboard.
Route map (select for downloadable version)
Detailed map of Oxford City Centre stops (select for downloadable version)
Booking
Bookings for the 2024-2025 academic year will open on Monday 17th June and can be made via the HMBus website here. This is for all pupils who will be in Year 3 or above from September. We recommend booking early to secure your place.
Fares
The fares below are for the whole academic year, which can be paid in full when booking, or in two instalments (when booking and February 2025). The fares are dependent on which zone you are in and are as follows.
| AM & PM | AM Only or PM Only | |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 0 | £750 | £525 |
| Zone 1 | £1045 | £735 |
| Zone 2 | £1,765 | £1,236 |
| Zone 3 | £1,926 | £1,350 |
| Zone 4 | £2,086 | £1,460 |
Purchase of the Zonal pass gives Senior School pupils complete flexibility of being able to use any stop for that service within lower zones. For example, a Zone 4 pass enables travel in Zones 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4. Whilst this will also be possible for Prep pupils in some circumstances, this will be subject to discussion and agreement between the School and parents.
It is also possible to book at no extra cost and subject to demand:
- on to separate routes for the morning and afternoon, eg Route 3 in the morning , Route 2 in the afternoon
- on to two different services where pupils need to travel to different home locations during the week eg Route 4 Monday to Wednesday and Route 6 on Thursday and Friday, to be approved by the school
Sibling Discounts : 15 per cent on the second child’s fare, and a 30 per cent discount on any subsequent child travelling to and/or from Headington Rye Oxford or Magdalen College School.
We subsidise the Bus Partnership as part of our commitment to encouraging sustainable transport to school.
Changes of Service
The School reserves the right to cease a service in the event of the service being significantly undersubscribed or by factors outside our control. Timetables & routes may be adjusted to reflect demand or due to operational difficulties.