Transport
Getting to Winstanley College couldn’t be easier, and to help you understand the process we have produced our transport page to provide you with all the information you need to arrive via coach, bus, train, car, and bicycle
Private coach seats have now been allocated following the reservation process. Some services are full, but limited spaces remain across the network. To enquire about availability, please email Transport@Winstanley.ac.uk.
If you are joining Winstanley after the start of term, or a returning student who did not secure a seat before summer, we will check your route and, if a place is available, we’ll invite you to complete a late reservation form.
This is our new Transport Guide effective from September 2025.
If you do not see a service that runs near to where you live, there may be a Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) service that does cover your area.
Please use this link to find out more about the TfGM services
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM/Bee Network Schools Services)
Transport for Greater Manchester bus routes
Please note: Sometimes there can be changes to the routes and departure times especially on the TfGM routes, please check our transport guide and the TfGM website regularly and certainly before your first day of term.
If you think you are eligible for a Greater Manchester Our Pass and haven’t already applied, you should do so now.
Get Our Pass - Our Pass - this is for students who live within the Greater Manchester Area.
Coach Pass
The cost of a coach pass for the 2025–2026 academic year is £599. You can pay in full through ParentPay or in instalments: £100 via ParentPay, followed by Direct Debit payments from your bank.
If you buy a pass partway through the year, the price may be adjusted, and we’ll confirm this with you. Ordinarily Direct Debits will start at the end of September for Upper Sixth and Art Foundation students, and at the end of October for Lower Sixth. Our finance team will guide you through the process.
The overall cost of the pass is reviewed each year and we do not currently know what the pass price will be for the next academic year - September 2026 – 2027.
If you have any other questions about transport to college, please contact us via the form below.
Travelling by Public Bus to Winstanley College
Greater Manchester Residents
If you’re a resident of Greater Manchester, you’ve probably heard about the ‘Our Pass’ which is an initiative launched by Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, and The Youth Combined Authority (YCA). It provides FREE travel for 16-18 year olds across Greater Manchester, as well as access to other opportunities such as tickets for sports and leisure attractions and careers and taster days.
This means that residents of Greater Manchester can travel to Winstanley College for free when using a Greater Manchester bus service.
Transport for Greater Manchester
Transport for residents just outside of Greater Manchester who wish to travel on Transport for Greater Manchester (TFGM) buses
This mainly applies to residents from areas of Garswood, parts of Billinge and Appley Bridge which lie just outside of the GM area (if you pay your Council Tax to either St Helens or Lancashire councils this will apply to you). Unfortunately, you will not be eligible for ‘Our Pass’ and should consider purchasing a System One Young Persons’ Saver.?
There’s the system one travel pass for a Young Person aged 16-21 for 1,7 or 28 days.
There’s also the Arriva North West Student Pass Bus Passes for Students | Student Travel | Arriva Bus and North West Ticket Zone | Arriva Bus
If you’re now over the age for 'Our Pass' but still live in Greater Manchester (for example, if you’ve just turned 18 or are starting Art Foundation), there are still discounted fares available for you through TfGM.
Here are some key things to know:
- 18-21 year olds living in Greater Manchester can get a 28-day Bee Bus ticket for just £40.
- You can access reduced-cost travel via TfGM’s “18-21” young people’s scheme.
- This scheme helps make travel more affordable if you don’t qualify for 'Our Pass' anymore.
To find full details (costs, eligibility, how to get it) visit the TfGM site
Discounted travel for 18-21 year olds | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM
Travelling by Private Bus to Winstanley College
The annual private coach pass for the 2025–2026 academic year is £599. This is a fixed yearly amount and is not adjusted based on how many days or months a student attends College. Every effort is made to keep this cost as low as possible while providing a safe and convenient route to and from College.
Payment Options:
- Full Payment: Pay the full amount via ParentPay after enrolment.
- Instalments: Pay £100 upfront on ParentPay, then set up monthly bank Direct Debit payments. The Finance Team will send an invitation to set up the Direct Debit.
Once the first payment is made, Student Services will issue the pass—ready for collection on induction day or within 48 hours of payment. Students must show their pass to the driver at all times. Spot checks will begin at the start of term and students must have a valid pass to travel. Passes are not transferable and can only be used for the route assigned.
If you are applying for a bursary, the Finance Team will notify the Transport Team once your application is successful, so your pass can be issued. Please submit all bursary documentation promptly.
Please note: The cost of private transport is reviewed annually in March. While College subsidises transport to keep it affordable, the price for 2026–2027 may increase.
For any questions about public or private transport during the application process, please contact Transport@winstanley.ac.uk.
Traveling by Train to Winstanley College
The College is fortunate to have Orrell train station 12 minutes walk away. This makes the college accessible to those students from Kirkby to Manchester who may travel the furthest distance. For discounted rail travel apply for the 16-25 railcard
National Rail – for all 16-17 year olds – 50% off Rail Fares for a one-off payment of £30.
For more information go to:
16-25 rail card offers 1/3 off fares:
Go to https://www.thetrainline.com/ to find out if there is a train from your local train station to Orrell train station
Northern Education Season Tickets
Students at Winstanley College can apply for a Northern Education Season Ticket.
This ticket gives you big savings on rail travel to and from College:
• Up to 50% off adult season tickets for Year 12 and 13 students.
This is for students who don't have a 16/17 rail card and would like to take advantage of the substantial discount for travel to and from College.
It’s important to note that the sales window closes each year at the end of September. You must purchase before the closing date to secure your discounted ticket.
Find out more and apply here:
Travelling by Car to Winstanley College
To get directions to the College please see the Contact Us page. Here you can enter your postcode into Google Maps and find the easiest route to college.
Parking
Due to limited parking on site, College cannot guarantee a space for all students. As a result, first-year students are not permitted to park on campus. Parking permits are currently only available to second year (Upper Sixth) students at a cost of £100.
Students can request a permit and access via the ANPR barrier system, by visiting Student Services and presenting a full driving licence. Please note that spaces cannot be reserved while waiting to pass a driving test.
Students moving into Upper Sixth who already hold a full licence will be invited to apply for a parking space for the following September before the end of the summer term.
We also ask that:
Parents avoid drop-off and collection during peak times and do not wait in the drop-off area.
Students do not park along Winstanley Road, as this may inconvenience local residents.
Travelling by Motorcycle to Winstanley College
There are designated motorcycle and moped parking spaces (spaces for mopeds are free of charge) at the top of the car park near the sports hall. For directions to College see Contact Us.
Travelling by Bicycle to Winstanley College
You are encouraged to cycle to College and cycle racks are available against the sports hall wall. For directions to College see Contact Us.
Walking to Winstanley College
Some students are fortunate enough to live within proximity to the college. A brisk 10-minute daily walk has lots of health benefits and counts towards your recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise.
Transport Bursary
If students are eligible for the bursary fund and also have a need to purchase an annual private transport permit, then you will qualify for the full cost of the yearly permit which will be organised by Student Services. If you don’t require a private permit then a weekly allowance will be made via BACS.
These payments will be dependent on good attendance, satisfactory academic progress and it is subject to the number of applications received and the funds being available.
You can apply at any time throughout the year depending on your circumstances.
16-19 BURSARY FUND
The 16–19 Bursary Fund is for young people from low-income households who are experiencing genuine financial hardship while they are at college. The Bursary can contribute towards the cost of the bus pass and essential course equipment.
Further enquiries regarding bursaries can be made by contacting:
For information on any other transport queries, please contact:
Useful Links
https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/active-travel/
Fares and passes for young people | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM
Students moving into Upper Sixth
For students moving into Upper Sixth, renewing your private coach pass for September 2026 is essential. In April/May of your Lower Sixth year, we will contact your parent/carer to invite them to reserve a seat for the next academic year via a Microsoft Form. This form must be completed, even if a bursary application is planned. Seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to current students before any remaining seats are offered to new Lower Sixth students. Once all seats are allocated, no additional coaches will be provided.
We will also invite all other students moving into Upper Sixth to secure a seat on a coach at the same time – this may help those who no longer wish to travel by train or other alternatives or weren’t able to secure a seat last year.
The form will present two payment options:
- £100 upfront payment via ParentPay (required to print your pass before summer). Our Finance Team will then arrange a direct debit for the remaining balance.
- Full payment upfront via ParentPay.
We aim to issue passes before the Lower Sixth year finishes, so payments must be completed promptly. Temporary passes will be issued for those awaiting bursary outcomes, and Finance will send bursary continuation forms over the summer. Please note: coach companies will check passes on the first day of term, and students without the correct pass will not be allowed to travel.
We will remind you of any upcoming deadlines, but the responsibility lies with you to reserve your seat and complete payment or indicate bursary plans.
For any queries relating to this, please email Transport@Winstanley.ac.uk
