Producing an annual, or even a termly, school minibus report can have a huge benefit when it comes to ensuring that parents have and retain a positive image of the school.

Of course, everyone is interested in exam results and the musical and dramatic productions the parents come to see, and I would never argue that this should not be so.  But I do think it is sad that no special attention is ever given to the school minibus.

But, you may ask, why should this be?  After all, the minibus is just a vehicle.  We don’t do an annual report on the goal posts that stand in the sports grounds or a review of what the interactive whiteboard has been used for.  So why make the minibus special?

The answer comes from the fact that most parents are interested in things that make this school different from the next.  Parents do want to be reassured that their children are attending the best school and getting the best education possible.

And for this, most parents can be more readily impressed by such events as learning outside the classroom rather than the everyday teaching and learning that takes place within the school buildings.

Hence the idea of the Minibus Report.

In its basic form the Minibus Report consists of a log of each journey that the bus has made. But this basic format can be extended to include something much more interesting – details of not just where the bus went and which group of pupils or students were taken, but also what they did and what they saw – and why they went in the first place.

Thus the hockey team will be recorded as going to the next town to play an away fixture, along with the result, a history group will have gone to visit an archaeological dig, the media studies class to visit the local radio station, the geography group to look at a rock formation…

Quite quickly such a list becomes much more interesting because it records what was seen and done, rather than the fact that the journey was made in the school minibus.  And all the while the reader is reminded that this has all only been possible because there is a school minibus available.

Now this can be incredibly helpful if the school is raising regular money from the PTA or other sources to pay for the lease on the minibus.  It allows everyone to see where the money is going as well as to admire the efforts made by the school to deliver education both inside and outside the classroom.

Of course it is also possible to have a Sports Pitches Report, recording each training session and each match played.  And there’s nothing wrong with that.  But the Minibus Report contains something extra – and if completed it is well worth making it available on the website and in the termly report to parents.

This week I had the pleasure of chatting to a teacher from Oxford who was explaining to me the problem with making a trip to a local landmark – the Rollright Stones.

This ancient stone circle is about 15 miles from the school, and the group of drama students who were involved in creating a piece that required an unusual setting as a backdrop, and had selected the Stones as their venue.

The problem was that although only 15 miles from the school, the hiring charges for a coach to take the students there, wait around for a couple of hours and then return, were completely prohibitive.  Additionally the teacher didn’t want to ask the parents to pay for a trip which, he feared, although highly valid in his mind, might appear somewhat frivolous to the parents.

My friend talked to colleagues from the history department, to see if a joint trip could be of benefit, but they were not studying the Neolithic or Bronze Ages, and so that was not on.

They even looked into the notion of going by bus, and surprisingly Stagecoach does actually run a service that goes within a mile of the ancient monument – but at the wrong time of day.  “We could get there by bus,” I was told.  “It would take rather a long time, but we could get there.  But unfortunately we couldn’t get back.”

In the end the conclusion was simple.  A 15 mile trip to one of the most famous ancient monuments in the country, to allow a drama group to work out an improvisation that they had sketched, and about which they were very enthusiastic, couldn’t happen – without a minibus.

Now of course, visits to such remote spots are not that commonplace, and it is a lot easier to get to the National Gallery or the local zoo.

But it still seems to me to be a shame not to be able to visit such a site – and to me this story is one of the most graphic illustrations of the unexpected ways in which a school minibus can help develop and expand the education that pupils and students experience.

If you would like to know more about leasing a minibus please do call us on 01753 859944.  

Alternatively take a look at our website for more information.

And just in case you are interested in visiting the Rollright Stones – they are between the A44 and A3400, three miles north west of Chipping Norton and near the villages of Little Rollright and Long Compton.

If you go, I hope you have as good a time as I did.

A teacher recently wrote a question on a Times Education Supplement forum which I think raises some really interesting points concerning minibuses.

The question asked whether it was best to lease a minibus, or to buy a second hand minibus.

It is a question that many pose, and in many ways the answers (as those who have bought both are likely to attest) are fairly straightforward.

The key difference between a school minibus and a vehicle such as one’s own car is that a minibus tends to have multiple drivers – not all of whom may be 100% careful in checking every aspect of the bus’s performance and maintenance.

Of course all schools will have someone in charge of the bus, but even then, one can never be quite sure how the drivers associated with the previous owner of the bus actually looked after it.

Our survey has showed that over half of school minibuses are over five years old and thus don’t have the very latest safety and security features. 

Combine this with any lack of maintenance, and a second hand minibus can already be something of a risk even before it is purchased.

On the other hand when one leases a bus the cost can be spread, the maintenance can be included and you have a brand new, rather than a second hand, minibus.

Working with Benchmark Leasing the school can get (if it wishes) MOTs and VOSA safety checks included (with onsite inspections at your school), school branding, logo and livery (if so required), all the latest additional safety features that the most recent vehicles have, and all servicing, maintenance and repairs included (so you don’t get caught out with expensive and unexpected repair bills)…

In fact the list of benefits is quite extensive and continues quite a long way beyond this point.

If you are interested in leasing a new minibus please call us on 01753 859944.  

Alternatively take a look at our website for more information.

One of the issues that arises with having one or more minibuses in the school is the question of who checks what.

As I have mentioned before in my notes on minibuses, if you lease the minibus, then all the servicing and similar activities can be carried out by the leasing company (which of course means Benchmark Leasing).

But even then the school is not removed from all responsibility. However a well-organised check system can alleviate much of the issue.

For example, if you have a check list for the person who is driving the bus he/she can quickly whizz through the key points on the return of the minibus each day, and tick the boxes to show if he/she had any concerns, if any panel light came on, etc.

The form to fill in might be very simple such as:

1. Was there an accident or other incident that needs reporting?
2. Did you use the First Aid Kit or Fire Extinguisher?
3. Did any warning lights show – if so, what?
4. Did you have any problem with visibility because of a dirty windscreen or dirty mirrors?
5. Did anything appear broken or inoperative?
6. Do you have anything else to report on the well-being of the minibus?

After that the individual in overall charge of the vehicle can have a check list like this and ok each point before the next journey. The key points are…

1. The road fund licence is valid and visible.  
2. The Small Bus Permit is visible.
3. The First Aid Kit is present and contents correct.
4. The Fire Extinguisher is present and fully operational.
5. The lights are all working and clean.
6. The tyres have a minimum tread of 2mm (including the spare).
7. The oil, brakes, coolant and windscreen washers are all at the right levels and there is fuel for the next journey.
8. The doors close properly.
9. The mirrors and windscreen are clean. 
10. Seat belts are operational.

Now a regular check of those ten items doesn’t take long – especially as modern vehicles all have warning lights telling you if there is anything amiss with the lights, if the windscreen wash is low, etc.

If you find that the bus is in a particularly poor state however, and this has not been reported by the driver who has signed a form to say all is well, then you will know that you really should be talking with the driver, and warning him/her of the responsibilities of the minibus driver.  A driver who flagrantly fails to report a problem twice, is probably not the person you want driving school children around.

But most people do take their responsibilities seriously, especially when aided by a helpful checklist. Such lists can make the whole operation of the vehicle much more efficient and effective as well as ensuring that the minibus does indeed run without mishap for as long as you would wish.

If you are interested in obtaining a new minibus on a lease then please call us on 01753 859944.

Alternatively take a look at our website for more information.

In the most simple of terms a school minibus says the most simple of things.

The new, sparkling, shiny modern bus says, “This school is going somewhere”.  It announces that the school is progressing, looking to the future, providing a quality education for all those attending.

Of course, there are many other ways in which the school announces the quality of its work and the dedication of its staff, but the minibus, picking up and dropping off students – sometimes, perhaps, in full view of the parents – makes this message loud and clear.

It also makes teachers ever more enthusiastic for learning outside the classroom – an approach which is proven to generate a higher quality of learning with greater levels of retention of knowledge than education within the school.

Thus it is that given the choice most of us would choose to drive a new minibus rather than an old one, just as most students would prefer to be in a newer rather than older vehicle.

And there is a further point, because given the choice most of us would choose not to have to do all the maintenance work (including tyres, clutch, battery, etc) on the school’s minibus.

Now that desire can be met through having a leased minibus that comes complete with a maintenance contract.

The great benefit of leasing is that the purchase of the bus doesn’t come in one lump from school funds. Rather the bus is paid for as it is used by the school.

So you get a double benefit. A new minibus which is less likely to have problems plus the option of having a professional undertake all the standard maintenance and servicing.

This effectively reduces the onus that is put on the person who is nominated in the school’s transport policy to look after the minibus. Indeed, it was to overcome issues and difficulties such as this that we introduced full maintenance as part of our minibus leasing.

Not only do the schools that use our service get a new minibus without having to use current capital to buy it, but they also get our certification that the bus has been checked by qualified engineers.

Given that the majority of school minibuses on the road are over five years old, this approach can be particularly valuable.

If you would like to know more take a look at our website – www.minibusleasing.co.uk/school-minibus.php.

Alternatively email us at Minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk or call us on 01753 859 944.

While it is true that there is such a thing as a standard minibus available through the different ranges of vehicles, it is also a fact that almost all minibuses are available to accommodate the specific special needs and/or the requirements of the staff and students in terms of equipment and facilities.

What’s more additional costs for these requirements is often far less than might be anticipated.

Whether you want space for a wheelchair, a ramp, a roof rack or additional storage for sporting equipment, this can all be taken into account.

In order to explore such possibilities the best way forward is to call us on 01753 859 944 and we’ll be able to talk you through the options.

If, on the other hand you already know the type of minibus you would be interested in, and are very clear on the additional facility you require, you can email the details to minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk

I look forward to hearing from you.

There is a myth perpetrated via local newspapers and the like that most school minibuses are purchased as a result of years of fundraising by PTAs.

As the final amount is reached a huge ceremony is arranged, a giant cheque is handed over, the local newspaper photographer is there to capture the scene, and the story appears a week later.

In fact, very few minibuses are funded in this way these days as there is a much more straightforward way of funding a minibus: leasing.

Through this arrangement we, as the company that leases out the minibus, also take over the maintenance of the minibus and thereby undertake to keep the vehicle fully operational at all times.

A minibus which is leased is simply paid for on a monthly basis, and indeed even at this point some schools find it is possible to fund this without taking anything from the school’s capital account.

In those cases where trips are paid for by contributions from parents and the PTA, it is possible to allocate a part of those payments towards the cost of the minibus – which, of course, takes the strain off the school’s mainstream finances.

In other cases the minibus can be funded through a small monthly deduction from the school’s income, and sometimes the PTA also agrees to make a monthly contribution.

Not only will a new minibus help the school arrange beyond the classroom activities but it will also be a statement to prospective parents about the breadth and scope of the school’s vision – especially where you put details of the way in which the minibus has been used each week on the school website.

Benchmark Leasing specialises in the supply and maintenance of school minibuses. If you are interested in the benefits of a minibus do call us on 01753 859944, email us at Minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk or click here to see what we can offer.

Following our survey of school minibus ownership which discovered a worryingly high percentage of schools using buses which were over five years old, focus has moved to the issue of how the leasing or purchase of minibuses can be funded.

Traditionally the PTA has been a source of funding, although that comes with the disadvantage of the fact that it can take several years for the average PTA to raise sufficient funds to purchase the bus (although they can of course make donations to help with the monthly lease payments if they wish).

But recently another source of funding has emerged, and it seems a lot of primary schools are rapidly taking up this new option.

The thinking behind this new approach is that the department that often has the strongest desire for use of the minibus is PE and sport, with its need to take teams to away games, and the desire to make use of off-site facilities such as swimming pools.

As such it makes a lot of sense for some of this department’s recently acquired additional funding to be used on the bus.  

This money can be further topped up with part of its pupil premium money, not least in recognition of the fact that the learning outside the classroom that an extra minibus encourages, can be especially beneficial for such pupils.

Indeed in a report from the school that pioneered this approach the head of the school noted that the inspectorate were particularly impressed with the way the money had been used to enhance the learning experience of the children.

There are two points that come out of this.  First, and perhaps most obviously, one or more minibuses can make a major difference to a school in terms of giving children access to local facilities. 

Second, while the PE department might want first call on an extra bus, because its extra funding has helped pay for it, there will still be time for other departments to use the bus to visit historic monuments, art galleries, theatres and other sites. 

If you would like to talk about leasing or purchasing a minibus – or even more than one minibus – please do call us on 01753 859 944. 

Alternatively you can find more information on our website.

Of late a story has been circulating of a school that has used some of its additional PE funding and part of its pupil premium money to purchase two minibuses. 

It is an interesting report, because not only does the head of the school in question say that the minibus has made a terrific difference to the school’s work, but also the inspectorate were particularly impressed with the way the money had been used to enhance the learning experience of the children.

There are two points that come out of this.  First, and perhaps most obviously, one or more minibuses can make a major difference to a school in terms of giving children access to local facilities, as well as expanding the education outside the classroom programme.

Hence trips to a swimming pool and other sporting facilities, as well as to a historic monument, art gallery, theatre and other sites, can all be added to the agenda.

But second there is the point that although purchasing a minibus is one way forward it is not the only way to proceed, for it is also possible to lease a minibus and thus spread the cost of the bus over a period of several years.

One particular benefit of leasing is that leased minibuses can come with a full maintenance schedule undertaken by the leasing company, so there is no need to put someone within the school in charge of servicing and repairs.

Beyond everything else the minibus is hence maintained as a completely safe vehicle at all times – which is always a great reassurance to everyone involved.

If you would like to talk about leasing or purchasing a minibus – or even more than one minibus – please do call us on 01753 859 944. 

Alternatively you can find more information on our website.

Because of the ready availability of leasing arrangements, these days getting a beautiful new school minibus is less of a special event than it ever used to be.

But that doesn’t mean that the arrival of the new bus should be thought of as everyday.  It is always worth celebrating as something of a publicity event.

Of course, if there is a PR expert working in your school, you’ll have no difficulty in preparing the message announcing that the new minibus is now in use.  But, just in case that is not so, it might be worth noting the points below.

The key issue to remember is that the reason for having a bus is that it brings a benefit to the students in the school in terms of their education.

So with the new bus there will be more visits to historic sites, more away sports matches, more use of the local swimming pool, etc, etc.  It is always a good idea to mention some of the extra visits that the school has in mind.

Additional benefits worth noting are the fact that the bus has all the latest safety features – far beyond the minimum required by law – and is environmentally sound and (through engine efficiency) cheaper to run than its predecessor.

Thus more money goes on education, less on fuel.

However, what you might care to avoid is any reference to students “travelling in style”.  By and large parents want good things for their children, but they also like to see an emphasis on hard work. “Travelling in style” is not what most parents want or expect from school life!

You may also have had the new bus decorated with the school’s logo – and a publicity shot of the bus with the logo showing is always a good idea.

But once again logos and advertising are not really what parents are concerned about – any more than they are worried about the comfort of the ride.

All of which explains why it is normally not a good idea to agree to the leasing company putting out its own press release about your new minibus to the local media.  Benchmark Leasing will, of course, supply a press release for you to use if you would like us to, but you’ll have the final say on the way it is written.

Just as you will take great care when choosing the right minibus for your school, so it is always worthwhile ensuring that no one else is using your leasing arrangements as a chance for their own publicity.

Should you be looking for a new minibus for your school you can find more information about our leasing options by clicking here.

Alternatively please do call us on 01753 859 944 or email us at Minibus@benchmarkleasing.co.uk