Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, has confirmed the renewal of the hugely successful High Peak student bus pass for the 2025/26 academic year – unlocking another year of free travel for 16–18-year-olds commuting to college from rural Derbyshire into Greater Manchester.
Launched by the Mayor last year, the scheme was a direct response to the barriers many young people face in accessing Further Education beyond their immediate area. Since its launch, students have made over 70,000 free bus journeys, enabling them to attend institutions like Tameside College and Stockport College without the burden, to them and their families, of rising transport costs.
The programme, a joint initiative between the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) and Derbyshire County Council, covers five vital cross-border bus routes, including:
• 237 Glossop to Ashton-under-Lyne (serving Tameside College)
• 199 Buxton to Stockport
• 341 Glossop to Hyde
• 358 Hayfield to Stockport
• 394 Glossop to Hazel Grove
Students access the scheme using their Derbyshire b_line card alongside college ID.
Mayor Claire Ward said: “No young person should miss out on education because of where they live or whether they can afford the bus fare. That’s why I introduced this scheme and why I’m proud to announce it will continue.
This is about fairness, opportunity, and making sure that every community, including our rural areas, is connected to the future. The renewal of the High Peak student bus pass is inclusive growth in action and a clear signal of what I am committed to as Mayor: practical solutions that change lives.”
Jon Pearce, MP for High Peak said: “As everybody knows giving young people the best start in life everyone knows giving young people the best start in life is my number one priority. This is fantastic news!
It’s the culmination of years of campaigning with local families to give young people from High Peak the same opportunities as their classmates from just over the border.
This will save High Peak families hundreds of pounds and will mean our young people will be able to choose their college course based on passion and potential, not postcode or the cost of a bus fare.”
Applications for the 2025/26 academic year will open shortly via Derbyshire County Council’s website.