Travel to and from school
At the beginning and end of the school day over 1100 students and over 150 staff arrive and leave from our normal entrance in Sopers Lane. In all cases we aim to ensure the safety of students at this busy time and our rules are designed to ensure this.
Walking
Naturally there is a campaign to get more students TO WALK TO SCHOOL. This is good for their health and reduces the effects of pollution on the environment. At present there is no crossing point on Sopers Lane so students need to take care in this area.
We encourage students to walk home with a friend or in small groups. This is particularly important after dark. We recommend they stay to well lit roads and not take any shortcuts through narrow alleyways.
Cycling
There is provision for the storage of bicycles at the school. We do recommend that all bicycles are locked. For safety reasons we insist that cyclists should wear a cycle helmet and recommend they wear a safety reflective strip. They need suitable lighting for dark mornings and evenings.
We ask cyclists to walk across Sopers Lane and not to ride their bicycle within the school grounds. Poole has an extensive number of cycle routes – one of which is adjacent to Holes Bay Road. Students can go from this cycle route along Cabot Lane and cut through to Sopers Lane using the bicycle/walking track next to Siemens.
Buses
The majority of students arrive at school by bus. There are three types:
Enquires should be directed to transportation@poole.gov.uk. Bus timetables are available from Reception, but are subject to change.
These buses are organised by parents for students living outside Poole. The destinations and contact numbers for parents are as follows:
LINK RIDER/SOUTHDORSET COACHES (2 buses) – Also goes to Poole Grammar School
Telephone: 01929 477344
Will collect from: Swanage – Worth Matravers – Corfe Castle – Wareham – Lytchett Matravers
FREEDOM TRANSPORT (No. R75 and R95) – also goes to Poole GS and Corfe HIlls School
Telephone : 01202 660868
Will collect from : Corfe Mullen – North Broadstone (R75) AND Canford Bottom – Colehill – Wimborne – Merley (R95)
Will collect from: Ringwood – Verwood – West Moors – Ferndown – Canford Bottom
Telephone: mobile: 07952 945387
Customer Services Telephone: 01202 636110
Service buses travel from Wimborne and other destinations to and from Poole. These pass along Waterloo Road which is the main road near the school grounds.
Cars
We ask that parents or relatives do not come up the school drive between 8am and 4pm. The best place to collect or drop off students is to park beyond the school in Sopers Lane in the direction of Siemens. If you park along this road your daughter will not have to cross the road to or from school.
If you park in the turning circle at the entrance you will be obstructing the buses so we ask you not to do this, especially at 3.15pm when the school finishes.
If your daughter stays late for an after school event then we would advise you to drive up to the school. We do ask that you respect the 5mph speed limit in the school grounds.
Car Sharing
Sopers Lane is very busy before and after school. If you do bring your daughter by car then please think about car sharing. If we can reduce the number of cars it will be safer for our students.
Any student walking to the cars or buses should cross the drive at the crossing below the caretaker’s bungalow.