School Minibus Driver

Cornerstone Academy Trust; Exeter; On-site; GBP 15,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government pension scheme

Health and cycle-to-work schemes

Subsidised meals from in-house chefs

Discounted childcare

Free tea and coffee

Job summary

Cornerstone Academy Trust in Exeter is seeking a reliable School Minibus Driver to transport pupils and staff, support educational visits, and assist with activities across our schools. You will operate minibuses and maintain safety standards, with training provided as needed.

The role offers term-time hours (38 weeks), with early mornings starting at 7:00am and additional ad hoc transport work. A clean UK driving licence and commitment to pupil safety are essential.

Qualifications

• Holds a full, clean UK driving licence.
• Excellent timekeeping and reliability.
• Flexible and able to respond to varying work requirements.
• Demonstrates commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness to undertake relevant training.

Responsibilities

• Driving pupils on the school’s morning and afternoon bus routes in local areas.
• Transporting pupils and staff to educational visits and off-site activities.
• Delivering meals to local school settings as part of catering provision.
• Ensuring the safe operation, cleanliness and basic checks of vehicles before and after use.
• Maintaining a professional and positive manner around pupils, parents, staff and the public.

Skills

Clean UK licence

Timekeeping

Reliability

Flexibility

Child safety

Communication

Willing to train

Job description

Due to increased demand, we are seeking to recruit a reliable and enthusiastic School Minibus Driver to join our team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys working with young people and is looking for a rewarding role within a thriving educational environment.

The successful candidate will play an important role in supporting the day-to-day operations of the Trust by providing safe and efficient transport for pupils and staff. Duties will include transporting pupils to and from school, supporting educational visits and sporting fixtures, and assisting with a variety of activities across our schools in the Exeter and Exmouth areas.

About the Role

Our drivers are involved in a wide range of activities that help support our schools. Responsibilities include:

• Driving pupils on the school’s morning and afternoon bus routes in local residential areas
• Transporting pupils and staff to educational visits, competitions, sporting fixtures and other off-site activities
• Supporting Trust operations by delivering meals to local school settings as part of our catering provision
• Ensuring the safe operation, cleanliness and basic checks of vehicles before and after use
• Maintaining a professional and positive manner when interacting with pupils, parents, staff and members of the public

Vehicle Information

You will be required to drive one of the Trust’s fleet of eight 17-seater minibuses or a 7-seater vehicle.

A clean driving licence is essential. You do not need D1 entitlement on your driving licence, as our vehicles operate under the “Minibus Lite” regulations. Full training will be provided where required, and the Trust will cover any associated training costs to ensure you are confident in the role.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who:

• Holds a full, clean UK driving licence
• Has excellent timekeeping and reliability
• Is flexible and able to respond to occasional and varying work requirements
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people
• Has good communication and interpersonal skills
• Is willing to undertake any relevant training required for the role

Previous experience driving minibuses or transporting passengers would be advantageous but is not essential.

Working Arrangements

The successful candidate will be offered a contract with a guaranteed number of weekly hours, providing regular and consistent work throughout term time (38 weeks of the year). Working hours may include early morning starts from as early as 7:00am, as well as afternoon duties, depending on transport requirements.

In addition to contracted hours, there will be opportunities for additional work, including covering staff absences, transporting pupils to educational visits and sporting fixtures, and assisting with other ad hoc transport requirements across the Trust.

We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates who are generally available during the daytime on Tuesdays and Fridays, as these are key days for educational visits and transport activities.

The starting hourly rate for this position is £13.27 per hour, plus an additional element of holiday pay.

Benefits

• Local Government pension scheme
• Health and cycle-to-work schemes
• Subsidised meals from in-house chefs
• Discounted childcare
• Free tea and coffee

Closing Date: 18th October 2026

Interviews may be held as applications are received.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020). This means that certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’ and do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.

An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check is required for all our posts. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Please note online searches may be done as part of pre-recruitment checks.

We look forward to receiving your application and hopefully meeting you as part of the recruitment process.