SCHOOLS have been working to find new operators for their bus routes after the company which bought the Yellow Coaches name announced it was quitting the services.

One headteacher has said he was “extremely disappointed” with Xelagroup’s stint running the routes.

Xelagroup announced recently that it was pulling out of its school services as well as handing back the three public bus routes it operates under a contract with BCP Council.

Lytchett Minster School was among the first three schools to lose their Xelagroup buses on Friday, January 13.

Headteacher Andrew Mead said: “We were very disappointed with the quality of service provided by Xelagroup and were not surprised when they terminated their school service. We are very grateful to Morebus for stepping in at very short notice to enable our students to arrive at school safely and on time.”

Morebus general manager Richard Wade said: “We are thrilled to be working with Lytchett Minster School and are looking forward to building an excellent rapport with its staff and students.”

Parkfield School, near Bournemouth Airport, is losing its Yellow Coaches service after today, Friday, January 20 – two weeks before the date announced by Xelagroup on its website.

The school emailed parents yesterday to say National Express Transport Solutions would be taking over the buses.

The father of one 13-year-old boy told how he had been trying to find alternative ways of getting him to school.

“We’ve had to book him into breakfast clubs and contact my boss and possibly change my hours of work – and now it’s all sorted I’ve had to cancel it all,” he said.

He said his son – who has to leave home at 7.15am to reach school by 9.20am – has autism and was anxious about the disruption.

Xelagroup had also announced it would stop serving Parkstone Grammar and Cranborne schools on January 13, Twynham and Highcliffe schools on February 10 and St Peter’s in Southbourne on March 17.

Andrew Wickham, managing director of Morebus, said: “At present we have limited capacity to absorb additional services due to the demands of fulfilling the former Yellow Buses services and ahead of the award of BCP Council’s tenders for Bournemouth routes 18, 33 and 36.

“While it will not be possible to replace all of the current Yellow Coaches school work, we have sought to assist schools wherever we are in a position to do so.”

Xelagroup commercial manager Philip Blair said: “I can confirm that as part of the reduction of operation in the Bournemouth area, the Parkfield School service will finish on Friday, January 20.

“We are also in discussion with other educational establishments at the moment.”

BCP Council said: “These routes were not operated as part of the council’s contract with Xelabus. There is the opportunity for affected schools to negotiate with alternative operators and options for pupils that may include use of the wider local bus network, rather than dedicated school buses.

“BCP Council is supporting schools to explore options with operators to seek alternative arrangements.”