School Minibuses

Managing minibuses is time-consuming and complex. We have the vehicles, maintenance services, driver training options, and technology to ensure your school, college or university has a safe and legally compliant fleet.

Safe, compliant, and stress-free school minibus operations

Choosing and then managing school minibuses isn’t just about the vehicle or getting from A to B. It’s about making the right decisions, protecting your students, safeguarding your staff, meeting legal requirements, and enhancing your school’s reputation.

You want to be confident in your ‘transport’  role, but changing compliance pressures, and limited internal resources, makes that increasingly difficult. Rivervale Minibus has been guiding the education sector for over 25 years, with minibuses, driver training, safety inspections, and minibus compliance courses so you can easily meet safety and legal standards.

Reducing your workload with safety and maintenance services that will also protect and enhance your school’s reputation

Whether you need a new minibus, independent safety inspections, driver training, or fully managed maintenance support, Rivervale Minibus is the only UK provider of every element required to run a safe, compliant, and cost-effective school transport operation.

Even if you’re not replacing a vehicle right now, we can help you strengthen your current operation and safety standards, reduce staff workloads with managed services and digital tools. and help you plan and fund vehicle replacements  with confidence

Support

Our support does not end once your minibus is delivered; we are on hand to answer any questions you have and help you run a safe and efficient fleet.

Maintenance

Your are required to have 6-10 week safety inspections as well as MOTs and services. Our engineers come to you to complete these inspections. They can also do an MOT drop-off and pick-up for you, saving time and effort.

Training

We provide D1 Driver Training, MiDAS and MiDAS Accessible, online driver risk assessments, and Minibus Management Training (for anyone involved in running minibuses under a Section 19 Permit).

Where do I start?

There are so many things to consider when choosing the perfect minibus for your school . The following journey is a great place to start

Answer a few questions about what you need, and we’ll send you a buyer’s guide and some recommendations.

Give us a call to talk through your minibus options, and if leasing, outright purchase, or renting is right for you.

Get help deciding how to manage ongoing maintenance, such as safety inspections and walk-around checks.

 Understand what driver training you might need, including D1, MiDAS, online and practical assessments.

For over 25 years, we have been here to help schools like yours, successfully manage their minibuses.

All our minibuses

  • Free app for walk-around checks
  • Free online course for safe and compliant operations
  • On-site Safety Inspections available
  • Part-exchange available on your old vehicles
  • Customer service and compliance teams
  • Driver training MiDAS, MiDAS Accessible, D1 and online assessments
  • Breakdown cover for the term of your lease or 12 months on purchase
  • Face-to-Face Minibus Management Course with specialist legal and H&S input
  • Free app for walk-around checks
  • Logo and livery added before delivery
  • UK wide delivery

Leasing a minibus

  • Low initial payments
  • Choice of funder-maintained or customer-maintained contracts
  • Road Fund Licence included
  • Demonstration vehicles (if available)
  • Breakdown cover for the term of the contract
  • Dedicated account manager

Buying a used minibus

  • 12-month RAC warranty and 12-month breakdown cover included as standard
  • All vehicles come with 12-month’s MOT and full service
  • Video tours of vehicles, if you can not physically view it
  • Quality stock, typically ex-school lease minibuses we have maintained from new
  • 12-month minibus safety inspections included
  • Minibus finder service so you don’t have to look
  • 12 month hire available
  • Wheelchair accessible vehicles available
  • Hire purchase available

One of our most popular minibuses

Say hello to our most popular School Minibus, the 17-seat Peugeot Boxer

The Peugeot Boxer 17-seater minibus is perfect for the education sector because it can be driven on a standard car licence (under a Section 19 Permit) and has a ramp for wheelchair access, making it accessible for wheelchair users. It seats 16 passengers, with height-adjustable seat belts, has a robust 2.2 Hdi Euro 6.3 Turbo Diesel engine, and active braking and speed limiter.

It’s IVA tested for maximum space and payload, making it a versatile and convenient choice for diverse passenger needs.

A Section 19 Permit allows non-profit organisations to transport passengers in buses (9-16 seats or large buses 17+ seats) without a full Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operator’s licence.

A Public Service Vehicle (PSV) is a motor vehicle used to carry passengers for hire or reward, typically designed to seat nine or more passengers, such as buses, coaches, and some limousines. Operating a PSV requires a specialised operator’s licence to ensure safety, which is regulated by the GOV.UK Source https://www.gov.uk/

If you want the full lowdown on this great minibus, please click below

What fellow schools think

“We decided to lease Peugeot Boxer minibuses as they have been fairly reliable. The 2024 models we have are more comfortable than the older models but we have had some issues with flat batteries after interior lights were left switched on.
We also have 9-seater Ford Tourneos, these are very popular and get a lot of use. We have the longer wheelbase version which is useful for carrying lots of sports kit or luggage.” 

Whitgift School , South Croydon

The new (75 plate) Peugeots we have are a great option for sport as they can be driven on a B licence (if certain conditions are met), they are a vast improvement against our previous Citroen Relays with air suspension that went wrong quite frequently. These vehicles also have a large fuel tank (compared with the Fords) meaning they are perfect for busy teachers to use day in, day out, as the need to refuel is reduced significantly!”  

Samuel Whitbread Academy, Shefford

Other popular minibus choices

Ford Transit 17-seat D1 minibus

Ford Transit 17 Seat Minibus

The UK’s favourite minibus for its comfort, safety features, durability, and reliability.

Citroen Relay 17-seat B1 minibus

Citroën Relay Minibus

A versatile and practical wheelchair accessible minibus, a popular choice for B1 drivers

Maxus Deliver9 16-seat    D1 minibus

Comfortable, spacious, and loaded with technology. The MAXUS makes a real statement.

Peugeot Boxer 17-seat B1 minibus

Peugeot Boxer Minibus

Reliable, hard-working, accessible, and versatile. Perfect for busy, everyday use.

D1 minibuses require drivers to have D1 entitlement on their licence

B1 minibuses can be driven on a car licence (conditions apply)

Important considerations when running a school minibus

Your school needs either a Section 19 Permit (for not-for-profit organisations) or a PSV Operator’s Licence to run your minibuses. Although the safety, maintenance, and compliance issues are similar, schools with Section 19 Permits are not required to have a qualified Transport Manager, and are often unaware of their obligations. Rivervale will provide advice and services to help all schools stay safe and compliant with the law.

  • Regular Driver Training (D1, MiDAS and online assessments)

  • On-site safety inspections with brake performance tests

  • Free minibus audit to help with safety, compliance, and costs

  • Free app for daily and weekly walk-around checks

  • Free online Minibus Management Course

Arnold House school Ford Transit minibus

Minibus Safety Inspections

Minibus Safety Inspections are required every 6-10 weeks (depending on the age of your vehicle) to ensure your minibus is roadworthy; these are in addition to MOTs, regular services, and walk-around checks. Our engineers will come and complete these inspections at your premises, along with the required brake performance assessment.

MiDAS and MiDAS Accessible

Your drivers need regular training and MiDAS is a nationally recognised scheme for minibus drivers that consists of both a theory element and practical training. Lasting 4 years, your teachers/staff will benefit from learning the important differences in driving a minibus to a car, and benefit from 90 minutes practical training out on the road.

MiDAS Accessible is also available for schools/staff working with wheelchair passengers to improve the safety and dignity of all.

The nationally recognised Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme.
MiDAS consists of theory and practical training and lasts 4 years. Anyone driving a minibus should complete regular driver training.

Rivervale MiDAS training in the a minibus

Get in touch

We are here to help and would love to talk through any aspect of getting your minibus