THE school bus run looks set to change.

And the main aims are to improve safety and security on the buses and provide an attractive alternative to travelling to school in parents' cars.

The new type of service, drawn up by Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA), will have several advantages over existing school travel arrangements and will be going on trial in areas in Greater Manchester. Transport bosses say the advantages are:

Buses will be fully accessible and specially designed to be used for pupil transport only

Pupils will sit in the same seat on the same bus each day so that they have an incentive to keep it clean and undamaged

Drivers will operate the same bus service each day so that they will be able to build a relationship with the pupils

Bus fares will be paid in advance so that no money will need to change hands on the bus. Tickets will also feature photographs of the pupils

Schools, pupils, bus operators and drivers will all sign up to an agreed "code of conduct" in order to minimise problems.

Councillor Roger Jones, GMPTA chairman, said: "I am really optimistic about this scheme. We want to work with local education authorities, schools and the bus companies to provide a safe and reliable public transport alternative for pupils so that we cut down on the school run and therefore help reduce congestion.

"Most pupils are well behaved but it is no secret that bad behaviour by a minority of pupils can ruin the journey for everyone. In the past, bus operators may have been put off tendering for school service contracts and pupils have been reluctant to travel to school by bus.

"But I feel confident that these measures will cut down on the kind of problems bus operators can face on school services."

He added: "Drivers will get to know the pupils well and all pupils will carry an identification card, so any trouble-causers will be dealt with swiftly.

"Under the new guidelines, pupils or their parents will be held accountable for the result of any bad behaviour, instead of the operator, and ultimately the taxpayer, footing the bill. This is not only good news for bus operators but also for the majority of school pupils."