To work as a school bus or coach driver in the UK, you will need to take an enhanced DBS check with barred lists. DBS checks are statutory searches of criminal records to verify suitability for a post.

A DBS check for a bus or coach driver intending to drive a school bus is necessary because of the level of contact you will have with children and/ or vulnerable adults in role.

An enhanced DBS with barred lists is the deepest type of CRB check reserved for those who come into close contact with children and/ or vulnerable adults. The formal search will be carried out by the Disclosure and Barring Service and will involve a check for any unspent or spent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings.

The DBS will also check for any other non-conviction information from relevant police forces or entries on the children’s and/ or the vulnerable adults barred lists.

Vetting of this type has been in operation since 1974 when the 1974 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act came into force. The Act’s purpose is to ensure the public are properly safeguarded, in particular, children and vulnerable adults.

An enhanced DBS check for a school bus or coach driver is a rigorous check, in line with the strength of background check required for any role where children and/ or vulnerable adults are involved.

To find out more about DBS checks visit our home page. To understand more about the 1974 Rehabilitation of Offenders Act visit https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/53.