The Academy is situated in the village of Heamoor to the northwest of Penzance.
There are a variety of transport arrangements used by students to get to Mounts Bay Academy, either by their own arrangements or organised transport.
You are advised to plan ahead. Check where the bus stops are and the pickup and drop off times? Walk, ride or drive the route in advance to check how long the journey takes?
Walking and cycling
This will reduce pressure on public transport and road networks.
Cyclists are advised wear a helmet and high-vis vest
Private Cars
Plan your route. Parking is limited at the Academy and traffic wardens patrol the area. Please do not park in the bus bays between 8-9:30 and 2-3:30pm. There is currently a road closure trial and it is not permitted to drive past the school between 8 and 9 and then again between 2:30 and 3:30. This is a scheme developed by Sustrans and is currently a trial in order to improve road safety at the beginning and end of the day.
Public Transport
Please check before your journey with the transport operator for the latest travel advice or route/time changes.
Walk for more of your journey
More information contact First on
Tel: 0870 0106022
By Rail:
Trains operate on the West Coast Mainline arriving into Penzance railway station in time for morning registration.
For more details see the GWR website here.
County School Transport
This service is open to students who are entitled to free county transport. Usually, free transport is available to students who live further than three miles from Mounts Bay Academy, but still within the Penzance designated area (catchment area). Students from outside the Penzance Designated area as set out by Cornwall Council here are very welcome to enrol at the Academy, but they are liable for the transport costs to and from school.
The council will normally contact you, but if you think you may be eligible and have not heard from they have requested that you contact them.
Cornwall Council have set out their own guidance for transport procedures.
More information contact County on
Tel: 0300 1234 222
Website: Cornwall School Transport
October 2025 update concerning Mounts Bay Academy subsidised transport to and from the Academy for families outside the Penzance Designated area
(often referred to as the ‘catchment area’).
Historically, Mounts Bay Academy has offered highly subsidised transport options for students travelling to and from the Academy. Financial challenges mean that this is no longer possible. The level of subsidy was significant and is unfair to divert funding from other areas of the Academy to support these services which benefitted only 9% (approximately) of pupils.
For September 2025, changes have been made which try to limit some of the necessary subsidy by merging some routes and tightening up on payments for travel. Further to my notification in July 2025, there will be a price increase to £3 per journey on these services from January 2026.
However, students in the current Years 8 – 11 were offered this subsidised travel when they joined the school. We are proud of our ethos, and it is not ethically correct to make a promise and then go back on it and so this historical offer of subsidised transport will continue for students currently in Years 8 – 11 until summer 2029. I cannot guarantee the journey times or the exact routes or prices into the future, but we have made the commitment to offer payable transport to and from school and we shall honour this offer.
Students in the current Year 7 are welcome to use this transport for as long as it exists, but as outlined last year, it is unlikely that this transport will be available for all five years of their time at MBA.
Students who are currently in Year 6 and are considering Mounts Bay Academy as a secondary school need to know that we will not be offering subsidised and supported transport to and from the Academy.
We are aware that this will be disappointing to many families, but this difficult decision has been made on the basis of finance and equity as outlined above.
However, it is still possible for families in Hayle, Connor Downs, St Erth, Lelant, St Ives, Carbis Bay, Pendeen, St Just, Sennen and St Bryan to attend Mounts Bay, and we would welcome these learners. Public bus services are available – numbers A1, 17A, T1 and others will cover some of these areas. Given that these routes arrive at Penzance bus station, I am considering the setting up of a shuttle service between school and the bus station. There would be a nominal fee, payable on the bus. This is an idea at the moment, but if there is a market for this, there is a possibility that it could be set up.
I am also aware of existing car share arrangements between families in these areas and I understand that these work well.
If there are any further questions concerning travel to and from the Academy for out of catchment families, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
Regards,
Mr S Royle
Principal