School Coach Groups: Simplified border process at Folkestone

If you’re travelling with a UK school group by coach from Folkestone to Calais, LeShuttle now offers a simplified faster-processing model agreed with the French authorities. It is modelled on the advance-processing approach used at ports (often referred to as MOANA) but designed specifically for LeShuttle to keep admin low and crossings fast.

HOW IT WORKS

Confirm your group is a UK registered school

Make your booking as normal but before travel, the organiser/operator must ensure that the school is on an official UK schools register in any of four regions. You can find further information on where to obtain this information on this page [link to page A.2)
Tell LeShuttle it’s a school trip (at least 3 days before travel)
Email LeShuttle (coach@eurotunnel.com) with your booking reference number at least 3 days before departure to flag that your booking relates to a school trip together with the following information:
- Name of school and evidence that they are registered as an educational establishment on in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. This can be in the form of a screenshot from the local authority website
- Name of the coach operator as marked on the coach making the crossing
We’ll then email you a School Group Coach Sign (PDF) that must be printed and displayed in the coach windscreen on the day of travel — similar in concept to the numbered coach posters used in the ports’ model.
On arrival at the Folkestone terminal: lead teacher makes a short declaration to French border
Unlike the ports approach (which requires advance passenger details in a spreadsheet sent ahead), the lead teacher accompanying the group will need to declare the following information at the terminal:
- Total number of school children travelling
- Minimum and maximum age of the children in the group

What the coach operator/school must do

Before travel

Verify the educational establishment is listed on an official UK authority register (keep evidence which could be in the form of a screenshot from the relevant local authority website and ensure you have it with you on the day of travel)
Notify LeShuttle 3+ days before departure that the booking is for a school trip and provide the relevant evidence that the educational establishment is registered on the relevant local authority website)
Print the School Group Coach Sign (PDF) emailed by us and have it visible on the windscreen on the day of travel

On the day

Display the sign clearly in the windscreen (for identification and routing)
Ensure passengers have valid travel documents (e.g. Passport) ready to minimise delays
Follow signs to coach hall in the main terminal in Folkestone for UK border exit checks
Once your boarding time is announced, proceed to security checks and stop at French Border controls
Lead teacher provides the required declaration (total number of children, minimum and maximum ages and evidence that the school is registered on UK local authority website) at French border on arrival before each of the school children present themselves to the border officials

Additional tips to keep your coach moving faster

Arrive in line with your planned check-in window at least 90 minutes before your booked departure time
Make use of the facilities at the UK terminal on arrival before proceeding to boarding
Keep your group together and ready to follow staff instructions

FAQs

Do we need to submit passenger lists in advance?

No — unlike the ports model (which requires advance passenger details submission), LeShuttle uses an on-arrival declaration by the lead teacher. You must ensure that you have evidence to prove that the school is registered on the relevant a local authority website

What if we forget to notify LeShuttle 3 days before departure?

We will do everything we can to assist but you may not be able to access the faster processing model because the coach sign is required for identification and routing

Do adults (aged 18 or over) need special handling?

Adults who are not students at certified school will travel under standard border requirements; keep documents ready and ensure that that they meet necessary requirements.

Website page (Where to find evidence to ensure that the group if from a registered educational establishment in the United Kingdom )

In England, evidence can be found on:

Get Information about Schools - GOV.UK

Apprenticeship provider and assessment register (APAR)

In Scotland, evidence can be found on:

School contact details - gov.scot

Independent schools in Scotland: register - gov.scot

In Wales, evidence can be found on:

My Local School

Apprenticeship training providers: contact details | GOV.WALES

Further Education Institutions: contact details | GOV.WALES

In Northern Ireland, evidence can be found on:

Department of Education - Institution Search

Universities and colleges in Northern Ireland | nidirect

Skills for Life and Work - training providers by council area | Department for the Economy