depending on the number of seats, you would also need to have the right category on your driving licence, unless you have grandfather rights
This is sort of true, but you can drive a minibus on a car license, even if you dont have grandfather rights............. subject to certain criteria
I'm not sure whether or not your school project would be in "work time" or "play time" though...
Holders of a full category B (car) driving licence may drive any of the vehicles listed below:
- a passenger carrying vehicle manufactured more than 30 years before the date when it is driven and not used for hire or reward or for the carriage of more than 8 passengers
- a minibus with up to 16 passenger seats provided the following conditions are met:
i. the vehicle is used for social purposes by a non-commercial body but not for hire or reward
ii. the driver is aged 21 iii. the driver has held a car (category B) licence for at least 2 years
iv. the driver is providing the service on a voluntary basis
v. the minibus maximum weight is not more than 3.5 tonnes or 4.25 tonnes including any specialist equipment for the carriage of disabled passengers
vi. if the driver is aged 70 or over, is able to meet the health standards for driving a D1 vehicle
When driving a minibus under these conditions you may not receive any payment or consideration for doing so other than out of pocket expenses or tow any size trailer; you may only drive minibuses in this country. Drivers aged 70 or over will need to make a special application, which involves meeting higher medical standards.
Holders of a full category D (PCV) driving licence can also drive a passenger carrying recovery vehicle. This is defined as a vehicle (not being an articulated goods vehicle combination) which:
- has an unladen weight not exceeding 10.2 tonnes
- is being operated by the holder of a public service vehicle (PSV) operator's licence and, is being used for the purpose of:
i. proceeding to, or returning from, a place where assistance is to be, or has been, given to a damaged or disabled passenger-carrying vehicle
ii. giving assistance to or moving a disabled passenger-carrying vehicle or moving a damaged vehicle
Minimum age
Drivers of exempted passenger carrying vehicles and any vehicle, which weighs more than 7.5 tonnes can be driven from the age of 21 years.