Dubai School Buses?

Hi all! Moving to Dubai in a few weeks, we have not yet secured a secondary place in a school for my son, so we are not sure which school he will get into ... but my question is... My son is 14 & capable of using public transport by himself... but is it better to get him on the school bus as all the children travel this way?...

I have not yet passed my driving test & we will live in a place with not very good transport links... So this may be our only solution. ..
but I've heard sometimes the kids are on the bus 1hour+ maybe more, for a drive that usually would take only 15 minutes? Plus there is the HEFTY per-term fees!! Is there any car pool systems or any public transport buses that don't go "the scenic route" around dubai?