Nicholas Buck, 52, pleaded guilty to causing the death of Holly Brown, a promising young ballet dancer, by dangerous driving.
He had previously admitted the lesser charge of causing death by careless driving following the accident on July 7 last year.
But, on the first day of his trial at Birmingham Crown Court, Buck changed his plea to guilty shortly before a jury was due to be sworn in to try his case.
Members of Holly’s family wept when he altered his plea.
Buck, of Kingshurst in Birmingham, who has a conviction from 2014 for driving without due care and attention, was told he should be under no illusions that a prison sentence is inevitable.
He was bailed and ordered to return to court on November 9 for sentencing.
Judge Avik Mukherjee told Buck: "I am sure you understand you have pleaded guilty to a very serious offence.
"I cannot see any alternative other than a custodial sentence for this offence but the court needs to know more about you before I can sentence you.
"It is in many ways an act of mercy to grant bail, but it is certainly not any indication from me or the court generally that you will receive a non-custodial sentence.
“If you do not attend court on November 9 you will be arrested or be sentenced without you.”
Holly was among 21 students from a school in Barton-under-Needwood, Staffordshire, when the collision occurred on the A38 Kingsbury Road in Castle Vale, Birmingham.
The teenager, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was one of a party of pupils and teachers travelling to an end-of-term field trip when the crash occurred at about 9am.
The facts of the case were not opened by prosecutor James Dunstan, who told the judge that the family of the deceased were in court to hear Buck's guilty plea.
Speaking at the time of her death last year, Holly’s parents, Sari, 51, and Martin, 49, paid a poignant tribute to their talented daughter.
They said in a statement: “Holly, our beautiful daughter and twin sister to Emma, we are so proud of what you achieved.
“You grasped every opportunity that life presented to you, displaying so much passion, enthusiasm and determination in pursuit of your dreams.
“All this without forgetting to care about people, being there for others and having time for those that needed it.
“We will miss you so much but you will always be in our thoughts, hearts and prayers.”
Holly dreamed of becoming a ballet dancer and had already performed with the Midlands Theatre Ballet, the English Youth Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet.
Four years ago she beat 250 other youngsters to win a starring role in Sleeping Beauty at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton.
Ballet teacher Stephanie Parrott said last year: "Holly was so talented and passionate about dance that she was already studying it as a GCSE with me.
"Holly was meticulous about her technique and definitely had a career in dance to look forward to."
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