How old were you when you went to school by yourself, and what year?

[cornflowerblue19]

I was seven (1988.) I was also coming home to an empty house. I think it was a bit young even then.

[Seeline]

I was 8 (1976). To be fair the walk was only about 3 minutes, and a friend (same age) called for me. We moved shortly after and I was walking 20 minutes to the same school, with a group of friends. We had a lollipop lady to cross us over hte main road, but numerous side roads to cross.

[Waxonwaxoff0]

Last year of primary school, so 10/11. Would have been the year 2001.

Never went home to an empty house, my auntie worked as a TA working school hours so I went to hers on the days my mum worked.

[DialANumber]

We were year 4 or 5 I think! Walked to bus stop to meet friend, got bus to next village (public not school bus) then walked to school the other end (5 mins walking but residential road crossing involvement). The return journey often involved quite a wait at a bus stop.

I honestly don't remember this being unusual or odd and certainly my normally very careful parents didn't appear too worried about it.

My oldest 2 dc are now similar ages and I cannot imagine letting them do similar, and certainly not without massive judgement from other parents!

[Ohyesiam]

I went to school on the tube from 8 in 1974.

[NaToth]

4, but it was 1960!

My DM took me on the first day and collected me at the end of the afternoon. After that I was on my own. Walk was about half a mile.

My DDs were 11, back in the 90s.

[Mustbetimeforachange]

1. I walked with my neighbour & we picked up another girl along the way. It was about a 15 minute walk, with no main roads to cross (but some small ones). This was about 1970.

[Sooverthemill]

Age 6? (1965). Had to cross 2 roads which I did very very carefully. Tiny little ones

[Grannybags]

I got the school bus from when I started school so aged 5. My parents put me on the (school bus) in the village and the teachers met us at the other end. It stopped in a few other villages but was only for school children. I guess on the way home I could have got off at the wrong stop! I started going to the bus stop on my own when I started middle school so aged 9. This was in the late 70’s/early 80’s.
My son started walking (15 minutes) to school on his own at the start of Y6, when he was 10

[AliceLittle]

9 yrs 1994. Mum had started University so she would drop me off in the mornings but I had to make my own way home. (walk & bus about 4 miles).

[thetardis]

7 or 8, the walk was my favourite bit of the day.

[CalamityJune]

We were always taken to school but it was about 3 miles along a busy road, as my parents moved house when I was around 8/9 and decided to keep us at the same school.

We did start catching the bus home by ourselves in Y6 in preparation for secondary but iirc my dad used to collect us, walk us to the bus stop and then cycle home to wait for us.

[Nat6999]

I was 9, previously went to a school that was a 20 minute walk away that required crossing 2 main roads that didn't have crossing patrol wardens. At 9 we had moved to an area where school was just round the corner, I moved to local school.

[RoseMartha]

Age 7 year 3. (A long time ago).

About a mile and a half walk. No major roads.

[SlightlyStaleCocoPops]

Probably 5 in primary 1.(1990) We lived literally next door to the school though so after a while my mum would stand at our door and watch me go.

[AuntieMarys]

7.
1967

[Girliefriendlikescake]

When I started secondary in 1990, my dd was the same in 2016!

[Spied]

Last year of primary 11yo. Bus stop was over the road from house. Short bus ride then 5 minute walk).
Age 11+and secondary school I walked 20/25 minutes busy roads then through deserted allotments and wasteland. I was also quite reckless and very immature. I would never have allowed myself to

[BlueEyedFloozy]

8 - in 1994. Half mile walk.

Had my own key at 10 for days when my Mum was working late.

My own kids were allowed to walk alone from 10.

[eddiemairswife]

I was 5. On the No.68 bus. In wartime London 1943. My mother never took me as my brother was a baby, and prams were too big to go on the bus.

[DisappointingBanana]

Age 5 in 1974.
It was a 20 minute walk or so. There were roads, a building site, lock ups... or if you were feeling brave you could jump across a stream (or take one of the makeshift bridges) and take a short cut across the playing fields. It was the best part of the day, the walk to and from school. Lots of fun with friends and other schoolmates, and buying sweets in the shop.

My own DC never did anything like that!

[wonkylegs]

I got a minibus from the village from 5, walked to the bus stop on my own at 7
Had my own key to get in after school at 10 when we stopped having a nanny - my youngest brother went to nursery, I'm the eldest and came home with brother & sister where I was responsible for all 3 of us.

[Babdoc]

Age 4. 1959. School was only two streets away. Virtually all the primary kids walked there by themselves. And hardly any of our parents owned cars.

[ScreamingCosArgosHaveNoRavens]

Fairly sure it would've been first year Juniors when I was 7 (not sure what that is in new money ) and that was the early 1980s.

[thetardis]

i had to cross a fairly main road, directed to wait in the middle for a "safe" crossing it was 1980, pedestrian crossings were fewer and further between :D

[iklboo]

8 - 1977. About 10 minutes walk, two busy roads. Not often home to an empty house as my nana lived with us but sometimes she was late back from shopping or bingo.