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Nearest prep school 15 miles away?

12 replies

friendlyfoxes · 05/03/2016 21:13

In this situation, would you just run with a state school for your children?

OP posts:

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lavendersun · 05/03/2016 21:18

Yes!!!

We did this - 20 or 22 miles depending on main or x country route, madness but it was the only place I could get a nursery place at on the days I needed one for work. We then stayed on for school and did it for two years (four years total).

It was very draining and I was pleased to stop.

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LemonBreeland · 05/03/2016 21:18

It depends on the type of roads you need to drive on to get there and how long it will take. It depends on the catchment draw. Is everyone close by or do quite a few travel.

Also travel time depends on what age they are going from. Starting prep at 4 or 9/10

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ItsJustPaint · 05/03/2016 21:23

15 minute drive or more ?

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ThroughThickAndThin01 · 05/03/2016 21:25

Ours was 9 miles and that was far enough. I wouldn't recommend it.

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bojorojo · 05/03/2016 21:26

What it really depends on is the quality of the prep school and the quality of the local school. I do know people who travel 15 miles to the very best prep schools that get children into the top independent senior schools and will drive past lesser prep schools on the way! If this is not what you want and the independent school is average with average destinations then 15 miles is a bit far if the local state school is good. If that school is Unsatisfactory then drive the 15 miles to get somewhere better. Not all independent schools are equal and neither are state schools.

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Happymummy007 · 06/03/2016 16:40

We travelled 10 miles to ours. I was doing 200 miles a week just in school run. TBH it wasn't too much of a bind for us - country roads and no traffic. I definitely wouldn't do it in town in rush hour traffic, but the worst we had to contend with were tractors and flocks of sheep. I will admit that the journey also gave me time with DD to either finish off homework :( or to talk about her day.

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ThroughThickAndThin01 · 06/03/2016 16:48

Happy did you find play dates a pain? We were 9 miles one side of the school; ds2 and ds3's best friends were 10 miles the other side of the school.

Going to their house for the day in the holidays would be an 80 mile round trip. Much easier when they could have sleepovers, only 40 miles!

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Inkymess · 06/03/2016 23:27

Wouldn't even consider it. Ever

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writingonthewall · 07/03/2016 06:20

Never say never. Habs and NLCS draw from areas bigger than that - yes, playdates and parties are widely scattered but it doesn't tend to be a problem.

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meditrina · 07/03/2016 07:12

It depends on the schools.

If the state schools (where you realistically stand a chance of getting a place) are really unacceptable to you, and the prep school really is a much better fit for your particular DC, then yes it might be worth it (depending on ease and reliability of journey).

But no one can give you a sensible answer without knowing about the specific schools you have compared.

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pepperpot69 · 12/03/2016 01:50

Our prep school is a 6hr round trip and it is the nearest! We do a round trip sometimes twice a week for rugby matches, they now board obviously. Our primary was 18m and I found that too far (& expensive) each day but the benefit of the prep school is def worth it!