Hi, we are lucky enough to have secured places for our DC at a number of selective academic independent schools at 11+ for this Sept.
The one we love the most is about a 15-20min drive from our house but it's unlikely we will be able to drive there and back twice a day every day so we will be reliant on the school coach. We have checked the timetables and it will take approx 1hr each way on the coach given the extra stops it will make on the way so 2 hours travelling time each day!
One key reason (in addition to academics) we are choosing this school is for our DC to increase and develop their love of certain co-curricular activities which will involve some after-school sessions. This will mean getting home on those late days after 6:30pm having set off at 7:30am in the morning. This feels like a very long day especially given there will be increasing amounts of homework to do as DC gets older and also means DC won't be able to keep up existing afterschool activities local to home.
The school does genuinely seem to offer something that the other schools closer to us do not - a nurturing, supportive environment with excellent academics and co-curricular. We have other options closer to home with only slightly lower academics. By closer, I mean a 15min drive away though on a route that coincides with our work location so more convenient. Those schools feel as though they have more pressured environments and are a bit more hot-housey. They do though offer great facilities and co-curricular opportunities.
Ultimately we would like our DC to be happy at a school that is right for them in terms of environment and opportunities but balanced in terms of their quality of life.
We would love to hear from someone with experience of DC travelling for an hour by coach to school and the impact this may have had on them generally but particularly in relation to their wellbeing, ability to participate in co-curricular activities and their academic performance overall.
Thanks in advance!
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Experience of School Coaches and Impact on Co-Curricular?
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Yookytooky · 22/02/2021 11:05
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