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Original poster

Would you send you child to a school next to a busy road?

57 replies

Fredthefrog · 15/01/2022 13:42

Just that. If you had the option of 2 good schools but very different (size and ethos) and one was next to a busy, high polluting road and one was a few streets back would that factor in your decision.

OP posts:
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Londonrach1 · 26/02/2026 13:47

I choose not too as had two good schools and went for the one not near the busy main road but more because of drop off and collection being harder

MyFellRoseGoose · 26/02/2026 13:45

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MondayYogurt · 16/01/2022 18:00

Yes, would choose away from roads as much as possible. Stunted lungs etc (from King's College report).

Cattenberg · 16/01/2022 17:54

@hibbledibble

Yes air pollution is a factor in choosing, but many don't have a choice, given catchment areas. Also, the type of road a school is on is only one factor in the amount of pollution it has.

If you look up the air pollution index per school, you would likely be surprised. In London many schools on very quiet, even no through roads have very high levels of pollution, which often surpass the legal limits. Schools on busy roads can often have lower pollution.

I think the prevailing wind makes a difference. In my local area, the prevailing wind comes from the south west.

Consequently, the north and east of the town get more of the air pollution. These areas also have lower property prices and are more industrial than the south and west.

I’ve noticed a similar pattern in a few other towns and cities. The eastern part is more industrial and the west is more expensive to live in.

MintJulia · 16/01/2022 16:39

It depends what you mean by busy. If you're talking the North Circular or similar, yes, but I'd never raise a child in London in the first place.

If just an A road going into a normal town, no, the road wouldn't bother me.

Someonemustknowtheanswer · 16/01/2022 16:37

@FourTeaFallOut not remotely cross but thanks for your concern

FourTeaFallOut · 16/01/2022 16:22

@Someonemustknowtheanswer

Climate change is bringing much more frightening things than air pollution to your children's lives.
Hmm I can imagine any climate change challenges are more easily met with dementia, lung disease, heart disease or cognitive impairment.

I'm not sure how you can be so cross because other people might have concerns about something that you don't?

Footnote · 16/01/2022 15:06

We checked the pollution level for all the schools we considered and also considered the exposure they would have on the way to the school. We also thought about their walk to school when they are older.

Someonemustknowtheanswer · 16/01/2022 15:01

Climate change is bringing much more frightening things than air pollution to your children's lives.

Cattenberg · 16/01/2022 13:07

@Someonemustknowtheanswer

Really? Pick your battles.
We are! We’re just not all picking the same ones.

This was a factor for me, OP.

In the end, I chose the “nurturing, learning through play” school in a quiet residential area (which we can easily walk to) above the “more academic” school on a busy road, which has an awful school run.

Porcupineintherough · 16/01/2022 12:51

@SquirrelG

I can't help but wonder how some of us ever survived our childhoods!
I'd quite like my kids to survive their middle age too. And to enjoy good health generally.
Camomila · 16/01/2022 12:48

Depends, DS1s school is technically on a busy road but has a long drive way/lots of trees/and the playground is at the back.

I might think differently if the playground was next to the busy road but thinking about it most of the local schools are on busy roads so are probably similar in terms of pollution.

Porcupineintherough · 16/01/2022 12:48

Absolutely, we in fact moved house to avoid a highly polluted school.

And to answer the pp who asked, yes even a street or two can make a big difference, esp for particulate matter.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 16/01/2022 12:45

Wouldn't care at all.

84wood · 16/01/2022 12:44

Yes - we wouldn’t send our DD to a school right by a main road. Just rejected a lovely prep school by the M25.

FourTeaFallOut · 16/01/2022 09:17

@SquirrelG

I can't help but wonder how some of us ever survived our childhoods!
www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/17/quarter-of-uk-pupils-attend-schools-where-air-pollution-is-over-who-limit

It's not about surviving childhood, at least for the vast majority. It's that particulate matter can cross into the blood stream and increase risk factors for a whole bunch of shit you wouldn't wish on your kids.

Daisy829 · 16/01/2022 09:09

I went to a primary school on a busy road and a child got run over and killed when I was there. So so sad. That was my deciding factor in not putting it on the list for my children. The road is even worse now with more parents parking close to the school. It’s another accident waiting to happen.

SquirrelG · 16/01/2022 09:06

I can't help but wonder how some of us ever survived our childhoods!

FourTeaFallOut · 16/01/2022 09:02

While most people can clearly understand that short term effects can be invisible and yet sill dangerous and long term effects can be devastating with some things, like children being exposed to second hand cigarette smoke, people seem to think lack of visible harm is proof of harmlessness when it come to other sources or indoor and outdoor air pollution, despite evidence to the contrary.

Frazzled2207 · 16/01/2022 08:47

Just been reading that the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo has banned cars on almost all roads where there are schools.
Great move.
It has sort of happened a bit here with school streets but no authority is forcing the issue.

I’m really shocked that some people have really not even thought about it.

Kite22 · 15/01/2022 18:34

It never reached my list of things to consider.
I mean, if everything else were equal about the two schools, then presumably I'd choose the one that wasn't on the main road, but I think there are other, far more important factors.

FridayiminlovewithRobertSmith · 15/01/2022 17:29

All things being equal away from the road particularly if it’s busy and high polluting. I know many won’t have a choice but if you do then I believe it beneficial not to expose them if you can.

mibbelucieachwell · 15/01/2022 17:17

We were in the catchment area of a school on the corner of a busy junction: queuing cars right beside the pavement. We were lucky enough to get into a different school a similar distance away from our home set further back from a quieter road.

Once more cars are electric this shouldn't be an issue though, but who knows how long that will take while electric cars are so expensive.

LadyCleathStuart · 15/01/2022 17:09

I've never even thought about this tbh, our school is on a main road with the school set quite far back and the playground wrapping around.

The particular road is generally not too bad except for during rush hour times so I suppose that makes it a bit better but tbh around here all except one (awful) school is next to one of the main roads.

If I had an actual choice, and the schools were equal in all other ways then I would opt for the one on a quieter street.

SwanShaped · 15/01/2022 17:01

Definitely. I would choose the school set back from the main road. The extra bit of protection from fumes will make a difference

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