Commute to work so much shorter when schools are off

You think a 30 min journey to secondary is extremely?! JFC

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain an hour journey in London is completely normal for many secondary dc on public transport!

Yeah but not for an hour long or half hour journey.

Do you honestly, really think that people drive their kids to school because they've never considered that there could be another option? As opposed to not finding any of those other options as practical?

Op didn’t say she doesn’t want them on the bus, I think they were pointing out the distance children travel by mentioning seeing kids on the bus

Its crazy how many people drive their kids to school without looking at other options, its the highest percentage its ever been compared to previous generations. It seems like such a stressful way to start the day.

I want other people to not use their car, so it’s easier for me to use my car

Reminds me of the Covid threads; “i was driving to work today & the roads were packed, don’t people understand it’s a pandemic” or “I went to the supermarket & the queue was so long, there’s a pandemic”.

I despair tbh!

Why don't we have a rule that all kids go to their closest school and all adults must work within cycling distance of their home? That way none of the problem you outline would exist!

I agree commutes are shorter in school holidays but that has been the case (IME) sine the late 1990s.

Parents being able to select their schools has nothing to do with it.

When I was younger there was no free travel, you walked or if you had money you got the bus. You could also travel a few stops (short hop) for free

So there was free travel! 😂

Well add to that that on the small local bus in our area sometimes it’s packed (so you can’t get on) with school children. A few would travel from far away but the ones who can walk are just lazy imo. When I was younger there was no free travel, you walked or if you had money you got the bus. You could also travel a few stops (short hop) for free.

Kids have always travelled further for secondary. The other side of the county might still be their closest school!

@ifoyou don’t want them on the bus either? Harsh. I doubt it’s the majority of those who attend those schools, but you will get some who live further away. Various reasons why, moving house after starting, being allocated that school due to other schools being full, and possibly because it was the parent’s preference and there were places available. Although that’s the least likely imo.

Depends where you live.

Well, OFSTED ratings have a lot to answer for. We have a primary school on our street which was rated ‘good’ at the last inspection, my DC go there and they’re absolutely brilliant- no complaints from me whatsoever. NDN sends her DC to a primary a good 15 min drive away, definitely not walking distance with children so small. No reason whatsoever other than the fact it was rated outstanding. I realise the one word rating has now changed thank god but you know.

Secondary schools also tend to be far away compared to primary. Our nearest secondary is almost 3 miles away and kids from up to 15 miles away go because they live in small villages.

I think that also applies to commuting though. You want a fancy city job? Live in the city. If you don't want to or can't afford to, get a local job instead.

And that’s not a reflection of housing cost?

And cities don’t need police, nurses, etc.

Im still shocked by what posters post on here 😆

It has long been the case that you didn’t have to go to local school. I attended one a drive away and that was 50 ish years ago!

The school run has always been a busy time on the roads. Plus parents are more likely to be off so not driving to work.

nothing to do with...

parents travelling to work at different times when not having drop offs to consider.

nothing to do with parents taking leave?

nothing to do with school staff being on holiday?

nothing to do with catering & other supplies not needing to be delivered to schools?

etc etc etc

it has always been the same. Nothing to do with admission policies.

@FuzzyWolf but not the majority, as I said. Not even close to the majority.

I believe that traffic levels have gone up since parents were able to choose which school their DCs go to.

When did this happen?!

I want safe drivers, using cars they can drive. SUVs are probably only needed for under 5% of those who have them, no-one needs a car over say 1.5 litres except when towing a caravan.

What do you mean choose? There still are catchment areas for most schools. We didnt get any of our choices, including our closest/catchment school because we weren't deemed close enough to meet their catchment for that year of entry. You are also assuming every child lives within 10-15 mins walking distance of a school (especially in Primary, where parents need to accompany the child, then often double back and make it to work in time), that is decent and can meet the child's needs, and that every school has sufficient breakfast/after school provisions for working parents.

Why don't you work within walking/cycling distance of your house?

I agree that people should not choose schools further away and add to pollution and global warming.

I think that also applies to commuting though. You want a fancy city job? Live in the city. If you don't want to or can't afford to, get a local job instead.

Neither is what people WANT, which is understandable. But it is what the planet needs.