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AIBU?

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Original poster

Commute to work so much shorter when schools are off

111 replies

Ifo · 20/02/2026 12:51

I believe that traffic levels have gone up since parents were able to choose which school their DCs go to. Parents apply without thinking about how their DC get to school. Yes car.

It’s half term here and my journey to work during term time is 1 hour - 1 hour 10 mins. This week, I left home 15 minutes later and arrive 10 mins earlier than the ETA upon leaving.

This is even with more people doing hybrid/WFH.

i think admission policy should revert back to postcodes. Except for in DC with severe SEND.

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 20/02/2026 12:58

I would not support the OPs suggestion about school admissions. The issue of traffic congestion and safety neglect by parents at school start and finish times seems anecdotally to be no different regardless of catchment areas.

A walk to school of a mile is no excuse for going by car. Most of the third or more who go straight back home could walk.

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 20/02/2026 12:57

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

Yabu

TempsPerdu · 20/02/2026 12:57

I completely agree about the traffic and commuting time - it is significantly better in my London suburb this week too - but I doubt a fully postcode-based catchment system could ever work in our society. Even more so than now you would be creating a world of ‘Haves’ and ‘Have Nots’ based on local property prices, with middle class families moving and paying a huge premium to be close to a good school.

FuzzyWolf · 20/02/2026 12:57

SilenceInside · 20/02/2026 12:56

Parents don’t choose a school, that’s not how it works. You can express preferences but you will only get a place at a school if you meet the admissions criteria. Those normally include either a catchment area or a distance element. So if a school is popular but you live out of catchment or further away than most, you won’t be offered a place there. That means that the large majority of children attend their catchment/nearest school or one that is almost as close.

If you look at your county’s school admissions, many schools are undersubscribed which means you can have pupils travelling in from miles away.

ToKittyornottoKitty · 20/02/2026 12:56

Even in postcodes plenty of parents will drive. And our primary school is walking distance but the high school is still a 20 minute drive. Your reason for being on the road isn’t more valid than anyone else’s to be honest.

FuzzyWolf · 20/02/2026 12:56

Why don’t you look at the number of parents who either are on annual leave or have working from home during school holidays.

SilenceInside · 20/02/2026 12:56

Parents don’t choose a school, that’s not how it works. You can express preferences but you will only get a place at a school if you meet the admissions criteria. Those normally include either a catchment area or a distance element. So if a school is popular but you live out of catchment or further away than most, you won’t be offered a place there. That means that the large majority of children attend their catchment/nearest school or one that is almost as close.

Overthebow · 20/02/2026 12:56

Round my area it’s got more to do with parents being on leave and working from home more in the holidays. Most go to the local primary as it’s a great school so don’t need to travel further.

suburburban · 20/02/2026 12:55

Yes makes such a difference, also when private schools are off

LlynTegid · 20/02/2026 12:55

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 20/02/2026 12:53

But how much of that reduction in traffic is due to parents being on leave (for holidays or childcare) rather than just not doing school runs?

I saw figures that one in three children dropped off at school by car are from a parent who then goes back home. A stat from before wfh became an option for many.

RenegadeKeeblerElf · 20/02/2026 12:53

But how much of that reduction in traffic is due to parents being on leave (for holidays or childcare) rather than just not doing school runs?