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Original poster

Commute to StPaul school -impact on homework/tiredness

61 replies

DuckMama · 26/10/2014 12:33

I would like to ask a moment of your time for your thoughts. My son has currently offers from Winchester, StPaul and Eton for entry in 2015. I am Italian, and the thought of boarding does not appeal much (yes- i'm a hen mum) StPaul would add a 2 hours commute on public transport (we live in Dulwich, so no school bus from here) to what I expect will be a pressing academic schedule.

Does anyone have experience with how their son coped? Or has decided against considering it heavy for a 13 yr old?

We have our entire life ahead to commute....

OP posts:
CindyLou · 26/10/2014 16:47

It does sound very complicated - are you sure there are no SPS buses from Dulwich that would be Point-2-Point? There are many from many locations.
One of the good things about SPS is that the lunch period is long do that clubs and sports can take place then, rather than after school, precisely so that boys can get the P2P buses home.
If you live in Dulwich, I would think the no-brainer option is to apply to Dulwich College and save the commute. Why add extra complication?
We love SPS, and our DC have been very happy there, but we live in Barnes. If we had lived in Dulwich would have chosen Dulwich College, and in Wimbledon would have chosen KCS...

Original poster
DuckMama · 26/10/2014 16:35

_duration of commute-
Sorry if I have been unclear
Commute would be at least 1.15 hrs each way (which I rounded down to 2) on busy commuter routes and several changes (eg train to Victoria, District to Hammersmith then bus down to Lonsdale; or train to Peckam Rye, then Overground to Clapham Junction, then train to Barnes than bus)

OP posts:
LIZS · 26/10/2014 16:25

is eh still on course to achieve the relevant CE scores for all those options ? forget everyone else and enter him for at least one local day school. 3 years is a long time for things to have changed - or not - and they usually over offer on pre-tests expecting a drop out . Time is now very short , if not possibly too late, for 13+ registration but at least you might have that choice. Does your ds want to commute or board ? Do you have other dc to consider ?

skylark2 · 26/10/2014 16:11

Another one wondering whether it's 2 hours each way or 2 hours total (i.e. 1 hour each way).

DS does 1 hour each way, including a walk across town between buses in the middle. It's not a problem. I wouldn't even consider it for 2 hours each way - he'd be out of the house before 6.30am and not home until after 6pm.

Original poster
DuckMama · 26/10/2014 15:54

Thank you all for your prompt answers and comments Smile
Just to give an answer on why we prestested for boarding schools in year 6, my husband said that my son could grow up to like the option, and that in the course of two years I might change my opinion somewhat (which is true, it has gone from a no-no to a maybe - I particularly liked the ethos at Winchester - but I do not like the full board!). But it is not a full blown embrace of boarding on my part, hence the question about StPaul. Is it fair to put him through such a commute just because I'm the only one in the family not keen on boarding? I'm still thinking to work out what is best for him, and trying not to let my preconceptions get in the way of taking a decision. So, thanks again for giving me your grain of salt.

DS current school separates in year 8 the classes according to CE/day school exams. So, although day schools exams (Alleyns, DC) are possible for a boy in a CE class, they are not advised by the school. I would also not like to hold on to the CE offers until I hear back on the results of the day schools in February, I don't feel it is nice to children who are in the waiting lists. (although if I look around it looks like "in love, war, and senior school entry anything is allowed" - which is a by-product of this crazy system)

OP posts:
minifingers · 26/10/2014 15:05

Given that many children at public schools are being steered towards careers like medicine, politics and law where you often have a very poor work/life balance (particularly in the early stages) I don't think it's unreasonable to start getting them used to a life where they'll spend most of their time outside school from Monday to Friday commuting and doing homework.

EdithWeston · 26/10/2014 14:04

What's the journey actually like?

Do you have one of those slightly bizarre bus routes that wends its way round bits of South London you've barely heard of, but actuall goes more or less point to point? Or would he have to change between 2 or 3 rammed commuter routes?

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 26/10/2014 13:57

One hour each way to St Paul's is pretty typical and boys who are keen to go there don't seem to mind it. One good thing is the long lunch break which means almost all activities happen during the day and there is little happening before or after school. The flexi-boarding can also be helpful - we lived an hour away and my DS occasionally slept at school if he had eg a play or concert and didn't want to travel home late at night. But at rising 13 I happen to believe ultimately this needs to be your DS' choice.

TRL · 26/10/2014 13:24

Are you estimating 2 hours each way to St Paul's or 2 hours in total per day?

If it's 2 hours each way from Dulwich, to me that would be an absolute NO. Even at 1 hour commute each way, I'd seriously think whether it's necessary - to me the difference between St Paul's and Dulwich College is far too negligible to make an hour's commute necessary. I would think seriously about sitting him for DC in Yr 8 Jan exams if you really want day. Commuting is a major pain (I did 1 1/2 hours each way to school from rural area into town and it made for very limited clubs, social life etc).

We have just made a choice from Eton, Winchester, Westminster and gone with Eton (we were able to dismiss Westminster pretty rapidly whereas the two full boarding options both seemed like the perfect choice ... except there were two for confusion). Part of the reason we ended up with Eton was ease of train journeys there (Putney-Eton = 30 mins direct) and the possibility of meeting for tea, DS1 coming home for Sunday lunch/birthdays etc ... we felt he'd get the benefits of full boarding with more chance to keep family events up too compared with Winchester.

We didn't sit him for Kings or St Paul's as they never seemed like a good fit for him. However DS2 is now in Yr 5 and we're debating schools again. DS2 is keen on day schools. Despite living in Putney, St Paul's is two bus journeys from us and takes 45-50 mins. To me this is a huge negative. It would have to be a great deal better than Kings (10 mins bus, or 15 mins bike) to warrant the difference in commute.

At some point you must have thought that you wanted him to board as you've ended up with two boarding choices and only one day. What's changed?

If you really do feel more pro-day now and don't want a commute, you have within easy reach Whitgift, Trinity, Alleyns (happy with co-ed?), Dulwich College, City of London, all of whom I think test for 13+ for your son's year in January (registrations must be due soon?). Guess you could check them all out?!?

What does your son think? Does he want full boarding?

LIZS · 26/10/2014 13:07

I wouldn't . Also consider the impact on extra curricular activities especially in winter. Is it too late to consider closer schools such as Dulwich College, Alleyns or even Whitgift or Trinity? What made you apply for boarding if that doesn't suit you all ?

AtiaoftheJulii · 26/10/2014 13:02

I would imagine that there are plenty of boys with longer journeys to St Paul's. Which might not feel like much consolation, but I don't think anyone would consider that commute unreasonable.

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