Taking the tube or London Underground to school

I would also suggest that they get used to going places on their own the summer before, DS took himself to a cricket scheme by train, or perhaps going to school on their own for the final term of Yr 6.

The biggest problems seemed to come from those kids who had not really crossed a road on their own, and then, suddenly in Yr 7 were supposed to be responsible and independent. The distractions and excitement of a new school meant they were hanging out in a local park when their mums were at home waiting anxiously. DD had been commuting to school with her older brother from age 8 (direct bus) and so oddly appeared to be more cautious and aware.

A lot depends on the child. Being a twin helps. A small minority were still driven to school all the way through to sixth form. Though from observation over-protectiveness is not the best way to develop independence and resilience. Instead consider potential problems and the way your DC might handle them.

OP I would suggest doing trial journeys with your twins individually too, so they can cope on their own if their sibling is not travelling with them for some reason. It's good that they will travel together but may feel lost/vulnerable if they have to do it on their own (if sibling is sick, for example).

Also the tube that I got was pretty quiet when we'd get on it. I suspect that might be different in your case, but it wasn't peak rush hour when we were leaving school

Loads of kids travel alone on tube to school and always have done, you see them everywhere, even at primary age. One of my dc's friends has done it from the age of 9. If your boys are twins nothing to worry about. They need to learn independence and to be street smart.

I went to CLSG. Used to get the northern line everyday. When I was young my dad used to come with me. When I was a bit older a gang of us would travel together. It was fine.

OP, my DD travels into the West End via tube. She used to take the bus, but wanted a faster journey. To be completely honest, I still get a bit nervous, but that's me - she's completely fine about it and it's terrific for her independence and confidence, as she's become very good at getting around London. DD even gave directions to a tourist the other day and was delighted with herself.

The bigger issue is not the journey to and from school. They get street smart quickly, know which carriages are emptiest and travel with friends. Dd also seemed to manage to get a lot of homework (vocab learning etc) done. But the fact their friends are scattered.

I was astonished how quickly DS mastered the A to Z and Google maps and headed off to visit friends all over. The big advantage is that they were all accessible by public transport. Somehow by being clear about phoning, curfews etc we managed to avoid becoming a late night taxi service. Other parents were less lucky. Once you start its hard to avoid.

Merrylegs very good points!

Also, don't underestimate how heavy their school bag will be and how much stuff they may have to take in. It can be unwieldy for a small child to navigate a big bag among crowds and tube gates. In the early days I would get DD to ring when she was leaving school and then meet her at our stop and walk her home. On PE days I'd take her bag for her as she had had enough by then.

Also no matter how cold it is above ground, it's invariably always hot on the tube so the journey can be uncomfortable with heavy bag and swaddled in coat. (Not so much an issue for teens who never seem to wear coats....)

Thanks for that, Crouched . All three of mine have taken the tube from 10/11, no problems at all.

Crouchendmumoftwo I've had similar happen but mainly when I was very much younger (and less confident), and sufficiently infrequently to not consider it to be a given of Tube travel. It's not even something I considered as one of the 'risks' when first reading this thread. I know of DC who've been inappropriately touched on the bus, or flashed at en route home (walking), so it's not unique to the Underground.

OP I would consider doing more than one recce of the entire area around the Tube stop where you're DC will be getting on/off just to familiarise them with alternative transport options. Children need to know how to navigate themselves (on foot, if need be) without getting into a panic, in the event of their normal route/mode of transport not being available. I think this is vital for their peace of mind and for yours too!

Hopefully your DC will make friends quickly and find that he has travel 'buddies' for at least part of his journey. That makes a difference although it brings with it different issues (waiting for friends and ending up being late for school being the main one!).

Issues of transport and independence seem like huge mountains to climb for all but a very few 11 years olds starting at secondary school. However, usually within a term or so they're confidently navigating journeys here, there and everywhere.

To my mind it is all part of being a parent to educate children to use public transport safely, independently and confidently.

Good luck to your DC, OP.

Each child is different, ideally DC will travel with at least one friend. Go with DC to begin with, let him/her have a go on her own and see how it goes. An intelligent child will find alternative routes if needed and will come back home very proud of himself telling you all about it. But nevertheless quite worrying in year 7/8 and then its fine

If the child has a level head, a phone (not for fiddling with), a book, a map (always!), has several dry runs, knows what to do if there is an evacuation or if the station is closed (as sometimes happens for over crowding), which Starbucks to sit in and wait if there is a problem... you need a Disaster Plan (so if the network goes tits up, they go straight back to school or find somewhere safe and call mum/dad).

Maybe there are other children doing a similar run? Can you go with them for a while to see if there is anyone else doing the run?

A child at DS school would travel all the way into London by train (about 35 mins) then get a tube to another mainline station to get the last train to school. This was prep school and she managed it alone for 3 years.

Helpful Crouched 🙄
Year 7 isn't young (11, not 10 I think OP?) and although Crouch's experiences are horrible, at least on a tube there are likely to be more people around than walking. All mine had hairy experiences on the last leg- in our v leafy street rather than on the tube or bus. Encourage your dc to stick near a woman with children and don't zone out as I often do and find themselves alone in a carriage having missed the stop.

Having lived in London and travelled on the tube for years I would never let my kids travel alone on the tube. It's not safe, I have been masturbated next to, touched up all sorts. Id never let a young child fend for themselves amongst adults in the rush hour. But that is just me.

Travelling by tube on your own is pretty standard at 11. Once you have commuting children you start to notice how many there are.

You should also search tfl journey planner for alternatives should there be a tube strike. Trains, coaches (for example the Oxford Tube stops at Hillingdon and the Marble Arch), buses etc. A pain though.

What age? The tubes are pretty rammed around rush hour.

To draw parallels with the train network I know lots of DCs who travel miles on the suburban train network and they have a separate set of ‘train buddies’ that are different from their school friends and may be from different schools and year groups. It can be a very positive experience and not always something to be seen as bad and scary. When there was a railway derailment last year the school were pretty lenient about lateness for that week while trains couldn’t go through that area despite it affecting their absence stats, but some schools might not be quite so understanding.

I travelled on bus and tube from age about 8 (west London) at primary.

Hmm. I would not be worried about the 'altercations with kids from other schools' at all!

You will need to establish the correct exit from Oxford Circus and they will stick to it, emphasise no hanging around after school (this will get harder as they get older and Urban Outfitters beckons). (you want to get on the tube there by 4.20 really or it gets quite hairy.)

Main problems will be the traffic - any roads to cross? Make sure they are not looking at any phones and wait for the light, don't be tempted to chance it - moped riders and taxi drivers show no mercy.

The only thing is to have a contingency plan if things go wrong -something DD was not very good at to start with. ie if the tube randomly stopped or an entrance was closed. Doesn't happen very often, but it does. (get above ground and ring me!)

Plenty of children age 11 upwards get on at Ealing Broadway. Lots of CLS and CLSG as a PP has mentioned. Also to Queen's College at Oxford Circus, Latymer, St Paul's, Queens Gate etc on the other lines but Central Line is fast and straightforward. I wouldn't worry.