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Original poster

expect to walk 3 miles twice per day

33 replies

Sunshinesally78 · 15/09/2023 17:03

My DD is going to be heading to high school next year and I wouldn't class where we live as walking distance to any high school so I was having a look at my local authorities policy on bus passes and they will only issue if the school is over 3 miles away, our nearest is 2.7 miles away and is a Catholic school, we are not religious so that wouldn't be an option for us however I found it quite surprising that the expectation is for kids to walk 3 miles twice a day or am I just soft?!

OP posts:
BoohooWoohoo · 15/09/2023 17:19

They are assuming that you will pay for transport or that she will cycle there.

thoushallleave · 15/09/2023 17:18

Walk, cycle, bus or car. Where do children from her primary school go to? How do they get there? If she is over 3 miles then she should get a free bus pass but she will still need to get a bus. Ds's mate used to walk in good weather and bus in poor weather.

PurBal · 15/09/2023 17:14

I don’t think 3 miles is too far or unreasonable for an 11 year old. My 2 year old can walk a mile (not fast, but doable). Could always cycle.

IHearTheMermaidsSinging · 15/09/2023 17:13

I used to walk that distance to school and back every day as the school measured distance as the crow flies, and not by road mileage, so I didn't qualify for a bus pass.
I was given money for bus fares by mum and she said I could catch the bus, or save it and walk. So I only caught the bus in the very worst of weather, and saved up spending money for my hols. Great incentive.

merryhouse · 15/09/2023 17:11

It's always been three miles.

You might want to check whether they'd allow you to discount the Catholic school when it comes to free bus eligibility (iirc, you can't just not apply to your nearest and then say you don't have a place within three miles).

While it's possible you wouldn't get a place at the Catholic school, it's by no means certain (depending on your area's demographics, and whether they still have the faith criterion in their admissions policy, which many schools are dropping). If you actively want to avoid it you might end up having to make a case.

Dizzydahlias · 15/09/2023 17:08

The expectation is you’ll pay.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 15/09/2023 17:06

It was always a cut off point at 3 miles going back to the 70s. But it was an option to pay for a school bus pass, if a bus and spaces were available on that route. Is this an option? Or is a public bus an option? Or cycle? - assuming it’s safe and safe to leave a bike at the school.

Sirzy · 15/09/2023 17:04

the free bus passes may be only for over 3 miles but surely you can still access the buses closer?