High School How long is an ok walk

As another poster mentioned they do have to carry lots to school as well. That's quite a lot each way with a big rucksack.

Ours is a 20min walk I think that’s about right

If it’s your nearest school, you might qualify for a bus pass, but if it’s a school you’ve chosen and there are nearer ones, then you have to pay the fare, walk or cycle.

55 minutes each way seems as though it would be quite tiring.

Today my DD had three bags... her school bag with lunch and books, her PE bag with normal PE kit, and her Rugby bag with boots, gum shield etc!

I think your kids wereucky to not have the packhorse look!

I used to walk 45 mins to school but sometimes got a lift and sometimes took a bus (especially when raining). It was fine as all along main roads with plenty of other school kids around. My dd walks 20 mins, 15 mins bus and another 10mins walk at the other end. Always with friends .

How far is it in miles?

I can walk quite far in 55 mins, but I would hate to do it twice a day in the pouring rain, with a school bag, a pe bag and a catering bag.

Mine walk 45 minutes each way. Whatever the weather. There's no other option, and I don't see a problem with it.
But then again I don't drive so we walk everywhere.

hmmm I agree with others @purpleme12 that 55 mins is a bit too long (unless that is very slow walking haha and could be done in a good deal less?).

I have a long drive to work atm and always say that if I worked in xx place I would be so delighted to walk there - it would be about 25-30 mins. But my old job was about 3+ miles away and when I did walk it, it took me 45-50 mins which was a bit much - so I very rarely did that. On which basis your DD's 55mins is long - twice a day, every day?

Also yy as others say, carrying everything is another issue. I recall once happening to meet ds2 walking home (about 5 mins btw); he was carrying his school bag, PE bag, his trumpet and for some unknown reason a tennis racquet. He was comically overloaded!

I did use to cycle to my old work quite often tho and it took about 15 mins. Luckily it was almost all cyclepaths. What would the cycle route be like?

I think it depends on the route (how nice or not nice it is) and whether there any other options such as public transport or lift if required. 55mins is a long walk in the winter and its tipping down with rain.

If it into and out of a town I think that would make it easier and options to stop off with friends to break up the walk - if its down a country lane I think that would be another matter.

DD's walk was 25 mins (1.2miles) and she was probably one of the furtherest from the school (other than village kids on the bus), she enjoyed the walk and would usually turn down the offer of a lift even it it was raining. I'm not sure how she would have felt about twice as far.

Ours is about 35 minutes. They can get the bus but it's usually quicker to walk with traffic. I think 45 minutes is ok.

Distance probs no more than 2 miles for an 11/12 year old. Possibly more if older, but not more than 3 each way. Assuming this is a safe area with decent pavements and lighting. Also, you’d want to think in the winter if they were going to be getting him after dark, I wouldn’t find that acceptable.

DS2 walks 45 mins each way. Maybe schools up here are out of the ordinary as both DS went to different secondary schools, and neither of them actually had anything other than a water bottle and their PE kit in their school bag. Books were kept at school, food tech stuff was provided by the schools.

He leaves at 7.30 every day as he likes to get there early. However, if it's really hot/cold/wet etc I am in the position to give him a lift.

I also think it depends on the walk. This is a town walk where he can pick up his friends along the way, and has been known to treat himself to something from gregs/ the ice cream shop/the coop on the way to/from school!

The walk is great for health. Its the total commute time I would be worried about. Round my way that is the sort of travel time for the kids going to the posh schools in the next town. What with all their extra curricular activities you see them getting the but about 7.15 and walking back from the bus stop at 5.45. I wonder where on earth they find the time for homework, or relaxation.

But I have super low energy kids who need lots of sleep and downtime.

A scooter speeds things up a lot, and is much safer than cycling as you’re on the pavement. Great way to keep fit, does suck when it’s pouring with rain, but that’s life

I'm generally one of those "you've got legs, haven't you?" parents but I think my max would be an hour a day (so if it takes 55 mins I'd only expect it one way), or (preferably) 30 mins each way, especially if the winter weather continues this trend of frequent heavy rain.

An hour. My dd is yr 7 and walks 1.5miles

I think it's Ok for an occasional journey, but not every day in the rain, wind and carrying a heavy bag there and back. My DS's bag weighs a ton - even without PE days! Is there no bus at least part of the way?

Definitely investigate bike routes. Use a cycle journey planner to find a 'quiet' route. Make sure she has the right kit (day running lights, helmet, high vis) and practise together (weekend) until you are both happy she can do it safely. If her school bag is heavy (probably will be) then get a pannier rack for her bike.

A walk of that distance is a few times a week, not twice daily. So if someone can drop off (lift share) near the school every day, and pick up 2-3 times a week, then walk to fill in gaps when no one can do lifts is fine. It’s too much to do twice a day every day.

30 mins would be the max I'd be happy with my DD walking- they have a lot to carry some days and it's getting dark coming home in winter

Sorry, just seen your post. I think 55 mins each way is too far. I wouldn't want to walk that twice a day. They'll be knackered

Mine walks a mile. Takes him 20 mins

My walk was about 3 miles each way, some country lanes, some busy roads and junctions.

Got sexually assaulted three times but in the 70s nobody cared. It was what men did. There was a bus but girls got assaulted on that too.

Dont forget if your DC starts going to an after-school club etc then the walk home will start an hour or so later, and potentially end up in the dark. Not so problematic for a year 10/11 but night be for a recently turned 11 year old.

Personally 55 mins for me would be too long for my new year 7 - summer born. The walk to the secondary would take 50 to 55 the quick way, an hour plus the safer route. Instead they walk 10 mins to a train, 10 mins on train and ten mins the other side. We pay for the train at 45 pounds a month but it's a faster journey, warmer in winter for some of the trip and less wet when it's raining! Plus with other kids from school, safety in numbers and all that.

That’s too far. They’ll be absolutely knackered if it is both ways daily, think of all the homework time they need to fit in too, plus clubs.

Once in a while would be ok but not daily.