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Original poster

Travelling to school? How?

131 replies

Animalover · 07/03/2026 07:10

Hello,

My daughter has an offer from a really good secondary school (top 10 in the UK), but unfortunately it is not local. We have a few travel options:

1. Driving:
I could drive her, but it would take about 45–70 minutes depending on traffic. We would need to leave home around 7:30–7:40 am.

2. School bus:
She would need to walk about 15 minutes to the school bus stop and catch it around 7:20 am.

3. Train:
She could take one overground train for about 25 minutes, then walk 10–12 minutes to the school. We live about 3 minutes from the train station, so she would leave home around 7:45 am.

Driving: It would be very hard for me to do this every day — it would mean almost 4 hours of driving per day for the school run.

School bus: It is quite an early start, and I am also worried about her walking to the bus stop in winter when it will still be dark. The road is quiet and there are no shops around, just houses.

Train: The start time is not too early, but she will only be 11 years old. Do you think this is okay? At the open day they said some children do this, but we have never experienced it so I’m not sure. If she uses the train, how long should I accompany her before letting her travel alone?

My daughter worked so hard for this school so trying to find the best option! Please share your ideas!

Thank you!

OP posts:
CheerfulMuddler · 07/03/2026 07:28

Definitely train. It's fine. My son is in Year Six and gets the bus on his own for short journeys. Practice it a few times over the summer both with and without you. There will be other children walking at the other end so she won't be alone.

HighRopes · 07/03/2026 07:25

If your dd is in Y6, you need to start getting her used to using public transport by herself, if you haven’t already. My dd started by walking home from school in Y5, then short local trips on the tube, then bus, then gradually built up so she was ready to take the train by herself for Y7.

It’s not sustainable for you to drive her, the school bus is inflexible for before or after school commitments. Train will work best, you just need to teach her how to use it, what to do if something goes wrong etc. Y7s commuting by themselves to school is entirely normal in London!

Araminta1003 · 07/03/2026 07:22

Train is completely normal at that age. She might meet others from her school doing the same train journey and walk with them the other side.
DS2 is at grammar school in year 7. A lot of his friends do that kind of journey on the train. Some get local buses or walk. I think the only parents who signed up to private coach companies are those who don’t have an easy public transport option. Train is much cheaper and like you say, later start.

Doobiesista · 07/03/2026 07:18

Can you drive her to the school bus stop and wait until it arrives?

TurnipsAndParsnips · 07/03/2026 07:18

Train, or you drop her off at the school bus stop in the winter.

BuffaloCauliflower · 07/03/2026 07:15

The train option is the only sensible one, not least as it gives her much more time in the morning before she needs to leave. Getting the train to school alone from 11 is completely normal and expected and many many other children will be travelling to school (her school and others) the same way. Do the journey with her once or twice to practice, she’ll be fine. Well done to your DD.