How old were you when you went to school by yourself, and what year?

[cornflowerblue19]

I was seven (1988.) I was also coming home to an empty house. I think it was a bit young even then.

Oh, re dates - I started middle school in 1982

8 or 9, in the late 90's. The first time was mum was walking me as usual, we had a falling out and I either ran of without her or she told me to walk by myself - I felt upset all day then. I think she actually always took me in the usual way of things, even when I was in year 6. We're very close and I cherished the time with her.

4 (Reception)in 1975.
20 minute walk across 1 road and 2 fields.

8
1978
Walked parallel to the main road.
Had to cross with my 5yo sister but there was a lollipop lady

I was cycling to school from quite early on, I would think just 7. It was the early 1970's, but it was a fair old way I had to go and along a couple of busy roads as well. Probably 20 -30 minutes on a bike? Most of the other kids mothers took them to school.

Year 5 for me, and my DDs Year 6.

7 years old in a city in Africa in the 1972.I got two buses home.If I missed it I walked across town to my fathers office.My own kids were 8 and 10 years old when they walked to school and back.We are living in Germany and they have always been independent getting to and from school.At 11 years they were fully independent getting around on buses and underground.They knew all the timetables off by heart.

Primary one - age 5.

1. 1984. From the start of P1. About a 15 minute walk, but everyone walked. If you were seen being walked/driven by a parent you'd never have lived it down.

About 5/6 (1973/4ish) No roads to cross, up a hill, 2 minute walk.

I was in infants and my brother who was two years older was juniors - 1978 ish. One road with a zebra crossing and lollipop lady then across the shopping precinct onto school. Coming home I remember walking home alone from juniors, I also remember having to walk alone to the child minders too so I wasn't completely abandoned after school.

I was quite 'old' actually because we lived too far away to walk. We moved closer when I was around 12 I think, then I started walking there and back alone.

It would've been around that age that I'd be home alone after school. I feel like I remember being there alone while Mum was at work for what seems like hours but also I don't remember cooking my own tea at that age so in reality she must have been home by tea time?!

1. 1971

I think when I was 8 or 9, with my sister who was two years older. About 3/4 of a mile away, with a tricky road crossing.

DD started walking to hers some days in Y6, aged 10 - 1 mile away, a few easy crossings. Given that we knew she'd have to make her own way to secondary school, we wanted her to get practise in.

10/11 in 2001 but I wasn't coming home to an empty house, there would be a parent or babysitter there. If neither of those were there my parents would have arranged for me to go to a neighbour's house until one of them got home from work a couple hours later.

Year 7, 1994.

My primary school was too far to walk.

Also 7. Grew up in zone 2, London. Had my own door key so could let myself in if parents weren't at home/ were at work. Most of my class walked home. It was a 10 minute walk for a child. Could do that in 5 mins as an adult.

Oooops, when? Mid 80s.

4 in 1970, so Reception year, walked home at lunch time too. It was only a five minute walk.

Six , top infants in the late 80,s, it was only a ten minute walk with two minor roads to cross.

Seven in 1987. We lived next to the school, though, and while I came back to an empty home, my parents had an arrangement with my old childminder (who also lived right next to us) that I could go there if I wanted the company.

Year 5, so 10. I was with my slightly younger sister and our friend. It was a short walk with a few roads to cross. We didn't walk home though. We were collected by a childminder.
I didn't do it when I was older either, as I went to year 6 in a different school that I had to get the school bus to, and my high school was in the town where my mum worked so she drove me.
DC's school doesn't even let any DC walk home alone until year 6, and they aren't allowed to take a younger sibling home either.

Reception in 1977!

The teachers used to see us across the road, I used to go home for lunch too.

8 in the late 90s but with a friend that lived opposite and only 1 small road to cross which was right in front of the school. We were the first of our classmates to be allowed which made us feel very grown up. I didn’t come home to an empty house until I was 11 though.

I was 5(1961) and walked to and from school (about third of a mile).
Just taken on first day and then made my own way home. Called in at Grandma's house on the way home for fresh baked bread and butter. I miss those times.