How long do your children spend travelling to secondary school on a bus?

[Notinlalaland]

Just that really,
Would 45 mins each way be too much?
Thanks.

My dd walks to school.
I suppose 45 minutes each way would be doable. Is it a good school?

Well there is the Dillema.
There is an outstanding local school (10mins by car) or a small private school some distance away. I think the latter would suit her needs better as she is easily distracted and would get lost in a big school.

I used to travel an hour to school and an hour and half on the way back.

I strangely used to enjoy it. Half the journey with friends, messing around at the half way bus stop, catching up etc and the other half was nice excuse to relax especially during year 11. It took me a while to adjust after the holidays to be at the bus stop at 7am but apart from that it wasn't that bad. If it was really bad weather i'd stay with a friend until 5ish and then my dad would pick me up. Then again I didn't start this until year 9 as I hated the school closer to home; guess I didn't want to moan incase I got sent back.

My dd is 30 mins from school on the bus, which can be much longer depending on traffic. She finds it does make the day long but enjoys the opportunity that the bus provides to read/use phone

When I was at school it was a fifteen min walk to the bus station then maybe half an hour on the bus in traffic. My best memories of school definitely!

One of mine took the bus 25 mins the other cycled 35 mins

Think DS's journey is 55 mins by bus door to door.

My son is on his bus about forty minutes, when things go to plan.

I used to walk 10 mins to bus stop. 20 mins into town and then 20 min walk to school . This was secondary.

I don’t have children yet but my DH travelled an hour to school and an hour and a half back when he was younger , and I travelled an hour and 15 to college and the same back . It’s not too bad actually

Is it a dedicated bus? I think it's OK. DS1 gets two buses and a tram (city centre, non UK) and it takes him about 30 minutes in total, but he has to allow about 45 mins for the journey to account for any late connections etc.

Thank you. That’s more reassuring.
Yes I forgot the activities element of bus journeys.

Anyone else find it hard? Too tiring for children?

Mine left the house for the school bus at 7.45am to arrive at 8.20am for years - primary through secondary. DD is the last and changed schools this year for her last three years of secondary, bus and train take her 50 minutes. The mornings she has to be there by 7.30am DH or I try and drive her, likewise if she finishes past 8pm we pick her up. In Sydney you will see loads of kids wearing different uniforms at the bus stop or train station from 7am, kids like spending the time with their friends and travelling a fair way to get to your school of choice is common.

About 70- 80 minutes each way, depending on traffic. It’s a private hire school bus all the parents organised, it’s the highlight of my daughters day. It’s like a social club.

Is it a bus provided by school just for pupils, or is it a public bus with numerous stops, changes of bus, members of the public and no certainty of a seat?

If it is the former I would think it would be fine - although check what time the busses leave in the evening. At my DCs private schools the buses only leave after extracurricular activities finish at 5.30, so if the children don't have an activity they just have to go to the library to do homework, and it does mean that they can be quite late home.

If it is the later it would depend on the complexity of the journey, what happens of there are strikes/bad weather etc, and if they would get a seat. Bus journeys can be used for doing homework, but not if you have to stand.

Don't pick a school based on journey. My DS moved from a state school which had the same journey as his now private school but the school suits him so much better. His grades have gone up and his general attitude has improved so much.

45 minutes each way when it's on time/running. That's a public bus going to our nearest state school. We have a phone system where parents let each other know if the bus is running late or not at all, then we club together to organise lifts. Ironically I have several private schools within walking distance although most kids are driven to them in massive 4WDs so the lanes are a nightmare at school run time (see comment about bus running late). The joys of living in a village in the country.

My son gets picked up by the school bus along with the rest of the kids in the village. It takes about 15 mins there. Unless they get stuck behind a tractor or a bike

We ruled out a school (although for some time it was a favourite) which would be 10 minutes walk, 50 minutes bus journey and 20 minutes walk the other end. I know some that do it though. It's a very long day at a young age and you have to be committed to doing it.

My daughter goes about an hour each way. No after school activities though. It's been fine. Good wind down time!