Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

How annoying is it living near a school?

40 replies

emilyjeff · 26/01/2021 19:45

So, we're looking to move, seen a lovely house that ticks all our boxes. The only possible negative I can see is its proximity to a secondary school. Its probably about 150 metres from the school main entrance although not in the same road as the school if that makes sense.
So interested to get peoples opinion on how much of an issue its likely to be please? Thinking really about parking/ traffic although DH and DS leave home about 7.30 returning 5.30/ 6ish so unlikely to affect them. I work from home.
Thanks 😊

OP posts:
warriorwomanx · 26/01/2021 19:54

I live within a stones throw of secondary and primary. Nightmare at school time, especially for the secondary as the only route out is the same way all the parents and coaches have to take. The rest of the time, absolutely fine ☺️ I wasn't aware how bad it was at school time until maternity leave last year and I've been here 6 years in total 😂

Cosyjimjamsforautumn · 26/01/2021 20:03

We do - it's a nightmare! Idiots blocking us in or parking across our driveway and obstructing traffic. Litter and dog poo on our driveway daily during term time.
It's been so much more easier during lockdown, so we've decided we're putting the house next week.

AnyFucker · 26/01/2021 20:10

I live on a street that is popular with secondary school kids cutting through. About 3 minutes walk away

Not on the same road though and far enough away that the lazy buggers who drive everywhere don't think to park here

My kids are grown now but it was very convenient for them and I don't actually mind the 10 minutes twice a day of gaggles of noisy teens walking past. They do no harm and are soon gone. I have missed them in lockdown.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General education
AliMonkey · 26/01/2021 20:11

We are very close to large primary so not same but actually it’s fine unless you want to drive out at school drop off / pick up time as constant flow of traffic - though always go round the block rather than past school as right outside school is always blocked by idiots on yellow lines. As a child we lived in two houses both with secondary school at end of our road and was similar there. So you can definitely expect lots of people and cars, some noise but we’ve never had problem with litter or drive literally being blocked so suspect it depends on school. And if your child is going to go to that school (as ours did) then very handy!

Mumbum2011 · 26/01/2021 20:15

I live on the same street as a primary school. It is busy for 20 minutes at drop off and pick up time, but there's a one way traffic system which helps. Other times of the day and weekends/ school holidays it is fantastic! It is so quiet!

Chicchicchicchiclana · 26/01/2021 20:17

You're over-thinking if the people in your household who drive and want to park leave/arrive outside of school hours.

WhatILoved · 26/01/2021 20:19

I back onto a primary school and love it. Hear band practice and children playing. I really miss it at the mo with COVID too quiet and sad. The only negative is crazy driving. People seem to lose half their brain the moment they pick up their kids!! So much so that I warn guests/construction people or anyone that comes to house not to arrive at school pick up. Drop off doesn't seem as bad

Xerochrysum · 26/01/2021 20:19

We live on the same road as one of the primary. It was very nice that we are so close. We did have people parking on our drive, but not really a big deal since dh leaving house wasn't the same time as school run time.

Annamaywong25 · 26/01/2021 20:21

Lived about 200 yards from a primary school once. Would never buy a house near a school again.

Scarby9 · 26/01/2021 20:22

It can be a nightmare, as people have said, with traffic especially.

sarahphimanellahim · 26/01/2021 20:24

My old house had the back of the school at the end of my road. It was great. I'm a teacher, so whenever the kids was at school, I was at mine... never saw or heard any noise from the school for the decade I lived there... until I went on maternity leave!

Apart from that, it was great!

AnyFucker · 26/01/2021 20:25

In the summer I can hear the outdoor sports when I am sat in my garden. It's a relaxing noise.

The traffic doesn't bother me because I have a couple of easy alternative routes to bypass it.

LakeGeneva · 26/01/2021 20:26

It depends on your household habits and what you get wound up by. So yes, twice a day it's noisy and busy. If you don't need to leave the house during those times that's fine.

Also you'll get intermittent noise during breaks and lunches, possibly kids hanging around etc. If you're at home during the day that might wind you up. Personally it didn't me when I lived near a school but I had neighbours who drove themselves into a right old tizz about it. For me it was nowhere near as intrusive as eg living on a busy main road, you know where you have to have your telly on loud sort of thing, but I think different people are better at tuning out different types of noise.

Also it's obviously quiet at night, at the weekend and during the holidays which even in normal times take up a lot of the year.

Elieza · 26/01/2021 20:27

Near a primary.

Lots of people walking up and down taking kids to school and then popping into the shop next to it. Then they walk back and drop litter. Sometimes the kids just throw their empty crisp bags down. There is a bin and some adults/kids do use it. Don’t know whether the shop is contributing to these issues though.

It’s noisy if you are a light sleeper and have days off during the week. The kids screeching at each other, cars roaring up and down, the bell ringing. And sometimes at the weekend if they forget to turn it off.

Ours has its lights on 24/7 to deter burglars. This confuses the poor birds and we have lots flying about when they should be asleep.

Apart from that it’s fine. So if you aren’t out at the same time as the kids and have good double glazing and blackout blinds in bedrooms you’ll be fine.

CoffeeRunner · 26/01/2021 20:30

DB bought a house opposite a secondary school years ago because the location made it cheaper Grin.

We grew up around the corner so he was well aware how busy the road gets at drop off & pick up time but for him, at the time single and out at work from 7am to 5pm, it was perfect.

Quiet as a mouse at weekends & he did have a driveway so there was still sufficient parking for him on days off.

He sold it to first time buyers in a similar situation.

To cut a long story short - can be a nightmare, can be perfect. Depends on your circumstances.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 26/01/2021 20:32

I would be fine with a primary school. There is one on my street and it is fine - busy at 9am and 3:30pm, but it clears away quickly.

I would not be fine living next to a secondary school. I live near enough one to see and hear the screeching, shoving, littering, mild vandalism, fighting, and general shenanigans. I really wouldn't want that right in my face.

DenisetheMenace · 26/01/2021 20:33

We backed on to a school years ago. Could be busy at weekends with sports fixtures. We quite liked it, sometimes watched out if the window when children were small, they loved it. Could be irritating to others though.

A private school near us now let’s it’s grounds out as a camping site during the Easter and Summer holidays: that would drive me 🤯

DenisetheMenace · 26/01/2021 20:34

I’ve never seen any portaloos there 🤨

Ilovechoc12 · 26/01/2021 20:38

I wouldn’t do it.
You get used to not leaving the house at school times

However, what we didn’t plan was slimming world clubs, trumpet practice 8-9pm Friday night, football groups on Saturday/ Sunday all out of school hours. Suppose the school rented their facilities but never ever again.

Constant noise and balls go over the fence so kids always coming round and knocking on the door plus holiday clubs .....

I’d try and find another house x

WeeMadArthur · 26/01/2021 20:40

We live on a school road, less than 100 metres away. It would only be a problem 10 minutes either side of pickup and drop off when the parking and traffic gets busy and if you are either away at those times or have no need to go out in the car then you really won’t notice. Even the day where the school had coaches parking up at the same time the local farmer tried to access his field with two tractors and trailers, clashing with the local bus on its usual route and all the parents dropping their kids off, it was all resolved after 15 minutes.

Panicmode1 · 26/01/2021 20:40

We live on the same road as one secondary and across the road from another. Our road is also a rat run (am loving lockdown!) so school time is a nightmare. None of us have driveways, so the only real issue comes when there are parents evenings, school plays/concerts etc when parking can be a nightmare, and despite the constant requests from the Heads fir parents to park with consideration for residents, none of them seem to think that means them, only everyone else Hmm.....! . But, the upside is that when mine have headed off on skiing trips or sports tours and have to be at school for 0430, its about a 30 second walk ....!

unbotheredbutbewildered · 26/01/2021 20:58

We had a primary and a secondary school at the end of our old road. TOTAL nightmare.

Kids throwing little into gardens (there were shops nearby). Parents driving onto the grass verges to get past each other. Damage to residential cars parked on the road. Aggressive parents who obstructed drives (deliberately parking across them and heading off to get their kids...). Kids screaming at 07:30 when they walked to school in the morning. Lots of car horns in the afternoon because of all the kids (1,600 in the senior school alone!). Lots of coaches for trips. Lots of evening events...

I'd never do it again. I'd rather live in a field.

AnneElliott · 26/01/2021 21:45

We used to live near a secondary school and it was one of the reasons we moved. The parking was awful - so many parents drive their kids right up to the entrance! When there's open streets 2 mins away!

Plus the behaviour of the kids was challenging. Fighting, litter, etc. And there was often road rage between the parents!!

Sorry op!

Justonedayatatime11 · 26/01/2021 22:21

We live next door to a primary school. Traffic is awful at drop off and pick up, no respect whatsoever for the residents, parking across driveways etc.
The worst though is the noise!! A field full of screaming children (even if one of them is mine!) is awful, especially in the summer. Not to mention the little shits who think it's funny to throw things over the fence into our back garden Angry

Catwoman1985 · 26/01/2021 23:46

I live a couple of doors from a primary school. Nice things: children playing at break/lunch, convenient for voting (!)
Problems: Parents parking across the drive or having a full on group chat on your driveway, the traffic