How important is being able to walk to primary school?

[AmandaPleaseDotCom]

Looking at primary schools for DD who will start next September. There is one that I love which is on the next road along from us (less than 10 mins door to door).

However there's a much smaller school around a 30 minute walk (so hour round trip for us) with smaller class sizes that DH also really likes. Driving and parking would probably take at least 15-20 that time of day.

I just think that the fact it's so close is a massive advantage whereas DH doesn't think its a factor at all! Surely it is?!!

We will both be doing school runs so that's not the issue.

I think if you can walk it’s better but the other is a short drive so not too bad. Think about play dates and parties too as they will all be a drive away and some won’t want to / can’t drive to you to pick up.

I'd always go for the one in walking distance unless it was absolutely dire.

Honestly after wrap around provision it was the most important factor for us. I think so many people underestimate how often you go to the school outside of drop off and pick up and how important it is for your child to be able to walk as they get older and more independent.

Plus I bloody love the chats we have on the school run and how frequently we bump into his friends enroute. Small things but things I'd miss if he had to be driven door to door.

I don’t think it’s the be all and end all, but if there’s a school you’re happy with that’s close then why not go for that? There’s a lot to be said for local friends, walking to school independently in Y5/Y6 is nice for them and what a waste of your time to lose 2 hours of your day (if you walk) when it’s not necessary because there’s a good school round the corner.

Are those walking speeds adult speeds or tired child speeds? I allow ten minutes to school for me but at least 15 for DC and she's in P3 now. A half hour walk at adult pace could take forever with a reluctant 4yo.

Personally I'd value closeness pretty highly.

Also, when you say small class sizes, how small? 20, great. 10 could be a little stifling - doesn't give them much room if they fall out with someone (which they will).

Walking is better! Precious time together before and after school. Some of the best memories for me & my kids involve the walks to school.

I love being able to walk. Takes away the stress of finding somewhere to park. Sometimes the kids walk straight to the park with the local friends in the summer.

We also get to stroke cats on the way if we walk :)

Being able to walk to school means a lot to me. My children’s friends are all in the neighbourhood so impromptu playdates, bumping into people in the park is lovely. Also, the school run grinds you down. Even if you’ve been doing a nursery drop off it’s different somehow. So keep it as simple as you can. Driving and parking around our school is a nightmare. I wouldn’t want to deal with that if I could avoid it. And you’re at the school constantly between one thing and another, so the closer the better.

We had a similar dilemma.

We went for the closer school as it was important for me for DC to be able to walk to and from school with their friends as they got to upper primary.
Also all the kids round us went to the nearer school so much easier for after school play dates, parties etc.
Our DC feeling part of a local community was just as important to us as the smaller school and it worked out well for them

To me being walking distance is very important so that we don't have to rely on cars in case something happens on roads/to our car.

Our catchment school was the other side of an air field so a 40 minute walk. I’ve always worked so dropped off and drove onto work. I didn’t go for the Chelsea tractor though. We had a big 7 seater but I rarely used it for school run, I preferred to pile my 3 dc in a tiny Ford Ka - so much easier, always found a space etc. made life easier even if people judged me. They’d come over and comment on the size of my house - I assume they thought small car was out of necessity rather than choice. Anyway, to answer your question, driving wasn’t an issue. 90% of school runs will be in the rain.

Secondary school is where we made sure we were in walking distance so dc could be independent.

Is it still a 15 min drive in rush hour traffic? I have to drive my DC to school, it's only 2 miles but it can take 25 mins when traffic is awful and it's a pain in the arse. We're trying to move them to a closer school but it's full at the moment. Also makes a difference if both you and your husband can do the school run, we only have one car which I need for work so school run is on me and it's bloody tedious

If your child can walk to school it is better regardless of age. Better for their health, better for the health of the parent who goes with them, better for the environment. A loving and kind thing to do.

Remember if you take a child to and from school, you are on the road where 25% of those with a licence are unfit to hold one, and probably half have vehicles much larger than is essential. No one in an urban area and probably 95% of those elsewhere needs an SUV.

Same here, unless the closest one was beyond dire being able to walk would always be my number one priority. When I'm feeling poorly not having to drive is brilliant, school traffic and parking is always a nightmare- the list goes on.

The one in walking distance will prove invaluable at times.

Those days when you're WFH and get a call from the school that your DC has forgotten X essential item, or has been sick, or has injured themselves in the playground etc.

Being able to get there and back within minutes rather than an hour round trip will be a godsend.

Also, don't forget that many schools start your child off on a short day, so first week they get picked up at midday, next week at 1pm etc.

And for those weeks it's a nightmare trying to fit in a regular days work. You would be cursing adding any unnecessary time onto the school run then.

And also, the friends your DC makes are more likely to be on your doorstep than far away, which means weekend parties etc are likely to be closer too.

If there was a vast difference in the quality of education it might be worth it, but otherwise no.

When we moved my children had the choice of a faith school further away or the local primary round the corner. They chose the closest one, as they wanted to walk to school and also to be living close to school friends. They are much older now and still say that for their quality of life at that time, closest was better, they felt right in the midst of community. They knew loads of parents and kids just from going to a school very close to home. The school had a strong sense of community.

For me, who bloody hated the playground parents small talk etc, it was amazing, as they were independently getting to school from about age 9!

We chose walking distance, and I don’t regret it. Have you actually done the drive at drop off and pick up? Is it still 15-20 minutes.

I’d also consider going at that time, and checking out the parking. Parking at our primary school is a nightmare. It’s looking like the road outside is going to become residents only, because it’s so dangerous for the children. The surrounding streets are already a nightmare. A couple of the streets only have on street parking, and so obviously often full of residents. The street that does have drives residents (understandably) park on the street instead of their drives to prevent them being blocked in. There is a super market car park that parents use, but it’s about a 5 minute walk to the school, so you need to plan for it. I’ve heard a few parents complaining that their kids have got late marks, because they’ve not been able to get parking spaces. And a couple of the parents in dc’s class choose to arrive a good 10 minutes before drop off and pick up, just to be sure they can get a space.

It’s a relatively big school, so may not apply. But it’s worth considering.

If you can walk it will make your life so so much easier! Think twice a day 5 days a week the time and finding somewhere to park - which is always a nightmare around primary schools!

Well I would class a 30 minute walk as easily doable

It's not the driving to school but commiting to the parking madness around schools twice each and every school day if you go for the school further away that will grind your gears within a few months.

I would go to the school at drop off time and see what the parking is like. I live on the same street as the primary school that my DD went to and it’s like the Wild West with the parking situation. Hideous. I loved my little walk in the morning holding hands with DD and it was incredibly helpful for all those forgotten PE kits or nipping out to an assembly etc when WFH. ( our school had a lot of events - assembly’s , fetes, open evenings, parents evenings etc)

Why does he like a smaller school?

I've been teaching for thirty years and I don't like smaller schools particularly as they can have problems as every adult will have more responsibilities in a small school.

They have less children in their class at this smaller school but also more break duties, extra curriculars, assemblies and subject areas to manage. All of which takes time away from the actual teaching.

I would choose the right school for my child over a commute. I also can’t believe the school that is further away would take up to 20 mins when driving but 30 mins when walking.

My son is Year 6 and has a 10 min walk home. I think 30 would be too far for him atm. I think it's vital in preparation for secondary he is able to build confidence and independence walking to and from school, so unless the other school is much better, go for your nearest.