To think that not ALL these parents need to drive their kids to school?

[SecretSquirrell]

"http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2034420/Chaotic-scenes-Birmingham-junior-school-caused-dozens-parents-collecting-children.html"

I do live in a small community and I do know most people. And I know that the people who can walk or use the bike, do so, as I have said further down the thread.

It's ridiculous to look at a photo in the DM and judge all of the car drivers in it.

See my post above. When you live in a small community you do know people.

I know, for example, that my sister drives because she's fat and lazy and admits it freely.

So what then, SS? It's not illegal to be fat and lazy.

No, just a bit crap.

Crap and selfish in fact. But you're right, not illegal

What is anyone supposed to do about it? Ask the head to send out letters that all fat and lazy people are no longer permitted to drive?

They should re-introduce school buses and not just for those who meet special criteria..

We moved to a new area. DD finally got into a school that is the 4th nearest primary to us - well over a mile away. So we have to drive. DS has hypermobility and can't walk far either.

It is not always possible to chose the school closest to you. Ours is 200yds away! It might be over-subscibed or of some religious denomination that excludes you etc etc... It is a farce and the government needs to do something about it asap. Ofsted reports are creating school hotspots and ghettos - and people are prepared to travel a long way for a good Ofsted report! IME the Ofsted report doesn't always tell the whole story anyway...

Walking buses are great.
And ordinary buses.

mmm - just wait til the double dip recession bites and we get back to one-car families.... should be loads more walking then.....

I don't drive - we walk..... but p.s. I'm still fat!

I know the area the school is in, and I would doubt that too many children are coming from further than a mile away. I can think if at least 3 other primary level schools well within a couple of miles.

I don't think there's much excuse to be honest - looking at the picture it must take as much time to negotiate that traffic and find somewhere to park as it would to walk for most people.

Quite chocoroo.

It's a bit daft to try and argue that every driver is going on to work/can't walk/etc.

Many will be just plain bloody lazy.

It depends how far they have to travel and even with my limited experience of Birmingham school applications it could be quite far. We were looking into moving to Birmingham for work and would have to live with relatives at first as no money for moving properly. I called the education department this week and they suggested a school on the opposite side of the city centre so at least 2, possibly 3 buses away and yes I would pass several schools on the way but they apparently full. DD is 6. I currently walk dd to school as it is quicker and cheaper.

If they are from just around the corner then I suspect then a lot of it is laziness.

Following on from what minus273 said, and something pendeen said- yes there are a lot of schools in Birmingham, but there are also a lot of children (reception intake last month was around 15,500 children).

People are being sent to schools across the city- increasingly siblings cannot attend the same school- which causes huge headaches for parents, and impacts on children's education as one or more of them are late every single day.

I live pretty close to this school, and they have a 90 children intake. There is an outstanding school about 300 yards away, which takes in 120, so people who get this school tend to come from slightly further afield.

We didn't choose our 2 closest schools because they're faith schools, and I didn't want a faith school for my children.