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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU about length of journey to school??

74 replies

Shellywelly1973 · 27/09/2012 23:46

Genuine AIBU?
I am currently in the process of looking at secondary schools for my 11 year old,year6 dd. Is a journey of an hour too far to expect a child to travel to school each day? We live in London & the journey would involve 2 buses or a tube&bus...

OP posts:

TheHumancatapult · 28/09/2012 06:36

Nope welcome to my world

Ds3 age 7 year 3 has 1 hour and 15 mins of a morning and 45 mins in afternoon . Done that since age 4
Mind better than the 1 hour 40 mins they wanted him to have

BeckAndCall · 28/09/2012 06:36

If you asked this question on another day you'd get a different answer! It's been asked by lots of people over the years and mostly the MN consensus has been, ' no, it's fine', but today, this thread would say 'no, it's too long'

I only point this out because I think you should make the decision on the basis of what you think feels right for you - don't be swayed by those who don't have kids that do it. You can see where I'm coming from- all of my kids have had a 2 train, one hour plus journey for their senior school and managed just fine.

I'm not saying its ideal, but it certainly is worth it for the right school....

visualarts · 28/09/2012 06:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

maillotjaune · 28/09/2012 06:39

I had a 50 minute journey from outer London to Catholic school outside London. No changes - walk tube walk - and from my parents pov it was the nearest mixed Catholic school with a sixth form, so seemed to make sense at the time.

Did it bother me? Actually the journey was great fun (pity any other train users!) but I only last 3 weeks at pre-school additional language lessons as it meant leaving house at 6.15, made then lost friends who lived too far away to see outside school, struggled to fit TV in before doing homework...

Don't know, don't think I'd ask my kids to do it.

Lifeisontheup · 28/09/2012 06:40

Two of mine have always left the house at 7.30 and got home at about 5.45 and were fine. Both traveled by train with one change. Didn't seem to make them too tired and the bonus is that they are very used to the vagaries of our public transport system.

visualarts · 28/09/2012 07:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DeathMetalMum · 28/09/2012 07:06

That is similar to what both me and df did for school (different schools) df was able to get on a school bus. I used to leave the house around 7.45 get one bus into the town centre, and then either a bus to school or a 20 minute walk. The journey total was probably 40ish minutes but often extended by traffic. Both busses ran every 10-15 minutes although this wasn't in London. Seems normal to me.

3duracellbunnies · 28/09/2012 07:07

Could you rent out your house and either live nearer your preferred school or move out of London. My own journey to school was about 45mins but on a school bus. It didn't seem too bad. If you know other parents in similar situation could you club together for a minibus and draw up a rota?

missnevermind · 28/09/2012 07:12

I think an hour each way is pretty good going.

Mine leave at 7.15 and are home by 4.30 - 4.45 on nights they dont do clubs.
If it is a good school it is worth it.

We have schools in walking distance that I would not send them to.

MrsHoarder · 28/09/2012 07:21

Have you done the journey at rush hour? TfL journey planner is sometimes optimistic about rush hour bus times.

Groovee · 28/09/2012 07:25

We live a stones throw from dd's school but 3 times a week she does 90 minute clubs and then an hours journey would be exhausting for her.

MadameCastafiore · 28/09/2012 07:28

I didn't put DDs name down for a school which was a bus and a train ride away as thought she was too immature, would be frightening for her etc but she grew up so much in year 6 that now I wish I had done and we are in the process of trying to move her.

MadameCastafiore · 28/09/2012 07:29

Sorry just trying to say that they grow up so much in year 6.

Theas18 · 28/09/2012 07:29

I see I shall be a lone dissenting voice here but I'd say 1 hr door to door was normal-it's what we set as our max when choosing certainly.

My kids leave at 7.30- they could leave later but the bus they get is the one their mates get, and there are buses later, that would get there in time if there was a problem.

Ok, so this is a selective school and so our choice, but I drive to work at 7.45 and see kids at bus stop s or walking to local catchment schools then too.

I'm in a big city-not London.

randomimposter · 28/09/2012 07:35

It's funny, I did about an hour's commute to school from 11, train + tube + shortish walk. And it was fine, there were a few of doing the same route, but we didn't all always travel together.

But thinking about whether I would be happy for either DS to do it in the future and I feel less positive about it. But largely more about travelling that sort of distance unsupervised rather than the time itself. But suspect that may also have something to do with the fact they are 4y3m and 9 days old... and I can't currently believe I'll ever consider them old enough!

flow4 · 28/09/2012 07:37

I grew up in London and had a 50 min journey each way to/from school (if all went smoothly). It never occurred to me that was a long way. Many pupils travelled further. I think it probably depends on whether your child wants to go to that particular school or not... It'll feel a real drag if she doesn't but if she likes school, I think it'll feel fine.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 28/09/2012 07:39

It's not ideal, but it is doable.

Sometimes you have to look at finding the best solution possible, even if that solution isn't perfect. If you are sure it's the right school and you don't have any other equally good options for schools, it's worth it. I'd rather have my child doing a long journey than going to a crap school.

Hopeforever · 28/09/2012 07:48

DS has just got on the bus for school, will take 70 minutes to get there and an hour home tonight getting in at half 4. He's been fine, started when 11.

My concern for your child would be the number if changes. Only you know your child well enough to know.

Would it be possible to chose the right school now and move in a year or 2 when your circumstances have changed?

We felt the right school was more important than having the school on the Doorstep

GoldShip · 28/09/2012 07:56

No chance. E

Especially with how busy the buses and tube will be.

GrimmaTheNome · 28/09/2012 08:47

YY to what flow said.

I was worried about DDs journey (even though its a relatively easy, short car trip to bus-stop and one school-bus) but she absolutely wanted to go to this school rather than the (perfectly OK) comp a mile away where all her local friends go. So right from the outset she was sure it would not be a problem and was totally positive about it.

So...if your DD really wants to go to this school that makes a big difference. And whether she's got any congenial travelling companions also makes a big difference. That's why you'll get different answers - there isn't one for all scenarios.

sookiesookie · 28/09/2012 09:07

It was an hours journey to my school. I started it in year 7.
Its didn't kill me, or make me extremely tried. That length of commute was pretty standard at my school.

Tbh I think some people seem to think 11 year olds are much weaker than they are. I am sure your dc would be fine.

mummytime · 28/09/2012 09:17

Its not that uncommon. My DC took about that long to walk to school in year 7, they have sped up quite a bit now. If she can get a seat, and maybe do a little work so much the better. Safety should be fine in London as the times she will be travelling everything will be busy.
But don't forget things like parents evenings and after school events.

redskyatnight · 28/09/2012 09:24

I used to have an hour commute to school when I was in Y7 and, as others up thread have said, I made friends with other children in the same boat and it was fine.

But it wasn't great.

And when my parents moved when I was in Y10, and I only had a 15 minute bus ride, and suddenly much more time and energy, I realised that actually the hour long commute wasn't that fine.

Soapysuds64 · 28/09/2012 09:26

DH's parents sent him to the nearest single sex catholic school that would take him (in London). Same as you, two buses or bus and tube - he hated it, hated the school, hated that all his friends lived miles away. Would not choose that!

takeonboard · 28/09/2012 09:28

1 hour is about the average journey time at my DS's school in central London. DS's journey is 45mins I could do it in 30 mins but he walks so slowly! His journey is easy, no changes and its central line so very fast. TBH I don't think its a long journey, I grew up in a small town and had to take 2 buses with a long wait in between and it took at least a hour sometimes more.

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