AIBU in thinking that it would be ok to leave son home alone after school ?

[ThePlEWhoLovedMe]

Thinking in advance for September.

Son will be 11 in September - but in year 6. I will be working till 5pm every night (getting home at 6 ish). He HATES after school care so I am considering an alternative....

We live 5 miles from school so walking home is not an option but a school friend drives past my house on their way home.

So 2 questions ...
Would i be taking the piss asking them to drop son off every day (if their child is ill (or whatever) my son could do the after school care.

and ... although not ideal .. is it ok to leave an 11 yr old home alone for 2.5 hours per day? (Son is happy with the idea / calm child / sensible etc - however due to circumstances he has never really been left alone for more then 10 minutes at a time)

my nephew is an only child- he was fine

My son was OK too, in that nothing horrible happened to him.

But if I had to make that decision again, I would try to find another way.

My SIL otoh would make exactly the same and my nephew would be hoping she did. Which just goes to show that we're all different.