To think ds can still go to the same school? With diagram

[Paddingtonbabies]

We live on one end of what is essentially one long road, we are moving to the other end of the road into a bigger property. It is a 10 minute walk, exactly 0.5 miles up the road.

Ds is in Primary school at the moment but will be going to senior school soon. The school we want him to go to, and that he wants, is 1 mile from where we live now, a 20 minute walk. Our new house will be half a mile further away from the school.

The dark blue bit is where our house is now.
The light blue bit is our new house, half a mile up the road.
The red bit is the school, 1 mile away from our current house.
The green bit is the bus stop which ds could walk to in 8 minutes then catch a 6 minute bus journey to outside the school.

So his options for getting to school would be, a 30 minute walk or an 8 minute walk followed by 6 minute bus journey, or a 10 minute cycle ride, or mums taxi on some days (I could probably at least take him to the bus stop).

It didn't even occur to me it would be a problem but people are reacting like it's too far for him and really shocked that we'd still send him all that way. You'd think we were moving miles away.

There is another school literally 5 minute walk from our new house, but ds would prefer to go to the further one.

Of course it's fine!

I had a 10 min walk, a 10 min bus ride, a 20 min train ride and another 10 min walk to secondary school - he'll be fine

Fine for him. Assuming there are no over subscription problems.

YANBU! As long as your ds is happy with the further away school and is still in catchment, then he is still going to be a lot closer to school than lots of dc are and they manage OK. I did an hour bus ride after a 20 mins walk to the bus stop at secondary and it was normal for me all and all the other dc who lived in our village.

I feel disappointed with your diagram, OP. I was expecting little colour coded houses and other buildings, with roofs, and windows and doors. What a letdown.

That really isn't a problem at all, and the bus stop is closer to your new house.
My eldest dd's senior school is just over 5 miles away, she walks around 15mins to the bus stop and gets a school bus there. You may find that your son could get a school bus too rather than a regular service bus, I didn't know one existed before my daughter was at senior school but it does make it easier for her. As she is out of catchment she doesn't get a bus pass but it is only £1 each journey.
I did worry about how early my dd would have to get up in the mornings but she really just takes it in her stride.

It's still in the catchment area. It might be oversubscribed, but I think they measure distance in a straight line, in which case it won't make much difference. Plus his primary school is a feeder school in the senior school.

Our local high school is 3 miles away and they all get the bus?

Sorry I know my diagram is rubbish, had no pen and paper to hand.

My DD walks 30-40 minutes to school. It's the nearest one and not on a bus route. If your son doesn't mind it will be fine, and he'll probably have friends to walk with too.

My DD walks 30-40 minutes to school. It's the nearest one and not on a bus route. If your son doesn't mind it will be fine, and he'll probably have friends to walk with too.

Who are these people? ignore them if it works fr your family.

Dd has to leave home at 7am to get to school on time!

Our extended family. They were absolutely horrified when I said he could walk.

A lot of pupils ride their bikes, you even see some of the teachers cycling home.

I can probably drop him off on rainy days before work, even if it means him arriving early, I've noticed children arriving early so they must let them in early.

Most children take the bus. This isn't much of a walk. It's fine.

Blimey - a 30 mins walk is totally normal for secondary! Our secondaries are both about 1.5 miles away and no-one bats an eyelid about walking.

Maybe your family just don't like walking? ! It's great exercise for teenagers.

Maybe your family just don't like walking? ! It's great exercise for teenagers.

My son's High School (and now 6th form) is a 30 minute bus ride away. Other than the price of the bus pass, it's never been a problem.

That is absolutely fine! Dd gets the train to school and either walks home with her pals or gets the train. It's 2 miles, perfectly within her capabilities. I do remember though, when she was in her last year at primary, that I could hardly imagine her getting the train to school, she seemed so...inexperienced! That's possibly what's going on with your family.

Totally and utterly ok. My journey to school for the entirety of secondary school was a 20minute walk up the hill to the bus stop, followed by a 25 minute bus ride. Never a problem and wouldn't have occurred to us to even question it.

The walk will keep him fit and healthy :-)

Standard journey for secondary school pupils!

If he was walking past school b to get to school a then fair enough but presumably it's still the closest secondary?

DD spent several years cycling 6 miles each way to school.

YANBU.

We do a 35 minute walk to primary age 6 and 10. I don't consider that a far walk at all.