Would you send you child to a school next to a busy road?

[Fredthefrog]

Just that. If you had the option of 2 good schools but very different (size and ethos) and one was next to a busy, high polluting road and one was a few streets back would that factor in your decision.

Doesn't matter in the slightest what kind of street the school is set on

Depends on the air filters in the school.

Huh? My kids school is on a main road in London, never considered it a problem?

How would being a few streets back make that much difference?

I know how dangerous road pollution is though a lot don't consider it so I'd probably choose the one further from the road.

Would definitely impact my thoughts.
There is a survey somewhere on the number of school whose playgrounds breach the safe pollution levels guidance set by the EU or something to that effect. It was so disheartening

Well I discounted a nursery on the basis of it being on a main road so I guess it would factor in, yes.
But would be one of many factors.

Definitely, air pollution can kill and I have an asthmatic kid.

@RedCandyApple

Huh? My kids school is on a main road in London, never considered it a problem?

Road pollution causes health problems in some people.

CHILDREN living within 500 metres of a major road are at greater risk of developing asthma, while adults face an increased likelihood of lung and heart-related illnesses, a landmark health study has revealed.

The largest international study on vehicle air pollution and health research has found that traffic pollution within a 500-metre radius of a major thoroughfare was likely to exacerbate asthma in children, trigger new asthma cases across all ages, impair lung function in adults, and could cause cardiovascular illness and death.

The US-based Health Effects Institute looked at 700 worldwide health-pollution studies, and found that while there were gaps in research of traffic-related pollution, there was a clear health risk for those living near arterial roads or highways.

www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/health-risks-for-those-living-within-500m-of-main-roads-20100619-yo2h.html

Yes, air pollution was a factor in our schools decisions. It’s proven to cause a range of health problems, often decades later.

But would the air be noticeably cleaner a few streets away?

Or not, as in the cases of, for example, asthmatic DC in polluted parts of London badly affected by the pollution.

I wouldn’t send my child to a school on a busy road if I didn’t have to. I wouldn’t want to be in that type of environment myself.

@WorraLiberty

But would the air be noticeably cleaner a few streets away?

In London, pollution concentrations with a few metres of busy roads are normally 2 or 3 times those at background locations, defined as normally at least 50-100m away from busy roads. I googled that.

Yes it was a consideration for me, although as a PP says it was one of a few considerations.

There's a popular nursery near me on our biggest busiest main thoroughfare road and the kids outdoor play area is divided from that main road by a high wall. I would never ever have sent my DC there for this reason.

And for those asking if a few streets make a difference- yes it does

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/14/side-street-routes-avoid-city-pollution-cut-exposure-by-half

@WorraLiberty

But would the air be noticeably cleaner a few streets away?

Yes, because the worst air pollution days are the very still ones, and the pollution is much lower away from the street.

Ahh ok that makes sense.

In that case OP, I'd go for the one a few streets back.

I did, none have any health problems

@WorraLiberty

But would the air be noticeably cleaner a few streets away?

www.londonair.org.uk/londonair/guide/BusyRoad.aspx

Yes. A few streets away can make a big difference. If you look on the link that follows from that link you can see a pollution map that show the difference a few streets can make.

Yes I do.
Never thought about the pollution, more concerned with the reckless morning drivers, squeezing in everywhere for parking.

I would always avoid a school on a busy road if possible because

• Walking there is less pleasant /they may have to cross a busy road if walking there alone
• Noise levels higher when windows open in class
• Exposure to higher levels of pollution on a daily basis for 7 years is not great.

They have to built somewhere my old primary was pavement width from a very busy main artery of the town,so what, just get used to it, in fact looking back, all my schools were on busy roads, I think it teaches kids to learn. No body was ever involved in a accident or anything

Not enough schools to be that fussy.

Can you walk to both? If you are going to drive there you are part of the high traffic / high pollution problem.

Do have a realistic choice, or is this more about what order to put them on the CAF?