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.

Yes air pollution is a factor in choosing, but many don't have a choice, given catchment areas. Also, the type of road a school is on is only one factor in the amount of pollution it has.

If you look up the air pollution index per school, you would likely be surprised. In London many schools on very quiet, even no through roads have very high levels of pollution, which often surpass the legal limits. Schools on busy roads can often have lower pollution.

@WorraLiberty

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

Yes. Pollutant concentrations from roads drop off quite rapidly with distance.

We rejected a nursery because it was located on a busy road junction.

I sent my children to three schools next to busy roads and nobody died.

When we chose schools, the road was not even on the list of things to consider.

I live on on the A40 so it wouldnt make any difference to me, besides define busy.

Some schools near roads have done things to mitigate the risk. Air filters in classrooms and particular planting so its worth and ask

I’d prefer not to if there was a choice

Really? Pick your battles.

Definitely. I would choose the school set back from the main road. The extra bit of protection from fumes will make a difference

I've never even thought about this tbh, our school is on a main road with the school set quite far back and the playground wrapping around.

The particular road is generally not too bad except for during rush hour times so I suppose that makes it a bit better but tbh around here all except one (awful) school is next to one of the main roads.

If I had an actual choice, and the schools were equal in all other ways then I would opt for the one on a quieter street.

We were in the catchment area of a school on the corner of a busy junction: queuing cars right beside the pavement. We were lucky enough to get into a different school a similar distance away from our home set further back from a quieter road.

Once more cars are electric this shouldn't be an issue though, but who knows how long that will take while electric cars are so expensive.

All things being equal away from the road particularly if it’s busy and high polluting. I know many won’t have a choice but if you do then I believe it beneficial not to expose them if you can.

It never reached my list of things to consider.
I mean, if everything else were equal about the two schools, then presumably I'd choose the one that wasn't on the main road, but I think there are other, far more important factors.

Just been reading that the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo has banned cars on almost all roads where there are schools.
Great move.
It has sort of happened a bit here with school streets but no authority is forcing the issue.

I’m really shocked that some people have really not even thought about it.

While most people can clearly understand that short term effects can be invisible and yet sill dangerous and long term effects can be devastating with some things, like children being exposed to second hand cigarette smoke, people seem to think lack of visible harm is proof of harmlessness when it come to other sources or indoor and outdoor air pollution, despite evidence to the contrary.

I can't help but wonder how some of us ever survived our childhoods!

I went to a primary school on a busy road and a child got run over and killed when I was there. So so sad. That was my deciding factor in not putting it on the list for my children. The road is even worse now with more parents parking close to the school. It’s another accident waiting to happen.

@SquirrelG

I can't help but wonder how some of us ever survived our childhoods!

www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/17/quarter-of-uk-pupils-attend-schools-where-air-pollution-is-over-who-limit

It's not about surviving childhood, at least for the vast majority. It's that particulate matter can cross into the blood stream and increase risk factors for a whole bunch of shit you wouldn't wish on your kids.

Yes - we wouldn’t send our DD to a school right by a main road. Just rejected a lovely prep school by the M25.

Wouldn't care at all.

Absolutely, we in fact moved house to avoid a highly polluted school.

And to answer the pp who asked, yes even a street or two can make a big difference, esp for particulate matter.

Depends, DS1s school is technically on a busy road but has a long drive way/lots of trees/and the playground is at the back.

I might think differently if the playground was next to the busy road but thinking about it most of the local schools are on busy roads so are probably similar in terms of pollution.

@SquirrelG

I can't help but wonder how some of us ever survived our childhoods!

I'd quite like my kids to survive their middle age too. And to enjoy good health generally.

@Someonemustknowtheanswer

Really? Pick your battles.

We are! We’re just not all picking the same ones.

This was a factor for me, OP.

In the end, I chose the “nurturing, learning through play” school in a quiet residential area (which we can easily walk to) above the “more academic” school on a busy road, which has an awful school run.

Climate change is bringing much more frightening things than air pollution to your children's lives.

We checked the pollution level for all the schools we considered and also considered the exposure they would have on the way to the school. We also thought about their walk to school when they are older.