How far is too far? AIBU

[Strawberryrainbow]

Was looking for your opinion on how far is too far?

Am looking at secondary schools for my child and there is a fantastic one that would suit perfectly - only catch it's a 2 mile walk. There isn't a bus route that doesn't go direct and would have to go out village to come back in again so doesn't make sense!

AIBU - Is this too far? Am I being unrealistic in expecting my year 7 to walk that far to/from school each day?

How far does your child look walk to get to school?

Thank you

Yes but also remember school normally finishes before 4pm so it won't be that dark!

That distance is fine; I found it hard to visualise my Yr5/Yr6 DC being anything other that young children but of course they grow quickly and can manage these longish journeys absolutely fine.

DS is 3 miles from school. We have a bus that goes to school but is 0.6mi from home on the most direct route, and a mile to be on a lit/ all weather path.

He's small for his age and finding his rucksack heavy to adjust to. At present we park up in a convenient place (away from the school's chaos) and he's still got a 5-10 min walk; partly for our sakes, partly so he's not too lazy about walking. I've got time to play with so once a week I walk down to him and we bus back together to train him up. I'll then phase to meeting him at the bus stop and get him more and more used to getting himself around. We have ASD in the mix so it takes a bit longer to get used to these things and the transition is already big to him.

I walked 2mi to and from school as a 6th former and chose that over buses for the fitness. It would have been hard going as a tiny 11yo though. With the A-level books/ folders it was a good workout- too 30 mins uphill! But having the option for the bus in foul weather is a big difference, especially in the morning. The way home is not so bad as at least you can change to dry/ warm up if needed.

A bike would bake short work of 2 miles. Does the school have a bike rack?

DTs have just started year 7, it's jut under 2k away, all the kids walk it. There is a bus, but its's crap and they still have to walk up a massive hill. When i was a kid the walk home / to school was one of the best parts of the day. Our roads are good though, bit different if you are wandering down country lanes in the dark.

What is the alternative?

A 40 minute walk one way (if you can drop off in the morning) is a small price to pay for an excellent school Vs a poor school.

I used to set off at 7:45 for school and get home approximately 5pm. I had to take spare shoes and a torch to get home in winter. That wasn't all on foot (it was a mile and a bit a day on foot and the rest by bus).

I think the key thing is to make sure they'll be able to have a locker and work out if there's a way of picking them up/reducing the walk once a week just so they can bring home gym kit etc for washing and things?

Is it in the catchment us a more realistic question. Will you get in?

Is the route well lit and safe? I used to walk just under that back in the 90s but part of it involved walking through an unlit park, then a wooded area, not great in winter after activities.

I had no one to walk home with either as no one who lived near me walked. This may also be the case for her.

The guidelines here are that secondary school pupils can walk 3 miles to school. Not necessarily something I agree with but 2 miles doesn't seem excessive.

My two walk 2.1 miles to their high school. Or they occasionally bike it. Although they prefer to walk it and walk with friends. It's been absolutely fine. Yes they have to leave the house early, but neither have been late yet, they've got into a good routine. I occasionally give them a lift or pick them up if I'm working from home and the weather is bad, but this few and far between. It's very good exercise for them too.

Thanks so much. Very insightful answers. I think we will go for it.

It's a bit of a jaunt. Especially when you factor in heavy bags, PE kit, cooking stuff etc etc. Perhaps okay in the morning, when he's feeling fresh, but in the evening when tired and hungry, maybe too much. Is it hilly? That makes a difference as well. A 2 mile walk up and down hills, even ones that seem insignificant in the car, can be a lot more tiring than 2 miles on the flat.

I used to do about 2 miles to/from sixth form, but I was 16-18 by then. Not 11. And if the weather was bad, or I was a bit under the weather myself, my mum would drop me off, or pick me up half way.

I think it all depends on the kid as well.

If it means the child gets to go to a much better school, I think you're making a great decision. Like I said, my two do it and my youngest had only turned 11 about a week before year 7 started. Took her a few days to get used to it and she did moan a couple of times, but it was soon just part of the routine. She's not particularly sporty, so I like that decent exercise is now naturally part of her daily routine.