How long is your school run?

[CPHB2021]

We've sold our house and are looking for a new place, currently staying with family. Our son is at school and daughter starting this year. We're very happy with the school and will not be moving them. My question is how far do you drive for a good state school? I want to be able to still have friends back and continue to do local clubs. Is 20 mins too far? We're currently doing 18 minutes from my MIL and it doesn't seem too much but would it be too much twice a day, for 7 years plus?

20 minutes is a long drive for a playdate. I wouldn't expect parents to do that after school, tbh.

We went from a 10 minute walk to a 10-12 minute drive, occasionally it would be 15 minutes. We moved to be in catchment for an incredible secondary school and wanted to keep the children in their original primary. I did it for 7 years. Secondary was a 20 minute walk from here.

I think the only thing was playdates but I was more than happy to run children home rather than the parent come out to my house but I was also a sahm and most of my children's friend's parents worked full time if not part time. Our playdates were after school though, occasionally in the holidays.

Things to consider, one child in an after school activity and having to go back again. If they are both in wrap around care than this is not an issue as you would only be going once. Traffic, occasionally it would take me over 30 minutes to get home due to issues with traffic lights on a major junction but that was drop off and I was coming back home. And the worst, snow. We had to walk to school which was a 45 minute walk there and then I had to walk back. That is a lot of time out of my day. And sickness, if you have one well child and one sick child there isn't a parent nearby to collect your well child on the way to school and drop them back.

20 minutes drive is a bit of a pain for other people tbh. If parents are working then that's an additional 40 minutes they've got to find in their day. I wouldn't assume that the friendships are established at this age, my eldest is y4 and has different friends than he did in y2

20-25 mins - 9 miles. We moved to a more rural location, kids are at a good school. We just get on with it, has become the norm now.

20min walk each way which is probably a 5minute drive (we don't often drive)

Snap! Love it - no traffic worries, and running late isn't a huge issue.

Always been few mins walk to primary which is amazing, eldest DD in secondary, normally gets the bus but if we do drive her it's 15-20 mins. I don't think 20 mins is too bad though if you love the school

5 min drive (traffic dependent), 10 min walk.

I drive DD more than walk because I am on my way to/coming home from work but don't park right outside the school (more for ease of getting away in the car).

7 min walk and it's amazing! We were in the sane position as you and kept them at same school when we moved. But two years of 20+mins each way twice a day plus having to get there early to park and fit in work as well led us to change their school! It wasn't the only reason but a massive contributing factor.

Less than a 10 minute cycle. It’s quicker than driving as you need to park away and walk as it’s gridlock outside. Not that that’s the reason we ride.

We walk and it takes about 25-30 minutes.

We had 15 minute walk which was great.
Then a 35 minute drive to a special school which was rubbish.

5 mins walk. Everyone is within walking distance and the kids have many local friends whose houses they can walk to.

that’s a long way to get to school unless there’s limited options near you.

5 min drive 20 min walk

5-10 minutes in the car but a 40 minute walk (one way) and we only have one car so I mostly walk it. It's fine, but only because I work 10-6. It will be an issue for you if your car ever breaks down, as walking is out of the question, a bus would take too long and a taxi would be extortionate.

In total mine takes about 1 hour 15 mins to fetch both DC it isn't far just hellish and too far to walk

About 12-20 mins, depending on if we leave early for breakfast club or get caught in all the traffic. It is a really excellent school and I don't want to lose the small, friendly feel and speaking to people with dc at other schools has confirmed how great ours is. My only concern is that when dc hit year 6 they won't be able to walk home but we can get them walking locally.

Both primary and secondary schools are a five minute walk away.

10 min walk - I'm lucky that it's just down the road.

If you're not living near the school now, are you sure your youngest is going to be offered a place there? You need to be sure you aren't inadvertently applying with your old address, which is fraudulent. It might be that your question becomes redundant when you are offered a school local to your parents address where you are living, and you end up with kids at 2 different schools.....

30 minute drive each way but DD is at a special school so would have been prepared to drive much further if I'd needed to for the right school.

We're very rural and I'm finding it very amusing that people think a 20 minute drive for a playdate is a long way. I suppose you just adjust to where you are.

3 minute walk, wouldn’t want to have to drive, kids love walking with their friends, riding bikes or scooters etc

I'm almost certain we will get her place, using my mums address. The order of allocations in my county goes;
Children in care
Siblings
Catchment
Appeals

Fortunately, my daughters year is a low birth year so I am sure she'll get a place but we would appeal if not and as it's looking like the class size is roughly 11 children under capacity ( two class intake ) I think we will be ok 🤞🏼

MIL address I meant!