2 mile walk to secondary school too far?

[Somewhereonlywego]

I'm not sure how long it would take, 40, 45 mins?

I could give lifts where possible on WFH days, but that wouldn't be every day.

There's a bus, but only one an hour and not sure how reliable it would be. But could be an option for super rainy days?

They then have to go through 6 hours of school. And be prepared to do the same journey back. That’s before we get to weather.

Also, dark evenings.

Its physically possible but you have to think about their actual education and learning.

both my DC walked back from school every day; it was a 2 mile walk. No issues. It was a busy main road so wouldn't want them to have cycled it.

It’s worrying that so many people think two miles is too far to walk for a healthy teenager.

Plenty of kids walk that ( inc me as a teen)

my daughter walks 1.9 miles to school and back each day. Takes 25 mins on her own or an hour if mooching with friends …..

My kids choose to walk 2 miles to school most days rather than get in the bus battles (small single decker). They get home around an hour after school finishes but they leave for school 40 minutes before gates open. Think they wait for the boys school to kick out on the way home.

Yeah ok, it's absolutely fine, but is it preferable? Not really. Lovely to do on a summer's day. In this case, it's twice a day every day. For half the year it would be dark both ways, most likely they'd be carrying heavy bags, probably crossing multiple roads, often in rain or wind or snow. That's a lot for an 11-12 year old to deal with on their own. As a woman I often don't feel comfortable walking alone in the dark so I wouldn't let my tween do it either. From 15, yes. It's not just the physical distance, it's all the other factors.

My girls walked 2.5 miles to school every day of their high school years. We lived rurally and there wasn’t a bus. They never complained (and even if they had, there was no option 🤣)

2 miles is fine.

Ffs! 🤦‍♀️ Get a grip!

A 30-40min/2m walk is fine so long as there’s a pedestrian pathway and it’s well lit. Good for mental and physical health and if it rains… that’s what a coat is for?

My high school was exactly 2 miles away and I walked there and back rain and shine. I called for 4 friends on the way and by the time I'd waited for them it used to take an hour to get to school.

I remember once carrying my school bag, PE bag, tenor saxophone and an unbaked quiche home. 🤣

I never got lifts because it never occurred to me to ask - even when my parents had been to school in the car to watch a concert I would prefer to walk home with friends, even in the dark.

I live a 5 min walk from the High School that my children went to and if H or I were around they would ask for a lift because they were always running late because they thought they could leave the house later because we lived so close. They regularly had detentions because of late marks.

Unless you live in Inverness its not going to be dark half the year not is it going to rain half the time etc.

Really? In the rain or when the paths are icy and it’s dark, twice a day? Im mega fit for my age and religiously walk 15,000 steps a day but when I’m feeling a bit crap and it’s raining and I have the kids heavy PE kits with me I find the 10 minute walk to their school a bit of a pain. I think the comments are quite balanced and even those of us that think it’s a bit far are saying that lots of the time it’ll be fine but just that having a back up now and again is advisable. I don’t think anyone is saying a 40 minute walk is too far when everything is going well.

That is how far my last secondary school was from home. I walked most of the time. I carried PE kit there but not any musical instruments. The worse was when we had cookery. Really, I don’t think children walk enough.

Get an Uber account for the worst days!

Not too far. My walk was 1.5 miles, took me about 30 minutes.

In all weathers.

Because my parents divorced and my mum couldn't drive.

Fun times.

I might be tempted to try and flex work hours enough that I could drop her each morning (to a nearby cafe if needed with commute time) at least in the winter.

That way she only has to walk home which halves the walk and also cuts out worries about being wet all day etc.

i did it every school day, all year. I played the Clarinet so carried that some days too.
I had already ridden one of my ponies before school and had to ride one after too, i can't remember ever being tired. I'm not THAT old so it's not like "back in the day" thoughts....
Its just what i had to do, as did all my friends. Our parents rarely had time to take us to school and there was no bus.

so yes, absolutely mind boggling to me that it's even a question outside of a rural situation

Unless you live in the depths of Scotland, it won’t be dark at 3pm for half the year 🙄

It is absolutely doable, but my dd is a nightmare to get to school at any time, if she had to walk 2 miles in the rain I would never get her out the door. There are frequently threads on here about school refusal and kids who are fucking miserable at school, its all about circumstances. If your kid is fit and healthy and enjoys school it will be fine, especially if there isn't a suitable school closer to home.

My DS's school is only slightly closer and he always walks it. I have pointed out there is a bus (and made sure he knows how to use it), but he says it's quicker to walk. Especially when it's dark and wet and half the school want to get the same bus. He doesn't play any sports or instruments though.

Honestly, some people need to get a grip - it’s a 40 minute walk in the UK, not a bloody trek across the tundra 🫣

Many kids have longer days and do activities after school.
Mine are coming home in the semi-dark at the moment.

I don't think all that many people who are saying it's fine actually have young teenagers who are walking this kind of distance at the moment.

I lived exactly that distance from my secondary school and sometimes got lifts but otherwise was fine walking. Sometimes carrying a cello or an A1 art folder. All the secondaries in my town were kind of on the outskirts so it was very normal to walk and many of the kids who lived near me walked there and back every day.

Are you alright? Are you not able to communicate in a polite way or what?

All I said was a 40 minute walk twice a day isn’t best for learning.

Are you able to articulate yourself and explain what you disagree with?

otherwise, start a bunfight with someone else.

It’s fine but you’ll need a back up plan for when they have heavy kit to drag.