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?

Yep. Now we have to work all hours God sends to pay for their pensions. Great, innit?

Our secondary is about 2 miles away. 45 mins walk or so. Lifts are offered spending on how complicated rhe extra kit needed is…

My kids walked about that distance - no bus route. No real issues as a few friends all walked together. We did a trial walk before they started so they knew the route. I think it's worth it for a good school and this was our catchment school anyway.

I’ve just looked it up on Google maps and the walk I used to do up secondary school was 2.3 miles and I used to do this in about 45 minutes. Including with heavy bag.

Too far with heavy bags, etc

Check out cycle routes, there may be some that you aren't aware of. Our kids cycled 3 miles each way to secondary school, up hill some of the way home.
Our Local Council could tell us the "safe route to school" which had all of the cycle routes.

Ours is 1.8 miles.
Takes my DC 25-30 minutes to walk.
10 minutes for my speedy son to bike.

I grew up on this road and went to the same secondary so I have been in that position, I didn't think anything of it at that age.

But their primary school was 1.2 miles so they are used to walking distances without complaining.

How would she get on with a saxophone, rugby kit and ingredients for a shepherds pie?

I agree that 20 mins is a reasonable pace for one mile but there are all kinds of reasons why it could take longer.

We did it with sports kit, food for home economics, books etc.

I used to cycle this distance no problems but I wouldn’t have wanted to walk it.

Out of interest, is that where you chose to live? Did you consider schools?

Not secondary schools, no. A mistake, I agree, but here we are.

Yes coming to think of it, it is more important to be closer to a secondary school. You can drive them to primary as it is usual to take them for the majority of their schooling.

If you do drive Not everyone does

Does driving everywhere really mean were better off?

Mine do a mile and a half. It's fine.

No I agree but I live in a city with great PT. I am trying to imagine living somewhere more rural and most people wouldn't even consider that if they can't drive. In this case, I think it is more important to consider how your children will get to their secondary school, bearing in mind the PT limitations etc. The OP did say she could give lifts though so I assume she does.

If you live rural and don't drive, then Idadvise when you can choose where to live, you look for the rare place where both schools are within a 15 minute walk.

Not even rural. I live in the outskirts of a town. The only primary school that had a place for my second DD was 2.5 miles over the other side of town. My eldest walked 8 mins to the local primary.

How can you guarantee that you will get a place in a local school?

I don't know, but this is why I'd never live somewhere that I don't have multiple schools nearby. I do not understand my friends who have sold up and moved out to places like you describe when they've grown up with the abundance of services that we have here.

Don't be silly.

Even growing up in London the nearest Secondary was more than 15min walk away. (I did 10 mins walk, 20mins bus in heavy traffic, 10 mins walk for example).

While a short walk to Secondary is nice... its unrealistic for everyone to be able to do it. Or have a parent drive them.

There were 4 primary schools closer than the one she got a place in

Having looked all the high schools are around 1.1-1.5 miles from us DD is 1.3 and it takes her 25 minutes and DS 1.5 around 35 minutes

remember although the difference between 1.6 and 2 seems small it is 25% more

Personally I feel like it's a bit unfair, especially in bad weather. I did a walk like that and it was miserable in winter.

Ours is that far and both my kids walk it in 30 mins or so - can run it quicker and sometimes dawdle back and take 45 mins.
It helps keep them fit, they walk with friends - it’s really not very far!