Commute to work so much shorter when schools are off

[Ifo]

I believe that traffic levels have gone up since parents were able to choose which school their DCs go to. Parents apply without thinking about how their DC get to school. Yes car.

It’s half term here and my journey to work during term time is 1 hour - 1 hour 10 mins. This week, I left home 15 minutes later and arrive 10 mins earlier than the ETA upon leaving.

This is even with more people doing hybrid/WFH.

i think admission policy should revert back to postcodes. Except for in DC with severe SEND.

But how much of that reduction in traffic is due to parents being on leave (for holidays or childcare) rather than just not doing school runs?

I saw figures that one in three children dropped off at school by car are from a parent who then goes back home. A stat from before wfh became an option for many.

Yes makes such a difference, also when private schools are off

Round my area it’s got more to do with parents being on leave and working from home more in the holidays. Most go to the local primary as it’s a great school so don’t need to travel further.

Parents don’t choose a school, that’s not how it works. You can express preferences but you will only get a place at a school if you meet the admissions criteria. Those normally include either a catchment area or a distance element. So if a school is popular but you live out of catchment or further away than most, you won’t be offered a place there. That means that the large majority of children attend their catchment/nearest school or one that is almost as close.

Why don’t you look at the number of parents who either are on annual leave or have working from home during school holidays.

Even in postcodes plenty of parents will drive. And our primary school is walking distance but the high school is still a 20 minute drive. Your reason for being on the road isn’t more valid than anyone else’s to be honest.

If you look at your county’s school admissions, many schools are undersubscribed which means you can have pupils travelling in from miles away.

I completely agree about the traffic and commuting time - it is significantly better in my London suburb this week too - but I doubt a fully postcode-based catchment system could ever work in our society. Even more so than now you would be creating a world of ‘Haves’ and ‘Have Nots’ based on local property prices, with middle class families moving and paying a huge premium to be close to a good school.

I want other people to not use their car, so it’s easier for me to use my car

Yabu

I would not support the OPs suggestion about school admissions. The issue of traffic congestion and safety neglect by parents at school start and finish times seems anecdotally to be no different regardless of catchment areas.

A walk to school of a mile is no excuse for going by car. Most of the third or more who go straight back home could walk.

I agree that people should not choose schools further away and add to pollution and global warming.

I think that also applies to commuting though. You want a fancy city job? Live in the city. If you don't want to or can't afford to, get a local job instead.

Neither is what people WANT, which is understandable. But it is what the planet needs.

What do you mean choose? There still are catchment areas for most schools. We didnt get any of our choices, including our closest/catchment school because we weren't deemed close enough to meet their catchment for that year of entry. You are also assuming every child lives within 10-15 mins walking distance of a school (especially in Primary, where parents need to accompany the child, then often double back and make it to work in time), that is decent and can meet the child's needs, and that every school has sufficient breakfast/after school provisions for working parents.

Why don't you work within walking/cycling distance of your house?

I want safe drivers, using cars they can drive. SUVs are probably only needed for under 5% of those who have them, no-one needs a car over say 1.5 litres except when towing a caravan.

I believe that traffic levels have gone up since parents were able to choose which school their DCs go to.

When did this happen?!

@FuzzyWolf but not the majority, as I said. Not even close to the majority.

nothing to do with...

parents travelling to work at different times when not having drop offs to consider.

nothing to do with parents taking leave?

nothing to do with school staff being on holiday?

nothing to do with catering & other supplies not needing to be delivered to schools?

etc etc etc

it has always been the same. Nothing to do with admission policies.

The school run has always been a busy time on the roads. Plus parents are more likely to be off so not driving to work.

It has long been the case that you didn’t have to go to local school. I attended one a drive away and that was 50 ish years ago!

Though when I go on the bus to hospital I’d have an appointment at 9am, I see kids wearing uniforms for schools that are on the other side of the county. As have (town) Academy on their blazers

I think that also applies to commuting though. You want a fancy city job? Live in the city. If you don't want to or can't afford to, get a local job instead.

And that’s not a reflection of housing cost?

And cities don’t need police, nurses, etc.

Im still shocked by what posters post on here 😆

Well, OFSTED ratings have a lot to answer for. We have a primary school on our street which was rated ‘good’ at the last inspection, my DC go there and they’re absolutely brilliant- no complaints from me whatsoever. NDN sends her DC to a primary a good 15 min drive away, definitely not walking distance with children so small. No reason whatsoever other than the fact it was rated outstanding. I realise the one word rating has now changed thank god but you know.

Secondary schools also tend to be far away compared to primary. Our nearest secondary is almost 3 miles away and kids from up to 15 miles away go because they live in small villages.

Depends where you live.

@ifoyou don’t want them on the bus either? Harsh. I doubt it’s the majority of those who attend those schools, but you will get some who live further away. Various reasons why, moving house after starting, being allocated that school due to other schools being full, and possibly because it was the parent’s preference and there were places available. Although that’s the least likely imo.

Kids have always travelled further for secondary. The other side of the county might still be their closest school!