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Original poster

Who has a long-ish drive for the school run?

41 replies

Mirrorball · 18/08/2010 10:44

Just wondered if you wish you didn't have to get in the car every morning? Multiple drops offs at different schools? Traffic? Parking???

If you had a school close that you could walk to would you rather send your children there or do you consider the best school worth travelling for?

OP posts:

Lougle · 18/08/2010 10:45

And which paper are you writing for, Mirrorball?

Original poster

Mirrorball · 18/08/2010 11:57

Um, sorry? I'm just weighing up the pros and cons for us as a family regarding schools at the moment, we have rather important decision to make this week. A big question mark is the travelling around in the morning and afternoon and doing two seperate drop offs! .... and I would have appreciated some responses from people who are doing this and if they consider it worth it for their sanity!

If you see other threads of mine in the past week you'll discover I'm not a journalist.

OP posts:

sereka · 18/08/2010 12:08

Hey Mirrorball,

While its good to have a local school that you can walk to,i dont have a problem to travel for a better school.

Lougle · 18/08/2010 12:47

Why didn't you just say that in your OP? If you read your OP back, it does sound like a journalist. In fact, it sounds a bit like the tag lines you get on chat shows, like Jeremy Kyle or Trisha

compo · 18/08/2010 12:49

We moved so we could walk to school
mostly because I don't drive

Fiddledee · 18/08/2010 13:07

we are considering the same co-ed 5 min drive away or moving to get DD into a great school she is really suited to but DS will have to go to a boys school. School run will be at least 50mins. Why am I thinking about doing this...

Also different schools can have different start/end times and afterschool activities.

sizzlers · 18/08/2010 13:13

I have local schools but drive my dc's to a better school elsewhere takes about 25 mins each way in the mornings but worth it IMO .

fabsoopergroovy · 18/08/2010 13:29

Had no choice but to drive to school (approx 10 mins).

Live in a village and within walking distance of what has the potential to be a wonderful school but was forced to remove DC's due to dishonest (proven) and untrustworthy headteacher.

School did have around 200 pupils and around 15% now drive to other local schools due to issues that could have been avoided.

Am truly saddened that this should be allowed to happen. It is wrong and although DCs are very happy and getting a good education now, I will continue to fight for the right for future and existing parents to be able to walk to their local school safe in the knowledge that they are getting the best state schooling they, as taxpayers, can buy.

SwansEatQuince · 18/08/2010 13:32

25 miles one way.

Original poster

Mirrorball · 18/08/2010 13:39

Thanks for replies... really struggling with my pros and cons list today. Time running out to make a decision.

Lougle, I don't watch Trisha or Jeremy Kyle so wouldn't know how to construct such a perfect daytime tv tagline - perhaps you should get out more?

OP posts:

kitkat1967 · 18/08/2010 13:39

I have 2 seperate schools - DS we can walk to local primary, DD - drive or bus to all girls indie (since yr 5). To be honest it is a pain but we share lifts with another girl and we decided that it was more important for DD to go to the right school for her so this out-weighed the traveling issues. It is a big commitment on her part as well as she has to get up earlier and gets home later but 1 year on she is very happy with the decision.

Original poster

Mirrorball · 18/08/2010 13:42

Fiddledee - yes I sometimes stop myself and wonder if I'm bonkers?

Fabs - that situation sounds dreadful...

25 miles one way swans, that is commitment. We're trying to concentrate on the quality of education, but the daily school run time/petrol costs has to come into it?

I'd have to leave the house 45 mins earlier too.

OP posts:

elphiethropp · 18/08/2010 13:43

We choose to drive 7 miles each morning to the dc school. However I then have to travel a further couple of miles to work anyway. Having school close to work means I can do the drop off and pick up, parking is way easier there than my local primary and I only have to leave work 10 mins early to pick them up at the end of the day.

Original poster

Mirrorball · 18/08/2010 13:43

Husband and I have talked this to death and done lots of research and now I completely understand why parents choose different schools for different children in the same family.

OP posts:

SwansEatQuince · 18/08/2010 18:14

We are in a very rural area, Mirrorball and there was no alternative. It was a killer as it worked out at 100 miles each day.

LucindaCarlisle · 18/08/2010 18:17

Many schools both private (independent) and state and also Local Authorities have Transport (Bus) arrangements. It is worth finding out what transport is available.

fivecandles · 18/08/2010 18:58

30 minute drive each way BUT school is right next to where I work so I'd be doing the journey anyway. The plus side is that I can nip out and get the children in an emergency and have been known to sneak out and watch the odd school play etc.

mumof4sons · 19/08/2010 09:29

I have 4DS and they are at 3 different schools and I work at another. I have been taking Nos 1,3&4 to school and No2 got a bus. I was usually in the car for 45 minutes before I ever got to my school.

Hopefully this coming term I will get No1 on bus to sixth form. He has Aspergers and I know I have babied him. I now need him to become a bit more independent and sixth form college has different hours to the rest of us.

I now also have a neighbour who's children will be going to the school I work at - so I will be taking her kids and she is going to take mine Nos3&4 as she drives right past their school every morning on the way to yet another school that she works at.

No2 will still be taking the bus to his school.

sunnydelight · 19/08/2010 10:33

I've had kids going to local schools within walking distance, long drive to school with a nursery drop off en route and a screaming baby who hated the car in the back and currently kids mainly on school bus but 45 minute round trip if I drop them off although there are both primary and high scools within walking distance so they could go there if I wanted (you are guaranteed a place at your local school here).

The second scenario just wasn't sustainable for my mental health so we eventually moved house to be closer, though still not within walking distance. I am a firm believer in picking the school(s) to suit the child(ren). Local friends, being able to walk to school etc. are, in my personal opinion, icing on the cake but secondary to the quality of education my kids are getting. I would never choose a school just for convenience - it's got to be manageable but having experienced 4 different primaries and four different high schools on two different continents the best school for the child wins every time.

maggotts · 20/08/2010 02:21

45 minute drive each way - about 20 miles. Don't do it every day as have rota system sorted in village and DDs come home on bus most days.

It is a PITA but, on balance given the alternative, worth it.

Do daydream about moving closer though.... (but DDs who bear the brunt are adamant about staying put!)

faustina · 20/08/2010 07:28

I did 18 miles 4 times a day for three or four years until DS2 was old enough to get the bus and it was absolutely 100% worth it because he was really hating the school he was at.

Looking back, I quite liked those trips we did - I remember them as special times.

sarah293 · 20/08/2010 07:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

fivecandles · 20/08/2010 08:34

Was speaking to someone recently who gets her dcs to do all their homework in the car on the drive back from school! She's actualyl less likely to be distracted than when at home!

IndigoBell · 20/08/2010 08:37

I bought my house to be in the catchment area for a particular state school. It wasn't until DS was in Year 4 that I realised how bad the school was, and we have since moved my kids to the next closest school - which on paper looked like the far worse school. But in reality is far far better (just with a higher free school meal cohert.)

So basically, my message is how will you really know whether the local school is worse than the good school you want to drive to?

Original poster

Mirrorball · 20/08/2010 10:39

thanks for you insight everyone.

Indigobell - good question. It's weighing up smaller class size, therefore quality of education better and creative facilities (art, music, drama) against class of 30 and no real art (our child showing great deal of aptitude in art) or music facilities at local school.

OP posts:

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