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Original poster

Walking to secondary school

27 replies

livvyliv · 08/06/2012 19:31

We're looking to buy a house that would mean my dd would have about a 25min walk when she starts next year.is it reasonable to expect her to do that or do you think it means I would be giving her lifts most days?there isn't a bus service but it's in a town and not too concerned re safety.
What would most kids do with that distance?
Thanks in advance

OP posts:
NormaStanleyFletcher · 08/06/2012 19:32

My DS walks 20 mins

In all weathers

(without a coat )

invicta · 08/06/2012 19:34

Sounds fine to me.

clam · 08/06/2012 19:44

Mine walk 15 minutes-ish. But if it's raining and either dh or I (or neighbour with similar aged kids) are around, we take pity on them and give them a lift.

Fortunately, we're still officially in drought.

cory · 08/06/2012 20:26

Ds has a 35 minute walk, no problem. I don't take pity if it rains- for one thing I can't drive. Some of his mates walk even further.

Clary · 09/06/2012 00:10

25 mins is totally fine for a fit and healthy 11yo.

Or she could cycle? But walking fine.

VoldemortsNipple · 09/06/2012 00:25

Ds2 was walking two and a half miles each way to and from school from aged 6. It too 45 minutes each way.
Chances are she will probably walk with friends once she settles down and it won't seem such a big deal.

BackforGood · 09/06/2012 00:36

Mine walk further than that.
ds's school is 1.1 miles away and dd's is 1.5 miles. They walk both ways most days.
ds does his in about 15- 20 mins as he never leaves enough time.
dd1 sets off about an hour before school starts, but she does stop off at about 3 or 4 friends houses to collect them on the way. On the way home they can turn it into about an hour and a quarter if they really get into a good natter Grin
The only time I pick her up is if she has stayed for something after school that none of her friends have, and it's dark and she's on her own - it feels like a long way then.

Jubilcece · 09/06/2012 00:53

I am planning on having DD walk for about 30 mins to school in September.

I think that is entirely reasonable.

mummytime · 09/06/2012 11:23

Mine walk 40 minutes to an hour to school, I do occasionally give lifts if: pouring with rain, or PE and cooking ingredients. 25 minutes is nothing.

nymets · 09/06/2012 11:37

25 minute walk is normal surely Confused

bruffin · 09/06/2012 11:42

Mine have that walk to the station, then a short train journey then another 15 min walk.

corlan · 09/06/2012 12:42

Sounds fine. Hopefully she'll find a friend she can walk with for company.

CarrotsAreNotTheOnlyVegetables · 10/06/2012 11:24

My DD (yr 7) walks approx 25 mins to school with 2 of our neighbours. They sometimes get the bus if it is raining or they have a lot to carry. She enjoys the walk as they get to have a good gossip and gets lots of exercise.

However, she now wears out her school shoes in half the time! Grin

UniS · 10/06/2012 20:00

25 mins is fine for a secondary kid.

what would most kids do with that distance?? dwawdle, gossip , eat sweets, and eventually get home about an hour after school kicked out. I used to have the choice of a 40 min walk or two buses or any combination of walk and bus. Often I walked home chatting to a friend who lived round the corner, and spent the bus fare on snacks

flexybex · 10/06/2012 21:23

Mine ran (7 minutes) and was always late. Angry !!

5madthings · 10/06/2012 21:31

its fine, my little ones walk that far everyday to get to their primary school, once they go to high school they will only have a ten min walk as its nearer! but lots of kids at the high school which my ds1 goes to have a good half an hour walk if not longer, they walk or bike and its fine :)

Greythorne · 10/06/2012 21:35

Is it usual for first year at secondary children to walk to and from school?

Just checking.

A friend has a boy aged 9 and she is wondering how to get him to school once he starts at secondary. I suggested he woukd walk as it is less than a ten minute walk. They actually live on the same (longish) road as the school so it would be safe from the perspective of traffic as he would only have to cross side roads.

But she gasped and said, "we would never consider that, what with all the abductions you hear of".

I was very surprised but then, only have a 5 yo for now so can't project.

mummytime · 10/06/2012 21:41

Most secondary school pupils get themselves to and from school. Some have an hour or more journey. It would be embarrassing to be accompanied by parents (although the occasional lift by car is permissible) .
There are very very few abductions in this country. Being involved in a car accident is far more likely.
However on the way to and from school there are usually hordes of teenagers around,providing a lot of safety in numbers (a small secondary tends to have 1000 pupils).

AllPastYears · 10/06/2012 21:49

Greythorne - Shock at your friends!

cory · 10/06/2012 22:58

Greythorne, absolutely normal for them to either walk or travel on public transport

also to go on shopping expeditions and trips to the cinema/McDonalds/local park with their mates

your friend will be surprised when she sees how much her little boy grows up in 2 years

ds is in Yr 7- his best mate's voice is already breaking, they take an interest in girls, they get through vast quantities of Lynx and hang around in the local park, many of the girls in their class will have reached puberty- they are not little boys and girls any more

Clary · 10/06/2012 23:49

lol @ yr friend greythorne my younger two are in yr 6 and 4 and walk to and from school without us!

In fact if I am (occasionally) available to pick up from school I am greeted with considerable disdain unless I am needed to carry a clarinet or PE bag Grin

Needmoresleep · 11/06/2012 07:39

Scooter?

We got DS a serious Swiss made folding commuting scooter which cut his journey time by half. (An Argos one would have only lasted 2 weeks.)

usualsuspect · 11/06/2012 07:42

I would say that a 25 minute walk was normal

teacherwith2kids · 11/06/2012 14:40

Greythorne,

My relatively sensible (but with many ASD traits) 11 year old DS will, from September

  • Get himself up
  • Make his own breakfast
  • Be responsible for getting together everything he needs for school
  • Walk to school (about 25 minutes)
  • Walk back from school
  • Let himself into a (usually) empty house or (1 day a week) walk himself a further 1/2 mile to a music lesson
  • Start his homework

As everyone else is out of the house from 7.15 am to around 5 pm, and often longer, it's the only option we have available.

I'm nervous about it, but I have to say him being abducted is NOT my main nervousness! Whether he can cope with anything 'out of the ordinary' en route (he doesn't 'do' change well) and not having anyone to get him out of a meltdown if he e.g. forgets something are much higher up my list....

HandMadeTail · 11/06/2012 15:01

DD1 gets a train to school (currently Y8, but has done it since Y7). We drop her at the station, then she has about 15 mins walk at the other end.

She gets home from the station by bus in the evening, when its not so time pressured.

DD2 will go to a different senior school to DD1 from September, and we will drop her with DD1 in the morning, and she will walk about 15 mins to school, then get the bus home in the evening (10 mins to bus stop, 5 mins from bus stop to home.)

25 mins walk is fine, and as has been said up thread, they will want to go shopping to the cinema etc, no no need to mollycoddle them.

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