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Original poster

How far away would you live from your child's school?

29 replies

Gatita1980 · 30/08/2013 15:49

We are thinking of moving to North Devon and think we have chosen a school, we now have to figure out where to live. Our preferred place does have a bus that runs to the school but it is quite a long journey considering the ages of our kids. Thoughts please :)

OP posts:
Talkinpeace · 30/08/2013 15:52

In time or distance?

And seasons ..... North Devon on a Friday afternoon in July is full of grockles

Original poster
Gatita1980 · 30/08/2013 15:56

Time please, I appreciate the roads won't be as manic as in July/August, but we will have work and school traffic to contend with.

OP posts:
meditrina · 30/08/2013 16:09

Is it a private school, where you can be sure of an offer?

Because if state, the first thing you need to do is check the "greatest distance offered" for places over the last few years and then see what lies comfortably within that zone.

NoComet · 30/08/2013 16:13

Time not distance is the killer for happy DCs. (Catchment issues aside)

My secondary was 12 miles and 15 minutes away.

DDs is 6 miles and it takes their bus over an hour. Council are too cheapskate to provide a few extra minibuses so the routes are truly mind boggling.

blueshoes · 30/08/2013 16:17

10 and 20 minute walk respectively to each of DC's junior schools. We moved to be closer to their schools. This is London.

Talkinpeace · 30/08/2013 16:29

Round here (Hampshire) 20 minutes = around 15 miles

Original poster
Gatita1980 · 31/08/2013 07:51

Thank you for this, I had found what I thought was the perfect school, but it's too far from our preferred living area and it would not be fair to ask the kids to travel so far each day, the time they spent with us would be more valuable.

OP posts:
lljkk · 31/08/2013 10:24

I want to say 20 minutes max, too. That's about 10 miles here. 80 minutes a day is a lot of driving (and expensive, £10 on my little efficient car).

lily9478 · 31/08/2013 15:35

We live about 10 minutes away from DD1's school but she takes the bus which takes about 30 minutes. We live about 15 or 20 minutes away from DD2's school; she also takes the bus which takes about 30 or 35 minutes. They are both in secondary school.

IndridCold · 31/08/2013 18:01

No point going to live by the beach if they don't get home until 6pmSmile.

Our journey was about 20 minutes for 10 miles, which was fine, but I did find that we had to leave the house by 8 in the morning, otherwise we would be held up by the traffic jams going into Tavistock. Leaving 5 minutes late could make us 10 or 15 minutes late to school.

Taz1212 · 31/08/2013 18:26

DS(11) gets the school bus and it's an hour each way.

Silverfoxballs · 31/08/2013 18:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Gatita1980 · 31/08/2013 19:51

Yeah well that all makes sense, if we can find somewhere nice and close to the school it would be perfect, we have never been able to walk them to school, I would love that.

OP posts:
Picturesinthefirelight · 31/08/2013 19:58

We live 7 miles away from the junior school. It takes just over half an hour to get there in the morning & 20 mins in the afternoon.

Dd starts secondary next week at a school 35 miles away. It will take between 45 mins to an hour each way.

averyyoungkitten · 01/09/2013 14:14

For me it might depend on whether there is a school bus running near where I choose to live. In my own case my DC are 40 mins drive from school, and I consider that maximum as to what I think is acceptable.

The problem with North Devon isnt the state of the roads in summer ( or the grockles), its also the difficult and inaccessible nature of many places in winter. Raods like the A 39 ( the "snake road") are difficult to pass in winter weather. Many of the roads are slow because of their climbing and single carriageway/rural nature. The A 377 gets blocked with a slight sleet fall. The A386 can be impassible in places with flooding / snow in bad winter weather. The list goes on.

Twinklestarstwinklestars · 01/09/2013 14:20

We live about 6 miles from the school which takes about 10 mins, its not the catchment area one but that's on town with no parking so actually takes longer to get to than the village school they go to.

iseenodust · 01/09/2013 18:15

We live 35mins drive from DS new school and are moving to be nearer and on the school bus route. The idea of nearly 3 hours a day in the car is doing my head in !

HmmAnOxfordComma · 01/09/2013 18:33

Ds started secondary at an independent 9 miles away (but in the centre of town and opposite directions from both places of work). It was taking about 40 mins to get him to school (and 20 mins to get back on track to our normal work route) and the same in reverse in the evening.

I wouldn't recommend it.

We put our house on the market one term in and moved two and a half terms in.

We now live opposite school.

Original poster
Gatita1980 · 01/09/2013 20:15

Eugh so much to think about....thank you for all of your feedback, please let me know if you have any more input.

OP posts:
poppydoppy · 02/09/2013 16:00

Distance is not such an issue while they are young but as they hit teen years its hard to get them out of bed in the mornings plus they have more homework. Near to home is better IMO

cory · 04/09/2013 15:27

I would consider half an hour or even 45 minutes acceptable for walking. And maybe an hour on the bus.

But would be hesitant about any solution that might be unworkable in ordinarily bad weather and/or would make them socially totally dependent on you.

TeenAndTween · 05/09/2013 18:53

I know it has been mentioned above, but OP hasn't acknowledged the point, so incase OP has missed it I will say it again:

If this is for state schooling, make sure you would be high enough up the priority / waiting list to get a place. No point living too far away or being accidentally out of catchment.

Original poster
Gatita1980 · 05/09/2013 21:17

OP?

OP posts:
Bowlersarm · 05/09/2013 21:20

Op I can't see whether your DC are primary or secondary?

Secondary school age able to travel a lot further than primary.

My teens are 50 mins each way.

bsc · 05/09/2013 21:20

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