School Commute - Is it worth it?

[Journeytolight]

My DD1 will start secondary in September. For DD2's sake we will stay where we are, but are willing to move if commute is too long. As you lovely mums (and dads?) are amazing at giving reasonable opinions, I want to know yours.
Is a 1 hr 5mins commute worth it or should we move? The commute may take up to 10-12 mins more so bear that in mind. We are trying to figure out what to do

So, is the commute worth it?

[dee1969]

My daughter had a taxi/school bus pick her up at 7.35am to get her to school for 8.40am, cost £900 per year. The bus trip only took 20 minutes so she has to stand about. That's fine in the summer but on cold winter mornings not so good. So now I take her we leave at 8.15am and get there in plenty of time.
I cant believe the amount of parents who send their child to the nearest school just to get the free bus, especially when that school has a bad reputation. We sacrificed days out, don't drink, don't smoke etc for a better school. Thankfully my Son past his 11 plus and the nearest Grammar school is one of the best in the country so free bus pass. We would of paid it if need be

[Elibean]

Sorry, Journey, hadn't seen your last post!

Glad you've found a solution

[Elibean]

My SIL, whose eldest is in Y7, says much the same as Martorana. Basically that she's very, very glad her dd only has a 20-30 door to door journey, as she's constantly having to pitch up for extras in the evening/after school.

We were considering a school about an hour away for dd1 (currently in Y5) as she fell in love with the place on a visit...its one bus, almost door to door, but a circuitous route We've decided its probably not worth it, in our case. I want her to have local friends.

That said, we're in London - if we were somewhere rural and isolated and the nearest decent school was an hour away, that would decide it.

[Journeytolight]

I have bought DD1 a new bike and am signing her up to go to council cycling classes during the summer holidays. For now, I take her to the local park so she can cycle until then. Thanks everyone for your help. Now, both DDs are happy and so am I!

[Dozer]

If you move, then DD2 does not get into the (superselective?) grammar, what would be your plan for her? If you could afford to move into catchment for a better non-selective secondary than you have where you currently live (bearing in mind the high housing premium in and around London around these schools), then it might be a good option. If not, better to stay put, since it would be unfair to DD2 to move.

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

Is there somewhere you could move that wouldn't be too far from where you are now but would improve DD1's commute? e.g. near a different tube line

[Banter]

You've mentioned the tube, so you must live in London. You should be able to borrow bikes and helmets free as well. Here is the scheme run by the borough near my office www.islington.gov.uk/services/parking-roads/roadsafety/training/Pages/Courses.aspx . Even if you move closer to the school, if I were in your shoes, I'd be getting my daughter training now whilst she's keen. Cycling (and swimming) are life skills that all children need IMO.

[Journeytolight]

I have now discussed everything with both DDs. DD1 wants to move and is willing but DD2 doesn't want to lose all her friends at primary school! I have looked at the cycling one-to-one sessions. DD1 loves the idea it however, her bike broke a couple of days ago and now I have to invest the money in a new bike! Looking at it now, the possibility that we will move is high. I've just got to persuade DD2. Any ideas?

[Martorana]

Oh, do please think of the practicalities as they get older. I very much wish I had. Listen to people like me with kids in year 13- not just those with littlies in year 7!

[ISAmum1]

My son is in Year 7 at GS. I drop him at the bus stop in the morning and his commute is about 35 minutes. Coming home is very different, because of traffic, his journey takes about an hour and ten minutes, door to door. But generally this has not caused any problems. He loves travelling on the bus, he knew only one other child going to school before hand, but has found quite a few children who live locally who also do the same journey. With GS generally the pupils travel longer distances and so are more spread out. I pick him up once a week after school, but generally otherwise, he comes home by bus. His only initial difficulty was getting on the bus home, as being a small Year 7 child, older more experienced students tended to get on first. This seems to have settled down now and thinking back I remember this happening to my DD who is at a different school.

Good luck to your daughter for September.

[YesIam]

Will she involved in lots of extracurricular? Frankly, two terms into year 7 and I can't imagine DS being that long a commute away. We have had school concerts and music competitions finishing at 9:30pm. Same with plays, rehearsals after school, clubs, sport, music lessons. The last period finishes at 4 and it is rare for him to come straight home. Lots of days he calls and says he is staying in the library to advance homework, which is great because when he comes home he has finished all his work. Sometimes he stays for pleasure, to read the magazines or newspapers in the library. He has also been involved in helping during open evenings, etc.

Basically, IME it's not the commute itself, but proximity offers you the flexibility to make the most out of secondary school.

[Martorana]

Just added up the miles I did last weekend- 150.

[Banter]

" DD isn't very good at road cycling (she can't ride in a consistent line" That is very easy to solve. Go onto your council website and look up one-to-one cycle training. The training that gets done through schools isn't enough but extra sessions are usually very cheap (free in London boroughs) and worth it for their independence. Our council training is £20 for 3 hours one to one - a snip! That gives DD the chance to cycle in most weather, and to get home from clubs etc, which is something the those tied to coaches really miss out on. Ideally, have one or two of her friends do the same, and they'll start to get themselves to friends houses, the leisure centre etc, and you'll know they will have road sense when they come to learn to drive.

[Martorana]

What's transport like in the evenings? Can she stay behind after school for stuff and still get home? How about weekends- can she get to see her friends? Does her travel card/season ticket work at the weekends? As she gets older, where is she most likely to socialise? How will she get home at night?

All these are incredibly important questions I wish I had considered!

If dd has a party, or a weekend rehearsal or a match I can end up driving over 100 miles in a weekend.......

[ThreeLannistersOneTargaryen]

It was difficult socially, as most of my friends lived a good way away and no one in my family could drive, but friends would invite me to stay over.

[ThreeLannistersOneTargaryen]

Mine was an hour each way (fifteen minute walk, forty minute coach journey, five minute walk). For me, yes it was worth it. It was exactly the right school for me.

[Taz1212]

DS(11) has an hour long commute. His bus is at 7:15 and he gets back around 4:45. Fortunately we are only a 5 minute drive from the bus stop and on the odd day when I can't collect him, the driver will drop him very close to his house. DS almost enjoys the bus- it seems to have quite the social life!

[HolidayCriminal]

We faced all this for DD and emphatically rejected the long commute. I wanted DD to have a life. Our possible school was at least 40 min. drive in good traffic, though.

If you ask around you may find some other parents who drive & could give lifts if you contribute costs. Even a direct minibus may exist (they do around here).

[JaneinReading]

Ours took a school coach and that was including the time getting her to the stop an hour door to door from age 5 (coaches laid on by the school). It was a very good school and she's now left and doing extremely well. It was definitely worth it.

[Journeytolight]

The post before my previous post should read: DD2 may or may not...

[Journeytolight]

DD isn't very good at road cycling (she can't ride in a consistent line and therefore goes right in front of the cars) so cycling isn't an option

[Littlemisstax]

If it's 20 minutes by car could she cycle?

[goshhhhhh]

My Dd has a comute about this length. It involves a lift to the station, train & walk at other end. They get used to it very quickly, it makes them a bit more street wise & independent. The downsides are made up for by how good the school is. And on the upside it is giving her lots of life skills for when she is older.

[Journeytolight]

Since it's a grammar school, DD1 may or may not get in depending on how well she preforms on the day of the test. The journey will consist of travelling on a bus and walking. We don't know anyone from DDs school who will be going to the same school but my friends daughter will be. They live very near us so she has a potential travelling buddy. The school is very near us if you go by car (20 mins in horrendous traffic) but public transport is a nightmare! I have to go to work very early in the day and can't drop her off at school so public transport is the only choice. Tube/train takes even longer!

[creamteas]

If there are other pupils in the area doing similar journeys, it should work out ok. But it can be terribly isolating for teens who do not live near their school friends, especially when they start getting more independent.

Coming back as a group on the same evening bus from the movies is very different to one child traveling to a different area alone or having to be collected by parents all the time.