Relocated to UK: 48 min and 96 min commute to different schools.

[MiniVansAreCool]

First time posting.

We moved over the summer (July) from the US to the UK (SW Herts). Did the required application and rejections to the nearest schools (all self-administering). Then completed the Herts Application for Schools and received the below results.

Our Y7 and Y11 spots are 48 mins and 96 mins each-way by public transit.

We have contacted Herts and submitted a transportation assistance request (do they still do mini-cabs?).

Of course there are a number of schools closer for Y11.

What real options do we have and what would you recommend we start considering?

Thank you.

48 mins for the Year 7 isn't unusual, so you won't get transport for that.

96 mins for year 11 is over the maximum so if it is the nearest with spaces, you should get assurance, but that may just be a free bus pass.

You could appeal for a space but that won't be heard now until several weeks into term and your child really can't afford to miss any of year 11. Moving into year 11 is going to be incredibly hard - is there no way round that? They will have missed at least half of the GCSE syllabus.

Assistance not assurance!

Another alternative might be persuading a private school to take them into year 10.

How many miles away are the schools?

Wow 96 minutes each way for year 11! As Patricia said entering year 11 is really tough anyway as they have missed half the course so will have to do loads of catch up . Combined with such a long day this is a really big ask. If you have the money I would also be looking at private schools and possibly even dropping the year 11 back into year 10 if it available.

Year 7 - Straight Line: 7.5KMs - Driving: 11KMs (why are these done in Kilometers?)

Year 11 - Straight Line: 11KMs - Driving: 15KMs

I'm really hoping we can figure something out. I don't think Private School is an option, unless I'm missing something, shelling out 20k+ for school is a bit much.

48 minutes is normal for high school , I really don’t see the issue.

Entering the UK system at the beginning of Y11 will be very challenging academically. There's at least a year's worth of course material to catch up on.

I live in S W.Herts. Are you able to say what part of S.W.Herts you have moved to?

If you are near Watford, the Reach Free might have spaces in Y11, also Westfield Academy and Francis Combe sometimes have spaces.

If they are the closest school with vacancies, you should get free transport to school. But because of the journey time for DC1 being so long, you could appeal for a closer school.

Is 48 minutes really normal for High School?

But you should get free transport for that distance if they are your nearest schools with places.

Took me an hour to get to school when I went. It isn't that uncommon!

Are you able to help either of your DC out with a lift part of the way in the morning?

How is 15km taking over an hour and a half?

15km and you reckon it will take 90 mins? How?

Could you drive the y11 in?

Are you rural? Our nearest achool is 5 miles away, 15 min by car, over an hour by bus and walking (it’s all the stopping and wiggling round side roads on the bus route, plus the short walk each end). So 46 min would be very normal here. 96 min is too long though- are there possibly other bus/train/walk combos you might have missed? Or a safe cycling route?

You can either send them into boarding or buy a car surely? How old is the eldest? They may be able to drive themselves soon.

7.5k = 4.66miles
11k = 6.85miles
15k = 9.32miles

It must be quite an unusual/awkward journey for it to take that long - or is that allowing for public transport/changes/walking each end?

Can you buy them bikes and have them cycle to school and back? It will take way less time than 48 mins and 96 mins given 15kph is a reasonable (not particularly fast) cycling pace.

Also since when is 48 mins a “normal” school commute? Do people not go to local schools any more? (Rural issues aside)

Baked beans I am not rural I live in a city. My dc travel an hour to school because it’s a very good school.

Well you’ve made a postive decision to send them an hour away then. It’s hardly the same as the OP being lumbered with a school that’s presumably not that great and being told it’s a “normal”commute.

In 2014, 22% of secondary school children had a commute of at least 5 miles to school. In rural areas, it's not unusual at all and certainly not something many people have a choice over.

In terms of access to free transport, secondary schoolers have to be have a journey of at least 3 miles to their nearest school with spaces.

OP have you looked at how much work your Year 11 child is going to need to catch up on. It will be an incredible amount and I'm not sure its even doable. Your best option by far is trying to go private for the older child and having a Year 10 entry. It's unusual but you might get a private school agree to it.

Have you checked that the nearer schools are full and not just reluctant to take a Y11? An increasing number of schools are trotting out the line that they don’t take in year applications for Y11 despite having places available- this is a breach of the admissions code.

Ask the admissions team or the local schools how many students they have in Y11. Having dealt with Herts and Y11 admissions recently, I would advise questioning them a bit.

How can it take 96 mins to travel 15Km which is