Are school runs really that bad?

[KonkeyDonk]

Following from another thread, are they really that awful?
We've already applied for DD's primary place so probably too late to worry about it but just musing...
We put our catchment school as a second choice (less than 1mile away). First choice is over 2miles away or a 5 minute drive in low traffic. Not sure how long it would take with usual traffic plus notoriously difficult parking! Should I start praying we don't get our first choice ?
I'd prefer to walk if I could but we went for a slightly nicer 2FE over the nearer 3FE. Both rated good but 2FE has better reputation. Now wondering how much it really matters if I end up stuck n traffic non stop!

I just checked on google maps to see traffic on the way back, and there was a car crash on the fastest route! I guess I know those happen but feeling a bit about the whole driving if I don't have to!

13 minutes is 30 minutes with parking time and walking to school time minimum. Then 30 mins once you have her to get back.
2 hours a day on the school run.

Whereas 0.8 mile with a pushchair is 10 mins. With a scooter she will get quicker every day.
Better for the environment too.

@Hercisback I'd say to start with walking would take a bit more, say 25 min with DD and 10-15 walking back, so in a week it would be 10hrs school run with driving vs ~6.5hr walking?
Am I thinking right, that's mad!

Local school has no online presence such as newsletters, so it looks I was swayed by marketing?! I know they do plenty of trips and extra curriculum stuff.

Walking will take longer with her initially, but not the half hour it will take in the car.
It's an absolute ballache getting kids in and out of cars too.
I do a double car pick up once a week. It's the worst day of the week!!

If school 2 is usually undersubscribed then there's nothing lost by starting her at school 1 and seeing what the drive and parking are like? The re-assess at Christmas. With parking at/near schools you quite often find that if you're prepared to park a little further away and walk for a few minutes at the end of your journey, it's actually not too bad. Some schools here have this set up with a local car park where parents can park for free for a short time - they call it 'park and stride' but I've no idea if that's a national scheme.

@KonkeyDonk
I do think you cannot compare old reports of bullying when there is now a new head. It’s like comparing apples and pears. Are you able to speak to pupils and parents at the local school in any way? Most schools put their newsletters on their web sites. Also they put their policies on line too. It’s a legal requirement that they do. You can always pop in and ask for newsletters.

@Bramshott Wouldn't that be confusing for DD and possibly bad for forming friendships if I move her at Christmas? I'm sure she'd love attending that school, I don't want to be a bad guy and move her for m own convenience, just feels a tad mean.

I've messaged one of the parents of child attending the local school and she said 'they're still not great with bullying but they're getting better', don't really know how to feel about it; heard nothing of the sort regarding the school that's a drive away.

I think they're very adaptable at that age TBH. I guess I was just coming from the point of view that there must have been reasons you preferred School 1, which are (possibly) still valid, so to reject it now over a school run you haven't even tried yet might be a bit premature.

@Bramshott I found it very difficult to make a decision as I'm going just by people's opinions and comments I found online/impression on open days. We changed the order of schools on the deadline day!

School 1 edged it as we were thinking of moving closer to that area which is now uncertain due to the increasing cost of well, everything!
I thought I'd have to drive for 6-12 months whereas it looks like it might be a couple of years and we'd possibly move to a slightly different area (still not very far but a drive).
I heard of parents starting their kids at School 2, moving away and changing schools just to change BACK to that school and have an awful commute, so it can't be all bad.

Thanks again for reading all my posts, you're all very helpful.

@Bramshott

If school 2 is usually undersubscribed then there's nothing lost by starting her at school 1 and seeing what the drive and parking are like? The re-assess at Christmas. With parking at/near schools you quite often find that if you're prepared to park a little further away and walk for a few minutes at the end of your journey, it's actually not too bad. Some schools here have this set up with a local car park where parents can park for free for a short time - they call it 'park and stride' but I've no idea if that's a national scheme.

Absolutely no way I would just "give it a go" with one school and then switch in the first year! It's hard enough for 4 year olds to settle in to school without moving them shortly after. You'd have to have a very good reason for doing it.

Plus the cost of buying different uniform...

Well if moving schools is so easy, perhaps it would be better to send her to the nearest school and move her IF there is any bullying, as it's not a given she will experience it?

I forgot about buying different uniforms too

Well I think that's what I'd do. Start her in the closest school and move her if there are problems. There might not be.

You can't even drive down the blocks our local schools are on - you will get a £65 fine! But catchment area so tight anyone who gets in is walking distance anyway.
Just park slightly further away and walk the last bit. I noticed people were coming up to 45 minutes early to nab a space - ridiculous.

I used to love the school run. We’re in a small town and we walked. Loved the fun and chats I had with my Dd and DS. Our chats have helped us have great communication. Sometimes still now my DD nearly 16 asks me to meet her part of the walk home for a chat. Honestly it was one of my parenting highlights

What do you mean by short distances? My 30 min walking would be a 45 min walk with a 4YO. So it would take me 1hr 15 min there and back in the morning school run. I have another child to take care of, can't really bike with just my school age child. DD4 isn't even that good on a scooter still!

Worst thing is I just discovered our neighbour and DD's best friend is going to the school that's a drive away as well

@Jamn50 My dad used to walk with me to school well into my teenage years as he walked the dog at the same time. I loved it. Would much prefer to driving.

2 miles = 4miles round trip. Which is 8 miles a day.

And not distance... time.

" I just discovered our neighbour and DD's best friend is going to the school that's a drive away as well"

Could you and your neighbour share the school runs, then? It could work out well.

"I have another child to take care of, can't really bike with just my school age child."

Plenty of people cycle with more than one young child, there are loads of solutions - bike trailer, child seat on bike, tagalong/ follow me for the 4yo. If you wanted to make it work, you could. Sounds as if you don't, though.

If your dad's best friend and neighbour is going to the further away school I'd stick with it, forget about the near school and share lifts. You obviously put it in first place for a reason after all! Yes a walk is preferable but a drive isn't the end of the world.

@NameChange30 Neighbour has other children at that school, I don't think she has any space in her car to add another one. You are right though, I am not 100% sold on that school, but I am not in love with any of our choices. They all have pros and cons, bigger distance is one of the cons.

We're nearer a better secondary at the moment, oddly enough most children going to the 'noice' school end up in a worse secondary (further away from us too). Will it change in 6-7 years though? Who knows.

I wouldn’t choose a school a drive away, ever. It was a huge factor in our house buying / life planning. Mine walk every single day, alone from yr5-6 onwards.

Unless she has 4 children it's unlikely she can't fit one extra in the car. She might be very glad to have help with the school runs