living 12 miles from school - too far?

[sparkybint]

I'm having to relocate and for various reasons my 10 year old may well end up living 12 miles from her new school (a half hour journey). Does anyone else have kids who have to travel this far and what
problems does it cause?

Children (and parents) can get very tired from a long commute, early rising and late returning.

The commute eats into time better spent on extra-curricular activities.

Friendships can be hard to develop and maintain when children have to be ferried a long distance to playdates.

Its scotland that is quite normal.

School catchement areas can stretch 15 or so miles easily in every direction.

But I agree with Bonsoir. If you don't have to do it, why do it?

Umm, we live that far away and its fine a bit of a pain in the morning but we do have to be there for 8.20 so we leave just before 8, ds gets up about 7 - but we use the time travelling in the car to practice spellings, read etc. Most of the catchment is I would say about 8 miles away so hoofing around for playdates etc is usual. As a child I also used to live around 10 miles away from school and I didnt suffer -I did and do now live quite rurally so if the main catchment is all around a very specific area it can be a little trickly but certainly not unsurmountable. I also try to ensure that my ds meets friends locally who may not go to his school through beavers etc

HTH

btw he has done this since Reception and when we lived in US for the 2 years of nursery too.

Obviously if the entire school comes from a very wide catchment area, friendships and extra-curricular activities will adjust accordingly. There is much more of a potential issue for a child who is outside the normal catchment area.

Tiredness and opportunity costs still apply, however.

We do this.

I live 9 miles away from both schools I use.

Some people live 20 miles away.

For us, its normal. However I do get grumpy if I find one of them has forgotten their PE kit or something, or I get a phonecall from school saying DS has fallen over can I collect him {grin].

After school activities can be a bit of a pain, if netball finishes at 5.45 and DS needs picking up at 4 etc.

Friends are less of an issue, generally they other parent brings back or soemthing.

We do not have grat public transport connections so thats why I have to drive.

Wish my two would show the slightest sign of being tired...

Its me that needs to prop my eyelids open in the evenings.

Seriously though, my two have always done this since reception. I think its something they are accustomed to.

DD at primary school about 16 miles from home. Kids come from 20 mile radius, a few even further than that. I knew that I'd be a "taxi service" and I think because of the wide area kids come from, most parents are resigned to it. She certainly hasn't had any problems making friends, going to parties, sleepovers etc.

DD doesn't do tired and our rather insane lifestyle is harder on me and DH than her. DD would like to do more after school clubs but I have had to limit to one a week. This is as much due to work commitments as travel though.

pita when they are teens wanting independence

I did the half-hour school commute for eight years until we finally moved a block from the school. The only time it was a problem was when my eldest wanted to play a winter sport that held practices from 7:00-9:00 p.m. and I just couldn't do it-I told her she'd have to sleep over at someone's house on practice nights which she wasn't willing to do so she didn't play.

Thank you all, seems it can be done then...
I remember when I was at school I lived just down the road and was really jealous of my friends who came by bus and train and had a right laugh on the journey. Bit different for a 10 year old though.