How far do your secondary aged children walk to school?

[DuckASick]

How far and how long does that take?

Do they also do this when it’s absolutely pouring down, dark in the mornings, snowing etc?

Can you take them if needbe or does your working situation mean they must walk there?

They have all left now, but when they were tha age, ds walked 1.1 mile each way to his and my dds walked 1.5 miles to their school, if they went the most direct route.
As often as not, all of them over different periods would divert to collect froends on way in or to walk home with friends on way home. Or ds went to the park on way home for a kickaround a lot. Or to a Youth club that used to run for 90mins after school.

Yes, they walked in all weathers and when it was dark.

If they had stayed for something, and it was dark and no-one else was walking back this way and I was able to around work, then I would occasionally fetch them, but that was a lot of "if" s to bring together.
Some mornings I could have taken them - I've not done the same job for the 12 years they were at secondary between them, but the walk is good. Not only exercise and fresh air and putting you in a better frame of mind for learning, but (more importantly) the opportunity to chat to friends and put the world to rights each day.

dd met her best friend on the first day as Yr 7s, when they started to walk up the road together and spoke.

My eldest was disabled and had transport.

My youngest walked just under a mile.

Rain or snow made no difference as I can't drive (visual impairment).

And tbh while I could see that rain might, I really don't see what's wrong with walking in snow - it doesn't make you wet and you can easily shake it off. As for dark- that's about 5 o'clock in the afternoon in winter, so that would seriously cut down on social activities too.

I would sometimes have been able to walk with ds, but I don't think he found that idea very attractive.

About a half hour walk. Think they can do it in 25 mins if they walk briskly. DD walks every day, regardless of the weather. I could give her a lift as she starts early and I don't have much of a commute (wfh at the moment anyway) but she likes to walk, even in the rain.

I used to drop her (and her friends) occasionally when she was in year 7, but I think they enjoy the chat while they're walking and don't want it cut short tbh.

Sorry, I don't know the exact distance. Definitely over 1 mile and less than 2😁

About 2 miles, I think, which takes ds approx. half an hour. If the weather's bad and I am available, I will give him and the friend he walks with a lift.

A ten minute walk. If it's really chucking it down I drop them off but otherwise they walk.

It's about a mile, perhaps slightly more, I generally drop her and her friend off half way because they seemed to be late all the time, they walk home though and takes them about 35 - 45 mins

In the UK about half an hour, there was a bus he would sometimes get home but generally kids met up on the way. I would very occasionally give a lift in bad weather but much younger siblings made it difficult.

In Aus we have never lived within walking distance of school but there is free school transport so not a problem.

My kids are still little, but where I grew up we had a 3-tier school system. From year 9 onwards it was just over 2 miles to school, which took about 40 minutes in the morning. We'd walk slower on the way home.

I only remember getting a lift home if we'd been cooking and I had something awkward like lasagne to carry home.

She doesn't...it's an 8minute drive but from rural to the nearest town...not walkable

DS (Y10) walks 1.7 miles to school and the same home every day, whatever the weather. We have no car and it would take an hour on two buses if he went via public transport.

He likes the walk, he finds school stressful due to his SEN and it gives him time to mentally prepare for the day and decompress before he gets home.

It's just under a mile. DS leaves it till the last minute and allegedly can get there in 10 minutes. DD goes the very long way round (via friends' houses) and it takes her over 30 minutes.

They are expected to do it in all weathers as I fortunately have children that don't melt in the rain. The only exceptions are when they have lots to carry (which is about once a year).

Forgot to say if DS stays late and it's dark, I make sure he's walking with his friend who lives near us (usually the case) or I'll meet him down the hill from school and walk with him (once or twice a term). He isn't that keen on being seen in public with me these days but if it's dark I'm allowed to accompany him.

Mine are primary but dh is a secondary teacher. They are all waking now, queuing for a full bus makes no sense. I doubt any of them are waking more than a couple of miles

My DS is in year 7 and walks 2.6 miles each way every day, with friends most of the way. It takes him about 45 mins. If the weather was horrendous or if he had to leave school late, alone and in the dark I would offer a lift. It's good for him and he enjoys walking with his mates.

It's 13 miles and I'm not that mean, so they never walk 🤣

But in different circumstances I think up to about 2 miles is fine. I think much more than that, twice a day, every day, is a bit much to expect.

Just over 2 miles, takes about 40mins there (downhill) and 50 mins back (uphill). The only route is very congested so it would take as long to drive and DD knows and appreciates that the exercise is good for her, even in colder and wetter weather.

20 minute stroll in all weathers here. They can do it faster but the social aspect is very important to teens

It's not far, just a twenty minute walk. They like walking, even in the rain because they walk with friends but I don't mind dropping them off/ picking them up when they ask and I'm free.

Just over a mile. It takes me about 20mins, she allows 30 (more on way home - dawdling with mates)