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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Distance to school?

20 replies

indiastar · 14/11/2011 11:15

Looking at moving my dc's to a school 25-30 mins away. Does anyone do this? Does it make for a really long day for them. Do you get fed up of driving for almost 2 hours a day? Am I mad to even consider this?

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SnowChains · 14/11/2011 11:17

If it is the right school then yes definately go for it.

I have dc 8 miles at school and also dc 10 miles away.

PattySimcox · 14/11/2011 11:17

Are you mad to consider it? Depends on your reasons for wanting to move schools.

Issues to consider re the distance:

It will be a long day for them.

And for you.

What about in the bad weather?

What if they are sent home poorly?

What about going to play with friends?

redskyatnight · 14/11/2011 12:03

My SiL does this (I do think she is bonkers). She does know someone else who lives (relatively) nearby to her, so they share the school run.

She thinks it is worth it as she loves he DC's school, however they do noticably get tired as the week goes on.

Things I'd consider

after school clubs - your DC may be too tired, or you might want to enforce that they have to do clubs on the same night to cut down on driving

if there is an evening event it's another drive there and back

if you have pre-schoolers as well that is a very long time in the car for them

extra costs of driving (economic, environmental, health ...)

very difficult to "pop" back with something they've forgotten

Original poster

indiastar · 14/11/2011 12:05

Thanks SnowChains. Do your children find the day too long?

Thanks PattySimmox - I have thought of all those things too - was hoping to hear from people who say that these are not a problem?!!

I am just not happy with the school that they are in or any in the surrounding areas.

OP posts:

SnowChains · 14/11/2011 12:27

They are fine with the school day. Clubs etc no problem because they are the ones who choose to do them.

seeker · 14/11/2011 12:32

Completely mad. My ds is wt q school 5 miles away and I would never, ever do it again.

Think of friends to tea, forgotten violins, snow, you being ill, car breaking down, parties, parent's evenings, and the cost both in money and environmental terms of the journey. And what about Secondary school? Woildnhe wantnto go where his school friends are going? Honestly, don't do it.

PattySimcox · 14/11/2011 13:04

Sorry india - not what you wanted to hear but I moved DD last year from a school further away to our now local school because of those issues that I listed above.

If one was ill it made it really difficult to drag them out on the school run to take the other, whereas there is usually someon I can ask to take one or ask a neighbour to sit for ten minutes, whereas asking them to sit for an hour seems much more of an imposition.

If one had after school activities then I would have to hang round with the other for 45 mins - not so bad in the nice weather when we could go to the park, but when it is rainy or dark it is not so good.

That said if you really don't like the local schools, then you don't really have much choice in the matter.

Original poster

indiastar · 14/11/2011 14:50

Thanks redskyatnight - x posted with you! Have considered all of those things too.

Thanks Seeker and Patty too. I am concerned about all the points that you have all mentioned. Unfortunately, the school my ds is in is failing him badly and none of the other local schools are very good either. This is the best school that we can find. If I don't do something now, I feel that I would be failing the dcs.

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EdithWeston · 14/11/2011 14:55

To give you a bit of hope on one of the other aspects you mentioned - we walk to a school about a mile away, so the time of our journey is similar.

No, it doesn't make the day too long - and it's actually a nice time to chat. (I then carry on after I've dropped them, so I'm not yo-yoing as you might be).

It's also a good time to do things like practising times tables - perhaps doing homework in the back seat could become your the version of doing homework on the bus?

Original poster

indiastar · 14/11/2011 16:52

Thanks Edith - if I could find a good school locally that we could walk to, that would be perfect!!

I did think we could listen to cd's/read etc in the car.

Still haven't made my mind up yet.....very hard to chose!

OP posts:

2littlecherubs · 14/11/2011 18:35

Hi
My dc go to a school which is 15 miles away (drive up motorway so takes 20 mins to get there)
Ds is in reception (he is 4.5) We get to school at 8.15am (as I can drop off then) and collect about 4pm. My dd is in the kindergarten there as she is 3.5.
At first they found it tiring but they are fine with it. It is a private school so most of the kids in their classes travel similar distances, if not more to get there) and I dont think any of them are struggling with it. Yes - if one of them is ill it can be a pain but other than that I have not encountered any issues with the distance.
I would rather them be at a better school and travel a little bit further. I am probably the one who finds it harder as i have to do a return trip in morning and night - the kids only go one way :-)

Ghoulwithadragontattoo · 15/11/2011 00:02

I wouldn't do it I don't think. What is wrong with local schools / so great about further away school?

wherearemysocks · 15/11/2011 00:24

my dd's school is about a mile away and we walk, its about 25 mins each way and its never been a problem, she is in yr 2 and has been going there since nursery. Like someone else said we use the time each day to chat about what she's doing in school and to practise sums, spelling etc. Last week she has learnt to count to 10 in spanish just practising in the mornings.

Luckily for us its a really nice walk, not sure i'd want to be stuck in traffic for that amount of time though.

startail · 15/11/2011 00:39

DDs school is 2.9 miles away, the bus for which we would have to pay (free for 3 miles) takes a very indirect route and takes 40 minutes. So clearly the council don't think it's unreasonable.
This is our catchment school, the next nearest is pretty much the same distance in the opposite direction - no bus.

Original poster

indiastar · 15/11/2011 07:00

Thanks everyone. Have got a meeting with the school later and will time the school run. It does look like a fantastic school, as I said before, the local schools are not very good, if there were, I would not have to look so far away!!

OP posts:

Blu · 15/11/2011 11:36

We moved to be closer to the school DS is in. It improved our quality of life no end - time saved, stress saved, good friends and family networks on the doorstep, being in the same community as the school, DS had an ability to develop some independence early by walking to school. It made sense as it was also closer to a good secondary that many of his friends will go to. Will there be a younger sibling? Moving might make sense if you do change schools.

rabbitstew · 15/11/2011 11:54

Well, I guess if the school you are thinking of does lots of sport, it will make up for the complete lack of exercise sitting in a car on the way to and from school (for your children at least - not so much for you!). And it will get them used to the idea of a lifetime of tiresome commuting... Probably better than going to an awful school within walking distance, but not a choice I would want to have to make. And don't forget the timing of the journey (ie rush hour) and how unpredictable that can make it.

Chestnutx3 · 15/11/2011 12:03

Its not all doom and gloom really. You will probably find other parents that live in the same direction as you to share school runs. If its a private school then catchment areas tend to be very wide and 30mins is not far from the norm if its a good school.

Completely mad to keep DC in a crap school because its convenient.

JeanBodel · 15/11/2011 12:10

If the current school isn't working, and you don't like the alternatives, then I would do it.

It sounds as though the pros would outweigh the cons for you.

Eglu · 15/11/2011 12:21

I moved my DC recently to a school 10 miles away. They don't find it too tiring and I like the time in the car when they have to talk to me

Where I live is quite rural and some children have to travel that far anyway.

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