How far should you live from a prep school?

[Fiona2011231]

May I ask for your advice?

We are looking at some prep schools in central London, including the Westminster Under school. In this thread, I do not ask how a child can get into such schools.

Instead, my question is: Suppose your child succeeds in the exam, then how about the house issue? If you cannot live near the school, then realistically, what should be the maximum journey time for the child?

My sincere thanks,

Children in London generally don't travel unaccompanied to and from prep/primary, so often come from quite far (some will come to school alone in yeas 5-8) The best bet is to ask the school for advice. Is there a school minibus service? That will give you an idea of catchment.

Not sure it being a prep school makes any difference to your question which is about commuting distance. How will they be travelling? Bus? Will you be driving them? Do you need to then get to work? Will there be before/after school care needed? Not sure if anyone can answer this without a bit more info.

Personally I wouldn't want more than a 20mib journey to school, either bus or car. But as I don't live in London I suspect my answer may not be that relevant to you.

About 30/40 minutes to answer your question!

Are these day schools you're talking about?
2 hours for boarding, 40 mins for day school, I'd say.
But if you want a good quality of life, the closer the better- commuting to school is hellish! Particularly if you're doing pick-up/drop-off, and there's aways that panic of not getting to them on time.

BTW- it took me 1hr 40 minutes to get from Lambeth to A40 the other day!

Titty prep schools are much more accommodating of parents needs! So typically an earlier start but also a drop off 'window'- so you can drop off between 8-8.30.

My dc goes to school 4/5 miles away, 20-40 mins in rush hour city traffic.

Play dates/parties are a pain.

Thank you so much for your kind replies.

From the answers, it seems the children go to their schools by bus or family car.

Does anyone go with their child to school by tube and then walk to the school?

Going by tube would be a nightmare, it's so tiring and stressful for your child in the morning, I am sure the school would recommend you move or he takes the coach. Best to take the school coach if you can. My son currently takes the school coach. It can take an hour to get to get to school. We are looking to move to be within a 10 min drive to school or half an hour on the coach.
Don't forget sports fixtures, extra curricular activities, meetings etc. Exhausted boy in rugby kit on a packed tube isn't a happy scenario. Especially potentially lugging bag, sports kit, instrument, art portfolio. Sometimes all on the same day.
I only know one boy who takes the tube as part of his journey to school, his parents are exhausted and even though they all love the school they have been looking at other schools that have a more straightforward journey.

To Swimmingwithsharks : Your answer is extremely helpful. So I will not think about tube as a solution.

Fiona, I suspect Swimming is not referring to Central London preps/primaries/secondaries like Westminster Under. Load of kids use the tube. They manage. Victoria is full of children with different uniforms going in different directions. We live nearby and DD commuted out for secondary from the age of 11, and indeed by public bus to prep from about the age of 8. Not a problem. As Atomic suggests, the tube is far more reliable than anything trying to use the road network. However Westminster Under is a central London school and if using the tube is an issue, it sounds as if you might prefer something a bit further out where driving is the norm.

(PS. WU does not play rugby either, so no rugby kit to worry about either .)

My boys are at westminster Under. It draws from a hugely wide area. I think that in DH1s class at joining there were about 14 postcodes. Parental car is probably the most common method of arrival, then the parent- arranged buses which cover various routes depending on demand, and some by sole or shared cabs, and quite a few walking, but both my boys have a couple of friends who are brought in by mothers or nannies on the tube. Few come alone until the last two years.

I believe there was a boy commuting from Croydon for a while, but that is extreme.

My boys are at westminster Under. It draws from a hugely wide area. I think that in DH1s class at joining there were about 14 postcodes. Parental car is probably the most common method of arrival, then the parent- arranged buses which cover various routes depending on demand, and some by sole or shared cabs, and quite a few walking, but both my boys have a couple of friends who are brought in by mothers or nannies on the tube. Few come alone until the last two years.

I believe there was a boy commuting from Croydon for a while, but that is extreme.

How far away are you thinking of tackling?

Thank you so much for your kind replies. Although the opinions vary, they are very useful so that we may decide in the future.