Opinions on travel time

[VANITYKM]

I'm stressed about schools. All state schools near me are either oversubscribed or far below average. There's an affordable independent school but in traffic is 34 mins drive. Worried how fair this long drive is on my child and his 2 year old sibling. Any advice appreciated.

I haven't read all the comments so I might be repeating what someone else has said. OP, we are in the same boat. Our local school is just not good - Ofsted agrees, local parents that send their children there agree and I agree (after visiting). The vaue added score is very low (have youc hecked for yours). The teaching isn't good, the leadership at the school isn't good and I'm just not sure my child will get a decent education. The other schools in the area are very oversubscribed and I am sure we won't get a place in a good school (not even talking outstanding). We have opted for an independent that is a 20min drive in the opposite direction of my job. But we will do it. I understand that it is not ideal to pay so much in fees, to have an inconvenient commute both for me and my child and to risk not having local friends, only school ones, but you only get one shot at your child's education and you have to decide what is a priority for your family.

We moved from a good state school 5 mins walk to a school 20 minutes drive. I do miss the local community and the local friends, but I don't regret the travel because children are much happier. You need to consider what is right for your child.