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Am I nuts to choose a school 10 min drive away?

57 replies

tvhearts · 16/12/2017 00:22

Well basically that is the question!!!

What are your thoughts I've looked at all the schools in my area and I definitely think it's the best! BUT, out of interest, in other peoples experience will the drive be more of a big deal then I'm expecting??

OP posts:
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Allthecoolkids · 16/12/2017 08:59

Sorry Greenshoots, just to clarify, you don’t think anyone with school aged children should live rurally?

Shit. Ok people, stock up on canned goods cos what’s left of our farming industry is about to fold. We’ll be flying a lot more food in from other countries now, sorry about that. It’s ok though, it’ll make us all more environmentally friendly, cos we won’t be driving to school.

Come ON. Engage your brain and consider the vast sections of the country that don’t live within walking distance of a hipster barista to dispense their coconut soy flat white before you make such ridiculous, half baked, virtue signalling but ultimately empty statements.

Greenshoots1 · 16/12/2017 09:22

Come ON. Engage your brain and consider the vast sections of the country that don’t live within walking distance of a hipster barista to dispense their coconut soy flat white before you make such ridiculous, half baked, virtue signalling but ultimately empty statements.

you need to take some responsibility for your self, rather than insulting people who are pointing out the facts of life to you.

You need to get better public transport sorted out.

You live in a democracy, you can do this.

You do realise that people with your attitude, who might be able to kid themselves that its ok today, because it can be argued to be socially acceptable, you are going to be hated generation after generation after generation in the future.

Historians are going to write long articles about how people manage to delude themselves they were good people, and excuse the wanton destruction of the planet, and totally ignore what they knew were going to be the consequences of their actions.

some people just need to wake up and smell the coffee. if your lifestyle is going to destroy millions of live and cause misery for generations, it is morally wrong.

if you jump in your car as a matter of course, when it is totally unnecessary, then your life style is going to destroy the lives of millions and cause misery for generations.

sorry if you would rather no one pointed it out to you, but it is true.

tvhearts · 16/12/2017 09:26

Tbf I can see your point Greenshoots, although it pains me to say it as I can't help but feel you've just tried to be very extreme to get reaction from people. I think to say that I'm morally wrong to choose a school that is perfect for my child is a little over the top.

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Allthecoolkids · 16/12/2017 09:26

You are hilarious, and you have no fucking idea how great swathes of the country live.

But yeah, no problem, I’ll charter some buses this morning just to keep you happy. We’re all single track lanes round here so it’ll have to be a giant one way loop with one drop off a day (that wouldn’t coincide in any way shape or form with School times) but don’t worry your urban little head about that.

NataliaOsipova · 16/12/2017 09:29

We drive 20/25 minutes. It's fine - you get used to it. To be honest, if you can't walk and have to get in the car anyway, I don't think the extra time makes all that much difference.

The biggest problem is that some of my DD's friends live 20 minutes away from the other side of the school, which means play dates are more challenging, when it takes most of an hour and a half to collect and bring her home. But 10 minutes shouldn't give you that problem either.

jerryortom · 16/12/2017 09:29

My SIL drives 30 minutes everyday... that's each way!

tvhearts · 16/12/2017 09:35

@Allthecoolkids my DH grew up in a farm 20 mins from local town and just under 15 mins of that was off the single lane farm track. Definitely no buses up there!!!

OP posts:
Greatballs · 16/12/2017 09:35

I'm a school governor. At our school only 14 families live within walking distance. The rest drive in from further afield.

Perfectly normal OP Smile

tvhearts · 16/12/2017 09:39

Thanks @Greatballs, there are nearer schools that my DC would be fine at but and sorry if this sounds cheesy I want a bit more for them than 'fine' people I speak to locally do tend to think I'm abit crazy I think.

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CoffeeBreakIn5 · 16/12/2017 09:44

Well pottering to school and back twice a day would be lovely. I could take my time, engage with the beautiful surroundings and know I was helping to save the planet at the same time. And if I do find I need transportation I'll organise a couple of buses or trains since I live in a democracy and it's so easy.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, I have to drive DS2 to the childminder and then DS1 to school before doubling back on myself to get to work. Every weekday. I then travel back at school pick up, take DS1 to my mum and then drive back to work. Then I finish my work day and drive to collect DS2 from the childminder and DS1 from my mum and then I drive us all home.

This is because DS1 didn't get into the school we chose, or even our 2nd choice. The childminder doesn't drop off or collect from the school DS1 ended up going to, it doesn't have after school provision and I can't find a childminder either in the area of the school or in the area we live who does that school.

So yeah, I'd love to save the planet but right now I have to concentrate on juggling my family so we can survive. Some people are so judgemental and should engage their brain first.

OP, a ten minute journey will be fine.

LIZS · 16/12/2017 09:46

If it is so fab will you get in from your distance? A nursery place is no guarantee.

tvhearts · 16/12/2017 09:57

@CoffeeBreakIn5 thanks for the much more helpful reply. Appreciate it xx

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AintNoOtherFan · 16/12/2017 10:02

*"You need to get better public transport sorted out"
*
GrinGrinGrin

I love this! I'm semi rural and the bus service is only from 9am to 2.30pm Monday to Friday once an hour and it doesn't go anywhere near my dc's school! They cut the service due to lack of funding and I don't think voting in the right people is going to magically pluck funds out of thin air for all these extra buses!

I wouldn't be able to get the dc to school then get to work 8 miles from their school for 9am if I relied on a bus !

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 16/12/2017 10:10

Oh greenshoots

So what we should all pack in to cities where there are no jobs? Pollute the air with massive work house factories like in the Victorian times right? Yeah ok that would be amazing for the environment wouldn't it?

People have to go where the jobs are, sometimes that's rural, where schools are 10/15/20/30 minutes away. You literally have no choice but to drive!

My mum still can't get her head round the fact where I live now there's a primary school across the road and one half a mile away and one 2 miles away, plus a high school Half a mile away because she lives 8 miles from the nearest school where she lives. Where we lived when growing up my primary school was 5 miles away and my high school 3 miles away, there was no option. We'd get on the school bus from reception on our own.

At least 5 of my friends were farmers children, 3 of their mother owned a country side business, a couple of them parents worked in local shops. These people would be unemployed if they'd "considered where the local school was" when choosing where to live and work!

Frazzled2207 · 16/12/2017 10:16

Broadly it doesn't seem extreme to me at all, but have you considered the drop off/pick up arrangements? At our school it's pretty horrendous, and very awkward to drop your child off (until they are older and can just jump out of the car), luckily most people do live within walking distance. I would imagine most rural schools are better organised.

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 16/12/2017 11:24

how can it be "overstated" when unnecessary car journeys are causing lethal levels of pollution in our children's environment?

We live a five minute walk from our village school. If it’s pissing down with rain we jump in the car.

Greenshoots with respect I think you need to find a more appropriate thread to air your views, or start one of your own.

theaveragewife · 16/12/2017 11:47

people need to consider these things, when planning where to live/work etc

How do you suggest lowering house prices in cities so that people can afford houses closer to their work? Of course most people would love to be able to walk to work and their primary schools, but I'm pretty sure even a logistic genius wouldn't be able to arrange that.

the age of private car ownership is drawing to a close

Utter bollocks, autonomous cars are being tested on the road in order for us to have easier journies...hybrid cars are being developed to lower harmful emissions - are they ok? Do they pass your test?

Back when I was 12 I thought I'd ride on horseback everywhere to lower emissions, are you 12?

WaitrosePigeon · 16/12/2017 11:48

Whether you like it or not, the age of private car ownership is drawing to a close, and the next generation won't have that option anyway

HahaahahahahahahaahhaabahabahahahabababaahbabaababhahJahahahahahahahahhaah

admission · 16/12/2017 18:12

Frankly it does not matter whether it is 10 minutes walk or an hours drive, you have a legal right to express a preference for any school that you want for your child.
However the admission rules are clear, there is an admission criteria for each school which sets the order in which pupils can be offered a place at a school. I would question whether you have thought through the possibility of not getting a place at the school you prefer because there are far more pupils with a greater right to a place at the school than your child does have. What you will do in that circumstance?

Wolfiefan · 16/12/2017 18:17

I agree with the posters who say to consider how likely you are to get your child into this school. Check admissions criteria.

tvhearts · 16/12/2017 19:11

Have a second choice school??

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Wolfiefan · 16/12/2017 19:37

Are you saying you do or asking if you should?
Never put down just one school. If you don't get your first choice who knows where your child will end up!

tvhearts · 16/12/2017 22:04

Yeah I have a 2nd choice down in the unlikely event that he didn't get a place. We are quite lucky really because all the schools around here are pretty good it's just that this is my personal favourite. Xx

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RestingGrinchFace · 16/12/2017 22:09

30 mins plus drive to school was the norm where I grew up (city with majority of private schools either in the city centre or the outskirts). I've chosen a school for my children that is 30 mins drive without giving it a second thought. It never occurred to me that it was unusual.

Wolfiefan · 16/12/2017 22:09

Are you sure it's unlikely he won't get in? Check admission criteria and normal catchment.

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