Commuting from Greenwich/blackheath to dulwich prep schools

[MrsG2202]

We are currently exploring/researching prep schools for our 2 year old and really like the look of lots of the Dulwich ones (Dulwich Prep/Rosemead/Alleyns).

My main concern however is the commute from where we currently live in Greenwich across to Dulwich everyday. Is anyone currently doing this commute for prep school (for secondary I imagine he would take the bus) and can you give me your experiences of how it really is?

My DC have both done the commute from age 11 -quite a long day on the school bus...

The drive over is really bad in the morning especially by car as you don't even have the benefit of bus lanes. And all the kids who came up from the junior schools were pretty local to Dulwich so not sure you'd have any lift shares/local friends?

Personally - if those are the schools you love and you have a 2 year old, I would relocate now?

If you want to stay in Greenwich/Blackheath then there are lots of preps (Blackheath prep/Pointers/Heath House) that have a good record of Dulwich school entries at 11?

Someone asked the same question on the East Dulwich Forum recently which may be useful.

www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,2192111

Not sure why that didn't link properly! The thread is on p4 of the Family Discusssion board at the moment and it's called 'Pls, help needed. Commuting for school in East Dulwich, is it manageable?'

Yes we have done this commute from Y3. Wasn't a problem at all and it's not just me - the Greenwich/Blackheath buses are almost full!

Pros: The schools are great in comparison to what's available locally
Cons: A lot of their friends will live local to Dulwich. You will have to drive in for saturday matches, concerts, parents' socials (it's all on zoom now though), birthday parties etc. You will need a car.

Please PM if you want more info!

Thank you all so much! This is the first time I’ve posted on Mumsnet and so glad I found this community :)