St Paul’s bus

[Sevenplus]

Hi. We have an offer for 7+ at St Paul’s and we live a bit far. Which means an hours commute on the school bus for DS each way. Anyone’s son does such a long commute? Do the kids get homework each day that he will struggle to get done if he returns home so tired. any thoughts/ experiences?

The admissions team may be able to put you in touch with someone who you could speak to if you say it's holding you back from accepting the place. It may help if you said what direction you are travelling from to Barnes too.

Thank you! Would be a commute from north west London.

Do you live next to the bus stop? It seems a very early start and late return. Have you got a place at another prep he could attend until he is 11 or 13?
I would definitely speak to a parent who has a child of the same age making the same journey before accepting.
Also during next week why don't you drive the route at the times of the bus, you wouldn't have normal traffic but it will clarify the distance and length of the day.

Thank you! That’s a good idea on driving and getting an idea. I’m a bit skeptical about the 1 hour commute tbh. But St Paul’s just seems too hard to give up given it’s so sought after and so reputed. So confused.

Your ds is so young, there are so many prep schools he could go to nearer his home that would give him an equally good education and local friends. Imagine how much time you are going to spend at the weekends driving him to class parties in SW London.

I agree with the OP, you can’t turn down SPS or Westminster.
They are the top 2 schools…plenty of children from North London.
these 2 schools have incredible networks…..and they do open doors later on in life.

Realistically you will have to move.

I'm also in NW London and initially registered for the 7+ but pulled out of the process a week before after Googling the journey 😬. Approx 1hour 15 mins for us.

I believe the bus goes from Baker Street. Some kids do commute in from inner NW London. I knew of at least one who was in the prep but he was older. It has great results but really NW boys are better suited to Westminster and CoL in terms of location. The link down to Hammersmith plus the walk from there was arduous. FWIW, I would advise going for a local prep like the Hall or Trevor Roberts to get him running at top form for the 11 plus and go from there.

You'll need to move if your heart is really set on St Paul's. A commute that long isn't appropriate for a primary school age child.

Thank you everyone for your inputs. I’m also in the camp that thinks the commute will take a toll on him at this young age.

My kids have always been local to the schools and that’s why I’m so apprehensive. At age 7 what amount of travelling would you all think might be ok for a kid that has generally ok energy levels. 30min tops? Less?

I’d be curious to know how much time will be saved once Hammersmith Bridge opens to vehicles in a couple of years….I assume a good 10/15 mins?

the senior school bus is dropping the kids off at Hammersmith Apollo, but junior busses go to the school…so assume it must be over Barnes bridge?

Is driving by car/taxi an option?
I have seen one of the schools website (not St Paul's) mention about taxi share service.

My kids have always been local to the schools and that’s why I’m so apprehensive. At age 7 what amount of travelling would you all think might be ok for a kid that has generally ok energy levels. 30min tops? Less?

My kids catch the tube to school but time on the bus is seen as a positive by most pupils (I know it's bizarre). While your son is on the young side, I gather there's quite a social scene on the school buses and they enjoy chatting (and whatever else they get up to) on the journey.

I did the North London school bus journey to St Pauls and back, this was in the early 90s. It was actually really good fun….and we actually had the girls school on the same bus, it would stop at Brook Green to let them off /on, so you can imagine the antics etc.

We had the same decision to make a few years ago. We are in north London and in the end opted for WUS since moving wasn't really an option for us. We get the tube now and door to door it's about 30 mins. With SPJ although there is a bus but as others have said with the bridge being out it is a long journey which would mean getting up at 6. An extra 30 mins a day is a godsend especially on the dark winter mornings.

My 7yo currently has a 30min (at least) commute, and it is not good for any of us. I’d really recommend against it at primary age - secondary is a bit more acceptable, but even then not ideal.

Depends on the nature of the journey but I'd agree 30 minutes is the upper limit. Every minute at that age is important as they need so much rest to learn properly (especially given all the sport they do at private school and the intensity of the day) and they still need time for unstructured free time for proper cognitive, emotional and social development. Even 15 minutes is the difference between being able to practice pursue a hobby that involves practice like learning an instrument. My kids attend a highly selective school and almost everyone lives close to the school (many moved after getting the place).

For secondary school its very different but children want local friends, play dates so the social aspect matters as well. If this is where your child is going to attend, I'd move as close as you can afford to honestly.

I meant unstructured play not unstructured free time!

My niece was travelling to St Pauls - it was about 45 min by coach each way and I remember she used to hate it!! Sometimes she was complaining that driver waited so long for other kids to arrive etc. Because of the long journey she never stayed any after school clubs - otherwise she was going to arrive home after 6:30. You can not be sure that they will be on the time always- Weather conditions, train strike, accidents on roads etc.. delays used to make her so upset. My also daughter had offer from St Pauls Juniors 7+ and 11+ as well. But she goes to local GDST school, in post 16 now. She had similar grades with my niece. I never wanted my daughter to go to St Pauls actually, but wanted to challege her so that she took the exams. Also, THERE ARE NO BETTER GRADE THEN A*! I knew and I believed that my daughter will get A grades, so there were no point to make her life harder! I calculated my daughter was going to spend at least 7.5-8 hours in school coach - No way! My daughter did all after clubs she wanted to do and after that she was at home in 10 mins! She was in hockey and netball club - she attended all school matches and represented her school in open days or fashion days which usually placed in Saturday mornings. Now she stays in study clubs after school, she comes home on her own, enjoys with local friends. Sometimes she woke up and feels little bit ill but she still wants to go to school - I tell her if you go to school and you dont feel well just let me know I be there in 10 mins ( that feeling is worth million) But you can not do that when you live 45 mins drive away.
As long as you know that you kid is doing well and they are happy at school - they dont need to be in top 1 or 3 or top 10 school! But they need be happy, they need to have free time to play and rest. Because its every day job for 11 years! Its a lot! Your son is a 7 yeas old kid now, he will be teenager and when he is at year 13 he will be an almost adult🙏🏻🤍 its too long time!
So please think which option will make you and your son happier rather then thinking which school is best! Because, The best school in league table is not right school for each child!!

My niece was travelling to St Pauls - it was about 45 min by coach each way and I remember she used to hate it!! Sometimes she was complaining that driver waited so long for other kids to arrive etc. Because of the long journey she never stayed any after school clubs - otherwise she was going to arrive home after 6:30. You can not be sure that they will be on the time always- Weather conditions, train strike, accidents on roads etc.. delays used to make her so upset. My also daughter had offer from St Pauls Juniors 7+ and 11+ as well. But she goes to local GDST school, in post 16 now. She had similar grades with my niece. I never wanted my daughter to go to St Pauls actually, but wanted to challege her so that she took the exams. Also, THERE ARE NO BETTER GRADE THEN A*! I knew and I believed that my daughter will get A grades, so there were no point to make her life harder! I calculated my daughter was going to spend at least 7.5-8 hours in school coach (IN A WEEK) - No way! My daughter did all after clubs she wanted to do and after that she was at home in 10 mins! She was in hockey and netball club - she attended all school matches and represented her school in open days or fashion days which usually placed in Saturday mornings. Now she stays in study clubs after school, she comes home on her own, enjoys with local friends. Sometimes she woke up and feels little bit ill but she still wants to go to school - I tell her if you go to school and you dont feel well just let me know I be there in 10 mins ( that feeling is worth million) But you can not do that when you live 45 mins drive away.

As long as you know that you kid is doing well and they are happy at school - they dont need to be in top 1 or 3 or top 10 school! But they need be happy, they need to have free time to play and rest. Because its every day job for 11 years! Its a lot! Your son is a 7 yeas old kid now, he will be teenager and when he is at year 13 he will be an almost adult🙏🏻🤍 its too long time!

So please think which option will make you and your son happier rather then thinking which school is best! Because, The best school in league table is not right school for each child!!

That's way too long for primary age. Either move closer or opt for a local school.

I think the heart of the question is that you are wondering if a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. He has a place at a top school. You are thinking, do I take that with the commute or risk the 11 plus process in the hope and expectation that he’ll get in to s top school later? I don’t think people can answer that but, as long as you have a good prep that goes to 13 and with a long history of getting the best from kids, he should be fine as the raw material is clearly there.

My A-leveller wouldn’t travel an hour to school. It’s weird w St Paul’s: wonder reputation but take kids I know who have got in absolutely nowhere else. Stay local - your child will be happier!!

You will move. Or pull DS out of school. I know the school bus for St Paul boys and girls. The long journeys looking at London road traffic twice a day is soul destroying. Even teenagers who have phones to zone out are exhausted. Imagine doing that journey yourself.
It's a top school so move if you're so desperate for that.

As others have mentioned, it's way too long for years 3-4. When my youngest started at WUS after 8+, he was exhausted even though it was only 30 mins door to door, but the tube journey was v tiring. Still is. All they do even now after school, is shower, have dinner, then complete HW. No time for anything else. SPJS bus from Wimbledon (additional drive to reach) would've taken even longer. Proximity is key.
Don't think your son will enjoy his time with that long commute. It's different at age 11. Many parents in your situation decide to live closer to school during the week, if that may be an option for you?