Secondary school commute? Sensible or not?

[dddddiva]

Hi,

My daughter has received an offer from City of London School for Girls for 11+ entry. We live about a 10–15 minute drive from Woolwich Arsenal. She could take the Elizabeth line to Farringdon station (took around 15 mins) and then walk to the school (7mins walk).

Do you think this would be a tiring commute for secondary school? In the first years I can drive her to Woolwich Arsenal, and later she could also take a bus there independently or overground train (5mins). Would this be considered a reasonable daily journey?

Good grief no.

Not too tiring

and if it was… then I think a GP appointment in order

I used to travel over an hour to school with bus and train and didn't think it was tiring at all.

That's a short commute for a school like that.

It seems completely normal! It’s only about 40 mins door to door. Please let her go she’ll love it

Barely that!

@Thattimenow thank you😂 she has offers from local schools too (15-20 mins drive away) but she would like to go to City! She also said she can do it but I still feel she is little🥹

She's 11 (or more) It's hardly a 10 mile hike is it ! She'll be fine.

I used to walk a mile, catch a train and then walk another mile. About 45 mins in all. It was easy. My ds walks 3 miles home from school. He enjoys it after being cooped up all day.

Well done her, a great achievement.

i think 40 minutes is fine for secondary, and that sounds like a comfortable and sustainable commute. Not too much time in the rain etc

Probably worth considering the back up option if there is any issue with the Elizabeth line though?

The issue will be if the Elizabeth line is down so she’ll need a good phone with Citymapper to work out the alternatives (eg getting home ; 20 min walk to cannon st then getting overground to Woolwich) . The perfect scenario journey is absolutely fine , you just need to talk about and practise the alternatives when one of the pieces in the puzzle is down.

Thank you all! Feel much better now☺️ City starts at 8:40 - we can leave home around 8! I think thats good too as some secondaries start around 8:20-8:25.

@Solasum she can also take DLR to Bank or over ground to Cannon Street

Also check the exact timing of the Elizabeth line trains - sometimes annoyingly infrequent . Also - is she sporty or musical? Beware the 8am ensemble rehearsal or 7am sports training!

That's nothing!!

My kids travel similar journeys or slightly longer. I under to travel 75mins door to door for secondary. It’s fine.

Up to an hour is normal for prestigious schools or rural. At 11 it’s normal to travel alone too, up where my bil lives they often weekly board even and travel by plane. Don’t worry but she needs to learn alternative routes including buses

I think that sounds ok too for a school like that. My DS currently has a 50 ish minute coach ride to school and my DD will be going to a London school for 6th form in September and will have a 25 minute tube ride and 10 min walk.

My Dcs are 12 miles away. In rush hour it takes about 40 mins drive. I drive in the morning and they come home by bus. It takes the bus (two buses) about 1.15 hours. They get used to it.

Woolwich Arsenal EL is very busy in the morning so there’ll be plenty of people about. I’d be inclined to do the journey with her for the first few days myself. Also as others have said, practice the alternative route using the overground trains.

Going to the best school for the individual is so important, this will be fine. I get anxiety when kids are Y6 but they very quickly grow up during Y7.

Do you know anyone locally who does this journey?

I travelled 40 mins and didn't think anything of it. If she's keen to go there I would give it a go. Just have back up plans and emergency phone, numbers written down etc. I would also have her well versed in not engaging with strangers who try to interact with her. But i'm over cautious with these things. Hopefully she has an amazing experience which sets her up for life.

They grow up amazingly quickly that first year. There will likely be others doing the commute as well so she will meet others

Do the journey with her a few times beforehand at the time she will be doing it so she gets used to it with you first?

She'll be fine. Her journey is perfectly reasonable. I used to leave the house at 7.30, take a bus to the train station then a train and then a 10 min walk. Journey was about 50 mins in total and I quite enjoyed it.

40ish minutes door 2 door mainly sitting on public transport that's reasonable. My kids walk 50 minutes each way!

The Elizabeth line will be a lovely civilised commute. Perfect amount to learn a little independence. I know kids travelling 1hr plus on motorways for prestigious schools. Congratulations to your daughter!

For a good high school in London that’s not a bad commute at all. My daughter is at a selective school and some kids travel much further.
There will be others going the same route, or part of the same route, and she’ll probably make friends she can can travel at least part way with.

Very sensible.