Page 2 | Would lack of school transport put you off Kingston Grammar for Year 7?

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Knickerbockerglory75 · 16/09/2026 12:59

Thinkofnewthings · 15/09/2026 16:41

My child went to private school for secondary and took buses and trains from the start by themselves. We practised the route a few times. They were well used to public transport, though, from infancy. They took buses locally by themselves aged about ten. The primary school encouraged all parents to let children make their own way to school unaccompanied by year 6, so they could build up skills. Most children walked but some did have to use buses or tubes.

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It really depends on the location of the school. Mine has just started an indy secondary and there are no public buses that stop near it. Majority of kids use the school's mini bus service or are delivered and collected by parents.

HollyhocksandPeons · 16/09/2026 18:04

11plusherewego · 15/09/2026 11:50

We’re still finalising our short list for DS due to start year 7 in 2027.

We like Kingston Grammar for a number of reasons but we’re slightly put off by the lack of school transport. We’re a bus ride from Clapham Junction so train should be easy enough but I can’t get my head around a just turned 11 year old heading off to school on public transport by themselves.

Wondering how others would feel about this?

Whilst some of our options are much further geographically, they have school coaches short walk from our home. This seems a better option but I’m cautious of making decisions based on year 7 practicalities when he’ll be there for quite a few years!

I wouldn't. We live in a poor and occasionally dodgy area and we could not risk dc in a private school uniform going to school by public transport - after a few attempts when they were being called posh cunts on the public bus for the rest of the bus to laugh and say nothing to the gobby shites, adults included, we decided against public buses and trains - there was the option of travelling to school in normal uniform and change at school, but it did not work out.

FoxandDuck · 17/09/2026 07:13

This is typical for London
It also means that you’re not restricted to school coach times. If you’re child has a late away fixture, perhaps easier for them to get the train and bus home if they’re used to it than doing it intermittently

examadmin · 17/09/2026 19:42

HollyhocksandPeons · 16/09/2026 18:04

I wouldn't. We live in a poor and occasionally dodgy area and we could not risk dc in a private school uniform going to school by public transport - after a few attempts when they were being called posh cunts on the public bus for the rest of the bus to laugh and say nothing to the gobby shites, adults included, we decided against public buses and trains - there was the option of travelling to school in normal uniform and change at school, but it did not work out.

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If they live a short bus journey from CLJ then the OP does not live in a "poor" area - Clapham Junction station has what feels like hundreds of private school kids going through it every day to school all in uniform, with hockey sticks etc in tow. They all meet their friends on the platform and go on together - I go the other way (into zone 1) and always think it looks like a great way to get to school. Kingston should be ok as if there are train issues then you can get the 57 to Clapham, or you can get the loop train the opposite direction.

Ayaboo · 18/09/2026 19:39

They go to Fairfield weekly