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Original poster

Living next to a school - any experience?

54 replies

HelpMeHiveMind · 21/01/2022 11:39

Yet another post from me in this topic...we are househunting so feedback on our various options is proving very helpful!

The latest one for consideration- what's it like living next to a school? As in, not literally next door but close enough that your road gets used as overflow parking, and the playground could presumably be heard?

OP posts:
Sausagedogsarethebest · 21/01/2022 12:20

My DM lives in a cul de sac and backs on to the school playground. The noise isn't really a big issue as it's only at playtime. The parking though can be a nightmare, especially if it's a primary, as the kids are more likely to be dropped, and so many parents don't give a toss if they're blocking your drive/road/access. It's not just 10 mins either at end of day because parents will turn up ultra early to get any available space near the school so that their little darlings don't have to walk. When I was last looking I immediately discounted anything close to a school.

SomeOwlsCoo · 21/01/2022 12:26

My mum has lived on the same road as a primary school for 18 years. It was never an issue until about 3 years ago. Now the parents have decided the road has a one way system (it's not wide enough for 2 cars to drive past each other at school time because of all the parents parked everywhere).
If the residents dare to drive the 'wrong' way, despite it being the way they have always gone, they get evil eyes from parents. Or parents blocking the road.
A group of mums often gather at the end of my mums driveway to chat after drop off. Even if she gets I her car and starts the engine they don't move Hmm. When they move its often onto her front lawn and flowers. Wtf.
So based on that I wouldn't do it!

Classicblunder · 21/01/2022 12:28

It depends on your lifestyle - we used to live next door to a secondary school for children with autism. The playground was extremely noisy but we were out of the house 8-6 Monday to Friday so it didn't really bother us. We don't have a car so parking etc not an issue.

If you will be around a lot during the day and/or rely on driving a lot, I would think twice

pitterpatterrain · 21/01/2022 12:31

We live opposite a primary school

Main problem are the numerous identi-kit people driving massively outsized vehicles every morning for little Tabitha to be dropped off as close as possible

NotAnotherPushyMum · 21/01/2022 12:33

If you get at all stressed about parking issues don’t do it. We live opposite a primary and the noise isn’t an issue, we have nice long quiet summer. However people seem to lose all common sense when it comes to parking.

apologynotrequired · 21/01/2022 12:36

Is it a primary school or secondary? I'd prefer the former and have lived very close to a tiny village primary school without issue.

Is there any chance that the school might hire out the playing field to a local adult sports club in the evenings, because hearing grown men grunting and swearing in the evening wouldn't be for me (friend has experience of exactly this).

Any plans to expand the school due to new housing developments locally, because car park extension and level of lighting could affect you if you could see the lighting from your property?

Tall lights in the car park or even floodlights on the sports field could get on your nerves.

JustJam4Tea · 21/01/2022 12:36

@NotAnotherPushyMum

If you get at all stressed about parking issues don’t do it. We live opposite a primary and the noise isn’t an issue, we have nice long quiet summer. However people seem to lose all common sense when it comes to parking.
This. Anything being delivered or repair vans or builders - had to get in an parked before 8.30 or not a chance till 9.15. Trying to leave for work was a nightmare.
MacavityTheDentistsCat · 21/01/2022 12:38

We used to live a few doors away from a primary school. The playground noise was no problem - it was actually rather sweet hearing all the excited little voices - but the entitlement of some of the parents was breathtaking. Our driveway was treated like public property Hmm.

Missingjigsawpuzzle · 21/01/2022 12:38

I lived next to a primary. Was lovely hearing the children at breaks and for sports day.

Parking was largely ok though I did get blocked in a few times. I avoided coming/going during main school start finish times and had to eye roll at parents who arrived 30-40 mins early and sat with engine going, polluting the air, waiting before and after school

Overall I wouldn't entertain it again if I didn't have off street parking at the house but if I did then I wouldn't mind.

I'd suggest going and driving around/park outside the house of interest at school time and see what it's like and imagine what you'd be doing at those times as to whether it would be an issue.

Plus school is only about 38 weeks of the year

HappyDaisy2 · 21/01/2022 12:38

We live opposite a primary school and have never had any issues to be honest. If you can, I’d advise having a drive to the property around school pickup and drop off times to get a feel for what it’s like traffic wise as each school can vary. Noise wise I don’t really hear anything so that has never been a problem, but if you can maybe a drive lunchtime?

Bear2014 · 21/01/2022 12:41

We live opposite a primary school. It's the school that our DC go to, and it's very over-subscribed so it was quite nice to know from the point of them being babies we would not have to worry about getting in. It can be noisy but I like the playground noise, and a bit hectic at drop off and pick up times with traffic. But it's super quiet at the weekend and always parking available if we have visitors. Overall we're fine with it as houses are very expensive around here and I'd rather be here than out of area. There's always a compromise unless money is no object.

onthinice · 21/01/2022 12:47

Is it near the main vehicle entrance (some have pathways at the back and / or side) of so then you'll have to factor in deliveries as well as the usual traffic at drop off and pick up.

I lived behind a primary school when my kids were very little and I loved the noise from the playground and the quick 2 min walk to the school gates. For a working couple it wouldn't matter as you'd be out the house during the school day and the main heavy traffic times, if retired it may or may not be annoying depending on the individual.

Most schools have appropriate no parking and stopping zones and occasional patrols to ensure parking is not a problem. Residents at my old school would very occasionally phone with a complaint about parking and the head did her very best to tell parents to be considerate (sternly worded letters and texts sent to all parents and the odd email round to staff if the neighbour believed the car belonged to staff).

lomoloko · 21/01/2022 12:48

I lived opposite a primary last year - actually sort of above, as the building was elevated.

The screaming at playtime (staggered playtimes so many hours each day) was absolutely horrendous when it was hot because you couldn't open the windows. I worked from home and could not take calls -- people could not hear me over the screams sometimes even with all the windows closed.

There was one child in particular that screamed continually for all his breaks, like being murdered - I presume he had additional needs. Never heard anything like it! I moved onto the main road -- much quieter.

SkunkButRug · 21/01/2022 12:51

Don't do it! Parking!!! Litter!!! Dog mess (might as well walk the dog while picking the kids up)!!!

AllLopsided · 21/01/2022 12:53

We lived near a primary school for 3 years. Playground was behind our house (but the school's playing field was in between) and the entrance just up the road. Noise not really a problem, we only heard it a break times and arriving/leaving time. However we couldn't get in or out of our drive for the half hour around drop off/collection time. Even if the drive wasn't blocked, there were cars parked on both sides of the road and only just room for one car to pass down the middle. My car would have needed to bend for me to get out. So study the road carefully at drop-off/collection time if that matters to you!

GoGoGretaDoll · 21/01/2022 12:56

Loved it when I was younger, lived in a city and didn't drive.

Once I had my own DC I felt very sorry for the people on the street by their school!

I think I'd take a look at 830 on a weekday morning before deciding.

Also, if it's a good school, you're probably paying a catchment premium - if you don't have DCs or have older DCs (you don't mention) that may or may not be worth it to you?

ancientgran · 21/01/2022 12:56

School no problem, kids no problem, parents and their need to park as close to the school as possible regardless of safety or laws is a big problem. I tried to get out of my cul de sac yesterday and someone had parked across the corner. Not right up to the corner but literally across the corner, they have been getting closer and closer to the junction and starting to stick out onto the road but to park like they did was madness.

I'm getting to the point of going to the police/councillor/MP before someone gets hurt.

On a positive note it is for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day with long holidays but so unnecessary.

ancientgran · 21/01/2022 12:57

@SkunkButRug

Don't do it! Parking!!! Litter!!! Dog mess (might as well walk the dog while picking the kids up)!!!
If only some of the parents at the local school walked, dogs or no dogs.
MrsMoastyToasty · 21/01/2022 13:04

I have a secondary school at the bottom of my back garden. I've lived here for over 20 years.
It isn't the pupils that are the problem, it's the parents. Our house is in a cul de sac and they start parking up from about 2pm, running their engines, blocking driveways playing stereos loudly and dropping litter out of the car window. There's also double yellow lines around the junction with the main road and it appears that the rules don't apply to parents.

TenoringBehind · 21/01/2022 13:10

We used to live down the road from a primary school. Never again!

The noise of children playing was lovely. The parking at drop off and collection time was horrendous. People would just park anywhere, or sit in the road with their engines running. It was impossible to leave or return to the house between 8:30 and 9 in the morning and 3-4 in the afternoon. Also annoying if there are parents evenings, school fetes etc.

jennyt82 · 21/01/2022 13:17

We used to live next to a primary school, when I was working full time it was fine but a couple of years after we moved in and I went on maternity leave then back to work part time the parking from parents was a nightmare. If you wanted to be in or out at morning or afternoon pick up time, the drive was either completely blocked or it was ridiculously difficult to get on/off because of the amount of cars parked awkwardly every day. The noise at playtime though was never an issue. It was a lovely house we had but I'm glad we eventually moved!

trilbydoll · 21/01/2022 13:20

Amazing while your children attend the school Grin

It depends on your daily timetable. If you're working and leaving before 8.15 it's unlikely to make much difference. Our road is horrendous for 20 minutes morning and evening and the rest of the time it's fine. The sound of kids playing is a nice noise and they are not outside all day anyway.

dingit · 21/01/2022 13:23

We've been in our house 20 years and go used to the parking/noise.
A year ago the council made the adjoining road to ours a school street and you cannot drive down it 4 hours of the day either side of school time. It is an utter pain.

ClaudiaWankleman · 21/01/2022 13:27

I live on the same road as a busy London primary school and a secondary.

At secondary no students are driven - it's no trouble at all. We don't have any noise and the students are polite although a bit self-unaware.

The primary school used to have more drivers until they made it a school street so no drivers between certain times. If there is any effect on neighbouring streets I haven't noticed it. There is a bit of noise but it is quite minimal as the playground is in the middle of buildings.

lunar1 · 21/01/2022 13:27

The background noise of children playing when I have the windows open is nice, but I'm pretty sure some of the neighbours are organising a vigilante intervention on a particularly annoying group of mums.

They are still there chatting and blocking the path 40 mins after school starts in the morning and manage to stretch out pickup to over an hour while they park everywhere, block the path and let their darlings run riot on our road.