How far is too far to travel to secondary school?

[wineoclocktimeyet]

Sorry to put in here but we need to decide soon.

DS aced the 11+ and so can now go to schools for which we are outside the normal catchment.

We've seen a school we love BUT it will be nearly an hours travelling each way with a 45 minute bus ride (just one bus, he wont need to change). The school day finishes at 3.30 and my concern is that if he goes to an after-school club, he wouldnt be home till 5.30ish and then there's homework etc

The other choice, is a 40 minute journey at a school that finishes at 3pm, so even with an after-school activity, he would be home by 4.50(ish).

We do like both schools, No1 has better academic results and if it was closer, there would be no question.

Does anyone else's DC have a similar journey and is it too much/long?
I keep changing my mind and any comments would be gratefully received.

Being a grammar school that recruits out of catchment, don't be surprised if around 70% of the kids are doing the same. I guarantee you that he won't be alone. People who go the Grammar route see the journey time as secondary. The battle was getting them in there in the first place. Of all the dc that I know who attend a grammar school, their journey time ranges from one hour to an hour and twenty mins. My ds is in a hard to get into top comp and travels for an hour, does the homework club after school to get it out the way and while still in zone, and is home for 5.30 ish, sometimes a tad later. And despite being up for 6, which get's him in 35 mins early for school - he doesn't bat an eyelid. Besides, there are tons of them doing it and travelling from all over London.

Hope that reassures you and congratulations:)

crikey - does no one else think an hour or so commute is a lot for a 12 year old? I commute 45 min-1 hour on a train for work and i hate it. Can you move nearer to the school at some point?

At DD's school lots of kids travel long distances. She leaves home at 7.15 and the bus takes 50-60 minutes each way, but it's a direct one and lots of other kids take the same bus. There's quite a thriving social club on the bus and I think the kids positively enjoy it. DD also gets quite a lot of reading and homework done on the journey so it's not 'dead' time.

I do feel guilty as it's a very early start and all the other members of the family have a 5 minute walk to school/work. She goes to bed very early for a 13yo and finds that slightly embarrassing!

I know this is late and you have probably already decided but anyway.I want to just reassure you that their are people who take journeys like that. This is obviously a very clever girl and shes bound to find away round it like doing hw on the bus etc. My own daughter is in yr 8 and gets home at 5:30 and sometimes 6. Not a day goes by that i dont feel guilty about that but i know its bestest chance i can give her. She txts her freinds listens to music and does hw on the bus. In the end there are ppl all around the world who are fighting for an education like that so just be happy she got into a grammer school.