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Secondary education

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Original poster

School Bus or not ?

14 replies

pumpkinlulu · 12/09/2013 13:51

Hi everyone

My daughter has just started Year Seven and so far so good.

We decided against sending her on the school bus as I work part time, right by the school and drive past the gate everyday.

However I have had numerous comments about this being a big mistake.
The opinion is usually that the school bus teaches them independence and by driving her I am in danger of having a child who has no idea of how to get around.

It's a nine mile journey so no chance of her being able to walk to school.

Do you think it's an invaluable experience getting the school bus and would you say that I am doing my daughter a diservice by not letting her get the bus on her own.

I would really appreciate anyone's opinion on this as I'm just not sure what to do for the best.

OP posts:
Labro · 12/09/2013 14:07

Totally depends on the child and the bus! Shes got a lot of years at the school yet and perhaps ask her later on if she"d like to, plus give her opportunities at weekends to get on public transport by herself and meet you at a certain stop/place etc. Friends dd did a similar journey on a school bus and was horrendously bullied as no supervision at all.

MadeOfStarDust · 12/09/2013 14:14

Can she get it sometimes? or is it an all or nothing?

We drive to school - it is on the way to work, but our DDs take the bus home. Also helps for when hubby is away with work and they have to get the bus too school - they know what to do..

But mine don't do the "school" bus now as it is more expensive than public transport - so they just get on the stagecoach bus that takes them nearest to home...

They are very independent - but don't know if the bus plays a part in it or not - I guess they have become more adept at dealing with things when they go wrong... we don't get a phone call any more saying we missed the bus - they just get another/next one and walk a bit further.....

burberryqueen · 12/09/2013 14:19

well she is only at the start of year seven....
and as u say, school buses are unsupervised.
my daughter was horribly bullied on the school bus but i was told if i wanted to complain i would have to produce a named witness for every incident .....Hmm
it continued for many months until the protaganists called the romanian bus driver a 'paki cunt' and were removed from the bus pronto.
how we laughed!

burberryqueen · 12/09/2013 14:19

oh right yes your question....Grin
perhaps sometimes drive her and let her try taking the bus too?

gymboywalton · 12/09/2013 14:21

god-my son HAS to get the school bus and it sounds like lord of the flies! if i could drive him everyday i would.

burberryqueen · 12/09/2013 14:29

it is like lord of the flies

OhYouBadBadKitten · 12/09/2013 14:33

dd loves her bus journey but any whiff of trouble and the 6th formers report it to the head and they haul out any trouble makers. It seems to be a right little village in there complete with bartering for goods.

secretscwirrels · 12/09/2013 16:13

Mine went on the school bus from reception. Yes really. It was a tiny village school. Their secondary school serves a large rural area and 70% of pupils use school bus. Those whose parents drive them to school are noticed.
I'd say she doesn't quite need to learn independent travel at 11 but she soon will. Could she maybe catch the bus one way and you give a lift the other?

hellsbells99 · 12/09/2013 16:18

My DDs hate the school bus and refuse to get it. It does take approx. 50 mins to get to school (huge circular route) and it takes me less than 10 mins to drive them there (but not walkable as 60 mile speed limit on country lanes with no footpaths)! DD1 likens it to Lord of the Flies too :)

It is expensive and most of the time they go to clubs after school so I would be paying for a service they were only half using. We do a lift share with a neighbour and her 2 children. Independence wise, I don't think it has been a problem - they get the bus in to town and train into the next city etc.

crazycarol · 12/09/2013 16:36

My dd gets a lift to & from school every day, dh am, & me pm, as it is much more convenient. However her first two days at the school she got the bus too & from school just so that she knew where to go etc. She has had to do it a handful of times since but at least I know she can do it if the need arises (car breakdown, illness etc).

AChickenCalledKorma · 12/09/2013 16:42

If it's easy for you to drive her, why not continue to do so, but teach her independent travel skills outside school? IME "normal" buses are much more pleasant environments than school buses. She can always learn to get the bus somewhere else (which is likely to be less reminiscent of LOTF!)

And sitting side by side in the car is a great opportunity to chat and hear about her day.

NoComet · 12/09/2013 16:49

DDs bus is awful, takes over an hour to do a 15 minute trip. Door to door dedicated bus, so it doesn't teach independence, just that the council are to skin flint to provide a decent service.

At the moment "Lord of the Flies" is on hold, but it has had it's moments in the past. Hardly surprising given how bored the children get.

Round here independence practice tends to be getting on the train going shopping and to the cinema and catching the train back.

Talkinpeace · 12/09/2013 17:09

I'm non catchment so would have to pay.
I drive mine in and they get the public bus home.

Original poster
pumpkinlulu · 12/09/2013 17:32

Thanks everyone for all the thoughtful responses.

I think I will play it by ear for the time being and when she
Is more settled I could look at the options again maybe.

Thank you all so much .

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