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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Walking to and from school in yrs 7 and 10

73 replies

bambicat · 03/10/2013 11:54

Help and advice needed to resolve a parenting conflict!
Is it better to let 2 brothers walk half a mile to and from school, weather and health permitting, or should they be driven by car? Many thanks.

OP posts:

exexpat · 03/10/2013 11:56

Half a mile? They should walk! Why are you even asking? (Unless the half mile involves crossing a six-lane motorway or something silly).

DS has been walking the mile to school by himself since the second day of year 7; DD is year 6 and already walks more than half a mile to or from school by herself some days.

ZiaMaria · 03/10/2013 11:56

Assuming they are mature enough, they should walk. At age 11 and 14(ish?) they are old enough to be able to manage half a mile alone.

motherinferior · 03/10/2013 12:01

My 10 year old walks that distance to school every day on her own. Her 12 year old sister would die of shame if I even suggested driving her.

Original poster

bambicat · 03/10/2013 12:03

Thankyou :) Mum and Dad have very conflicting opinions on this and could really use some honest 3rd party common sense.

OP posts:

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 03/10/2013 12:04

I can't think of any weather they couldn't walk in that wouldn't be more dangerous in a car tbh. Mine walk further than that and have done since yr 7 (still have to do primary school, school run so secondary aged DC have to fend for themselves!)

motherinferior · 03/10/2013 12:04

Which parent is bonkers enough to think they should be driven?

TantrumsAndBalloons · 03/10/2013 12:04

Half a mile? At 11 and 14?

Is there a reason why you think they shouldn't be walking to school?
My ds2 is 10 and he cycles further than that to school.
Ds1 and dd have a 10 minute walk, a 15 minute train journey and then a 15 minute walk to school, they have been doing that since year 7

I think they would be horrified at the thought of me taking them and picking them up every day.

meditrina · 03/10/2013 12:05

I think secondary pupils can (and should) make their own way to and from school unless there is an overwhelming reason why not. Walking half a mile, assuming adequate pavements, should be easily doable.

123bucklemyshoe · 03/10/2013 12:05

Walk

TantrumsAndBalloons · 03/10/2013 12:05

And when you say "weather permitting" what weather could stop them from walking?

5madthings · 03/10/2013 12:06

Of course they should walk!

Ds1 is in yr 10 and ds2 is in yr 7 and they get the bus but walk partway and both walked further than that at primary.

My ds3 and ds4 both walk further than that to get to primary, ds3 is in yr4 and will occasionally walk home on his own now.

curlew · 03/10/2013 12:06

What is the reason for not wanting them to walk?

motherinferior · 03/10/2013 12:07

Possibly if there was an actual tornado. But then you wouldn't be driving either.

Or if they had a leg in plaster.

MaddAddam · 03/10/2013 12:09

Is this a joke? My secondary dc cycle or walk 1.5 miles every day, whatever the weather, I consider that a short commute to school. and the primary one walks 1/2 mile every day, again even in the most torrential rain. I wouldn't dream of driving them. But then I cycle 3x that to work whatever the weather and we're not big fans of car use for teeny trips.

curlew · 03/10/2013 12:09

Or, to be fair, an enormous cardboard model of a motte and bailey castle to carry......

Preciousbane · 03/10/2013 12:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

titchy · 03/10/2013 12:19

Who in their right mind would even question this - it's a 15 minute walk tops, and they are bloody lucky to have a secondary school so near.

Dear God I wonder about folk sometimes I really do.

Original poster

bambicat · 03/10/2013 12:20

I'm very grateful for the replies :) Mum and Dad are divorced and this became a cause of very upsetting and angry conflict last night, in front of the boys. I'm hoping this thread will help ease some kind of agreement or compromise.

OP posts:

curlew · 03/10/2013 12:22

Why did whoever thought they shouldn't walk think that?

Original poster

bambicat · 03/10/2013 12:30

Mum thinks it's too far to walk and they shouldn't have to... Dad thinks the distance is fine...

OP posts:

TantrumsAndBalloons · 03/10/2013 12:33

in my opinion its perfectly fine. A 14 year old should be able to get themselves half a mile down the road, whatever the weather.

Have they never gone to school alone then?

redskyatnight · 03/10/2013 12:33

Half a mile!!
Are the DC not mortified at the idea of being driven?

exexpat · 03/10/2013 12:33

What do the boys think? Surely most of their friends would be walking from at least that distance - my DS would be mortified if I drove him to school every day.

I have even offered to take him/pick him up sometimes when it has been tipping with rain and he has had a sports bag and guitar as well as normal backpack to carry, and he has still refused...

impecuniousmarmoset · 03/10/2013 12:34

My 5-year-old walks further than that most afternoons! Quite often, so does my 3-year-old. Wow - half a mile, too far to walk, for two teenagers?!

HavantGuard · 03/10/2013 12:35

Walk, whatever the weather. The only exception would be if they lived somewhere seriously dangerous.

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