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Secondary education

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Original poster

Tube travel to school

31 replies

Fiona2011231 · 21/02/2019 23:12

Is a 45 minute Tube travel without change (plus 10 min walk from home and 5 minute walk to school) ok for an 11 year old child?
I do this everyday myself and am OK about it.

OP posts:
Aridane · 21/02/2019 23:17

I think it's fine but am sure others say no. Depends on child as well of course

Zinnia · 21/02/2019 23:30

It does seem a long way to me - but as Adriane says, depends on the child. And if the school is worth the journey!

Guiloak · 21/02/2019 23:32

It does make the day very long. I did it as a child and didn't enjoy it. Making sure my kids have 30 minute or less travel time

Utility · 22/02/2019 07:52

It's fine. Particularly if they are likely to have a seat, and can read etc.
More than an hour would be tough.

FlumePlume · 22/02/2019 07:58

Completely doable for the right school, but not ideal. No change is a big advantage, another issue to consider is will they get a seat?

SquirmOfEels · 22/02/2019 08:03

I think an hour is at the very edge of acceptable, and then only if you can honestly answer 'yes' tothe following toe points:

a) there is a reasonable way to get to school if the tube isn't running for any reason
b) you, the parent, have done at least two trial journeys, at morning school run time and carrying a backpack largely full of books and some sort of grip (representing sports kit) and it really is OK and something you'd be OK with daily.

Original poster
Fiona2011231 · 22/02/2019 08:57

Thanks everyone
There is always seat on the journey from home. On the way back if at rush hour then maybe stand for 20 min until people get off.
If Tube doesn’t run, which is very rare even during strike as they still run reduced services, then there is the combination of bus and overground.
I travel on the same line eveyaday and often see children from the school on the tube and they don’t seem to carry much other than a backpack.

OP posts:
Kawasaki · 22/02/2019 09:19

We are in the same situation thinking if the journey is too long for DD - 45 minutes on Tube (no change) and then 10 minutes walk to school.
I also travel every day on the same Tube line and my station is 10 minutes away from where DD will get off.
We are planning to travel at the same time both ways at least for the first 2 years then DD can freely travel by herself.
My working hour is quite flexible so I can start early and then go home together with DD around 4.30pm

TeenTimesTwo · 22/02/2019 09:55

I think if you are on London, your 'norms' are set that this is OK.

Where I am it would be a bit like living in Bracknell and sending a child to school in Southampton which I would consider ridiculous!

Crouchendmumoftwo · 22/02/2019 10:40

As a Londoner who has always travelled on the tube and do now a couple of times a week there is absolutely no way I would let my kids travel on the tube. They could be doing this for years to come after they graduate why put them through such a tiring and potentially dangerous and uncomfortable experience. If you have a choice, isnt it better to let them walk to school with friends in fresh air. Tube travel is extreemly stressful, if you cant get a seat and are being thrown all arouund and squashed in between adults. I have been sexually assaulted as a young woman a few times on a pack tube too. I just would not consider putting an 11 year old on a tube every day. That is just me. I would not feel my son would be safe or comfortable. Its too much.

Oliversmumsarmy · 22/02/2019 10:57

Dd did it from the age of 10.

Left school and passed her driving test and only travels on the tube rarely

Just because you travel on the tube when you are at school it doesn’t follow you will be doing it as an adult

IWouldPreferNotTo · 22/02/2019 11:00

Living in the countryside I had a 40 min bus journey each way to school along with a ten minute walk. It's not ideal but it was fine overall

Zinnia · 22/02/2019 11:16

I travelled to school on the tube (in outer London) from ages 10-18, always with other kids from my school. It was a total journey time of approx 30-40 mins, with 20 of those on the train. It was perfectly manageable, the main problem being that as services weren't that frequent, if I missed "my" train it could be a long wait till the next one.

DD1 will start Y7 in Sept. If she gets 1st pref school, she will be going 3 stops on the tube network with a 10 min walk at home end and 5 mins at the other, so total journey time of

PhilomenaButterfly · 22/02/2019 11:19

It's fine! Plenty of 11yos in London do it. Although that's very far for a school. Haven't you got one a bus ride away?

Fulmar · 22/02/2019 13:29

Is it OK? Depends what "it" is. Is it do-eable - yes of course. Is it enjoyable - no. Is it a great way to spend your childhood - no. Is it healthy - no (nostrils are full of black stuff after a trip on the tube). I wouldn't want my children to do it unless is was absolutely necessary, which I suspect for most families it isn't.

I travel most days on the tube and I do see kids doing it most days, and I always feel sorry for them, comparing them to the kids I see where I live now and what I used to do when was at school. They/we saw things, had a laugh, messed about. You can't be a kid on the tube on your own, it's a grown-up environment. Depends on what's available but I'd prefer my DDs to go to the local state comp (admittedly quite a good one) rather than tube it to a "better" one.

Greenleave · 22/02/2019 13:49

The stress of disrupted connection is huge, dont under estimate it. As a daily commuter, my “lucky” day is the day everything is running as planned, normal day is the day I have some minor issues, stressful day is the day the tube/train just suddenly stops and not moves for sometimes between stops. Tube strikes happen every now and then, not mentioning things happened very often: “signaling problem”. An alternative public choice( bus) is much needed too. Its really the parents choice considering all factors(no alternative school choice is equally as good). They will get used to it though. Personally I’d prefer trains over tubes if there is choice.

Oliversmumsarmy · 22/02/2019 15:49

Dd became adept of finding her way to school if there was travel disruptions. Don’t think she felt too overwhelmed by it.

Definitely made her more grown up than her peers at primary school who were being ferried around into their teens

Mustbetimeforachange · 22/02/2019 16:02

I did it from 9 (many years ago). 10 minutes each end & probably 25-30 minutes on the tube. The first 2 days I went with an older neighbour then on my own or with a friend. As long as they aren't walking down dark alleyways in the dark in the winter I wouldn't have a problem with it.

Talksunderwater · 22/02/2019 19:00

My DS1 does similar and has done since he was just turned 11. 15 min walk to station, train or tube then 10-15 min walk or short bus ride (45 mins to 1 hour in total). I was very nervous about this at first but DH went with him for the first few weeks in the morning - until DS said he didn’t need a chaperone. He was fine and is now (5 years later) a “proper Londoner” who is confident and independent. Suggest “Find my Friends” app or similar so you can see where your DC is.

kitkatoz · 22/02/2019 21:39

My son does a similar journey, perhaps slightly less to central London each day since he started his school in year 6 (he is 10). It's absolutely fine. The independence and confidence he has gained is fantastic and exactly what we want for him. Given his schools location his journey is not uncommon and he has found boys that travel the same line. I also travel into central London, albeit at different times (mine is at rush hour home, after 530 whereas he leaves school between 4 - 430).

HotpotLawyer · 22/02/2019 23:43

One of the things about being a Londoner that I love is that the high density means that my kids have a choice of secondary schools within walking distance.

I don’t want them to spend 10 hours a week travelling.

RaininSummer · 22/02/2019 23:47

It sounds quite grim to me and surely means that after school clubs or visits to friend's houses would be difficult. Guess it's a London thing but I couldn't imagine dating that myself or my daughters and granddaughters.

marytuda · 23/02/2019 00:16

Maybe this sounds crazy, but one of the things I find about living in inner London is that the sheer population density is sometimes oppressive . . You need to get out of your immediate neighbourhood to get a sense of how different things are just a mile or so across the borough, or maybe even the other side of the river!
For primary school, just crossing our road at 1 minute to 9 for DS was absolutely perfect. But for secondary, a range of bus/tube/overground options, max 45 mins total as a rule, is also working well so far . . Yes, it’s a good school, but so are the more local ones . . But for my DS that journey into a unfamiliar part of the city is an extra challenge which suits him. And actually, you can cycle it door to door in 25 mins - I do, and I hope he will later on.
It does depend on the child though.

CoffeeCoffeeTea · 23/02/2019 00:31

45 mins on the tube is way too long.

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 23/02/2019 00:39

Depends on the school and whether for the kid it’s worth it. And on whether there will be activities before or after school?

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