Taking tube to secondary school

[Avala2019]

Wanted to hear from parents whose kids take the tube to school from year 7. Considering a school in central London but the main drawback is that it is in central London and so DS, 11, would need to get a very busy train to work. The journey in itself is very short (35 minutes door to door) but the main issue is a packed tube station, packed tube where DS could get crushed, then packed station the other end. Not really what I want for him at 11.

My DT’s have got the tube to school from age 7. They traveled with DH until they were 11 and then did the journey on their own although met friends on the way. Wasn’t a problem.

Also as others have suggested, do some trial runs and always have an alternative route in mind (maybe by bus) should there be any travel disruption on the usual routes.

Most good state (non-faith) have tiny catchments. I can only think of one or two state schools that have a random entrance criteria which would meant kids commute from further (the Oratory and Cardinal Vaughan). Most other state schools are less than a mile max.

Kitty, that is very similar to the commute DS would be doing. May I ask which school you went to?

The private is not my top choice but DS didn't get any of his top choices and we think the local state comp really isn't going to work for him. We are unfortunately in the position of having not great options.

It is for this September.

DD's journey is ten minutes bus ride, a short wait, ten minutes on the tube, ten minutes walk. It takes her about 45 minutes door to door. She has honestly found it fine. Although she gets home later than her friends at local schools, she has enough time in the evenings to do homework, music practice and have a bit of time relaxing. If you think the school is better than the local option then I would not rule it out purely on the grounds of travel, personally. He will get used to it. I did a similar journey as a child and did not mind it a bit.

For DD, the journey is also an opportunity to get to know more people who are not in her teaching group - she has made some really nice friends just because they are on the train together.

You are also underestimating other students that will travel from your area. When DS started school in Y7 school offered a buddy list of others in the area in the same year but he didn’t need it, after the first week they already have buddies.
If you are really nervous about it you could do a couple of trial runs over the summer let him/you gain confidence.

If it's a choice between a good private school + tube or a good state school + walk/bike, I'd have a good long think.

I have a child at secondary in central London but we are lucky enough to live near so they take the bus. Short bus ride. Lots of their classmates take the bus and tube for hours.

I hate the idea of the pollution in the tube, plus terrorism risk (which I know is present everywhere).

But we are lucky enough to have got our child into an amazing secondary school a short bus ride away.

I think about the fact their classmates take the tube for hours all the time, and thank our lucky stars DC doesn't have to.

Sorry, long and convoluted post, but just wanted to give a Year 7 mum's perspective. I hate the tube (despite living in London for decades) and am so so glad DC doesn't have to.

Ivegot, my worries exactly. Pollution, terrorism and day to day just not a nice experience. Like you, I hate the tube and would rather DS avoid it for as long as possible.

Problem is that the choice is between a good (not amazing) private school in zone 1 OR an ok ish (good Ofsted, 67% get % GCCES 9-4 but school is very mixed, 40% disadvantaged kids) state secondary. My boy is bright but not very motivated, easily distracted etc. I honestly have no idea what to do.

Choose the right school would be my opinion. Of all the things I would be worried about terrorism would not be one - My Granny did not want me to live in London because - terrorists ( IRA in those days - I am old)

The way I think about it is - if you look at the statistics if a man were handing out parcels with £1000,000 in them would you think you would get one - unlikely. So if something bad happens , also unlikely. ( I am not a mathematician and mty hold on probability is shaky - but London does not necessarily = dangerous per se ) Many of Ds's friends commuted on bus or tube to school. All doing fine.

If he went to the local state school could you use the private school money to enrich his education in other ways? The results sound fairly decent to me and London schools are comparatively well funded, although that could change.

Alternatively, are there any decent private schools in the other direction?

If he isn’t that motivated and easily distracted, then a comp with a very mixed intake might not be the greatest idea. I’d go with the private school and maybe get an au pair/nanny to look after him in the morning and on the way back.

JoJo, that is exactly what I was thinking. Leaning more towards the private school than our local state.

Fairweather, there are but all v oversubscribed and he didn't get in. That said, all the journeys were at least an hour on the bus with the bus leaving at 7am so he would have had to have got up around 6am, At least this journey will be shorter for him. I am wondering if it would be better for him to go from another tube station that is less busy although a bit further from us. Could make a difference.

I went to school in Central London and did this everyday. I soon learned not to suffer fools and made sure I had sharp elbows for to ensure I got off at my stop everyday! Really helped with developing street smarts. My journey was often complicated by a station being closed and having to navigate other forms of public transport (without a smart phone) am very grateful for the confidence it gave me.

OP, have you done the journey with your son already? How does he feel about it?

The state school is not getting these results by teaching kids who are distracted. I honestly would go for the state school.

We’re in London too, zone 2. My DD will hopefully go to our local state school which has worse results and probably 60 per cent of kids on free school meals. I wouldn’t want her travelling by Tube - dirty, huge levels of pollution... she’ll be much better off taking a 10mn stroll home. That’s if we get in!

I did this. I travelled from zone A to zone 2 for the whole of my private secondary education. It was fine. I knew no different.

The school organised each form by geography so people could live as close to each other as possible (though no one lives near me)! I know it sounds wanky to say it but my school was (is still!) one of the best in the country so the commute was worth it for the opportunities and development it gave me. If the school is the right one for your child then I say, 'go for it!'

OP having RTFT I would go private. He'll get used to it. Lots of DC at my DC's secondary travel for an hour or more to get there and they are all fine about it.

maybe get an au pair/nanny to look after him in the morning and on the way back

This is a terrible idea and will make him a figure of fun. Bar the first week or so, no children without additional needs will be travelling to school with an adult unless a parent happens to be travelling in the same direction for work.

Thank you all. Leaning towards private but still a bit undecided.

Bitlost, I did not think those results were particularly good at all? In addition, I have heard first hand stories of fighting, disruptive behaviour, low achievement etc, about this school. I've been trying to get comfortable with it but remain concerned that DS would become even less motivated, especially as less control/supervision at secondary school, could end up getting in with the wrong crowd, plus I really don't think he will achieve his potential academically.

Ivegotthree, what swayed it for you re going private? TBH, if the private school was not in central London but further out then I would definitely go for it.

If you’re looking st City then all the kids take the tube and train. He will find some other local kids to travel with, it’s not a problem

Avala, where I live (Dulwich), the school that everyone wants to get into has 69% of kids achieving grades 5-8. For a state school that doesn’t recruit on ability, these are great result which couldn’t be achieved if pupils didn't behave in class. I can’t comment on pupil safety as I don’t know your school.

I think it depends on which state school you’re trying to avoid and which private school is the only option.

Maybe start a thread about both and see if some more info helps?

It's not City Boys - OP's made that clear. I can guess which school it is and I don't think it's worth paying for or travelling to. A reasonable state is a much better option as you'll get a much better range of kids academically speaking - there will be some super clever ones which you won't get the private (if it's the school I'm thinking of).

My kids go to pretty sought-after London day schools (similar to City) with an easier journey than that and I'm still not convinced it's worth it in comparison to our local state (rougher, worse results than yours).

Ok, if he had an offer from City I would NOT be having this dilemma as it's undoubtedly worth it.

Bitlost, the state school has 67% of kids getting 5 GCSEs grades 9-4. Only 48% get 5 of more GCSEs 9-5.

Can you delve deeper into the state school statistics and look for the low, middle and high attainer grades/stats?

I did look but can't recall what it said. What should I be looking for?