Secondary School Commute ...

[SteamedPotatoes]

What is the furthest you would be willing to, or have already, sent your child to secondary school and do you drive them there, or would you drive them part of the way, each day ?

DS would also be able to stay at school on some nights as a flexi boarder.

An hour. Anything more is just unfair I think when you factor in homework and extra curricular activities.

Our choice of secondary school is an hour away (but only 25 mins not in the rush hour). As a family we have decided she should board Monday through to Thursday. Must admit that husband and I took some convincing but DD is desperate to board. She would be leaving the house at 7am and not getting back until 7pm if she didn’t so we’d barely see her anyway. Figured she’d have a much better quality of life without the commute.

I know of many children in the countryside sent to independent schools to avoid poor secondary schools who may have 2 hours either way ... so it is possible because of the extra support independents put on, though it is a long day and they then only have the opportunity to mix with children from their own school. Flexi boarding is a useful tool though expensive.

There are also children in the countryside who have to travel for maybe an hour to their local state comp.

The independent prob has prep club after tea and other activities on site, so not so pressurised as state where you would also be making tea/supper and carting to activities and ensuring homework is completed from home.

An hour and that would be a lot for some 11 year olds

I think the type of journey is more a factor than the length.

40 min walk fine
40 mins stuck in traffic- draining.

An hour on a quiet bus where you can read/study - fine

An hour on a crowded bus playing bunker cars with back packs while idiots throw stuff and make a racket- not so fine.

An hour

Mine did up to 40 minutes -on public transport by themselves. We didn’t drive them.

Ds takes over an hour on two buses, although it’s only 25 mins in the car outside if rush hour. I wouldn’t choose it over a good school nearer but our options were very poor.

It was hard in year 7 and he hates the early start as he’s not a morning person but he doesn’t mind the journey. In the morning he sleeps! In the evening he socialises with friends for the first half/two thirds until they all get off then he plays on his phone.

I should add though that his school finishes at 3.05. So he’s not back too late - although he generally either plays football or stops off at the gym on the way home.