Public transport year 7

[SonnetForSpring]

Just wondering how common it is for year 7's to take public transport to school by themselves from Sept. I would like my son to but some of my friends feel it is too young. It is a 3 mile one way trip by bus.

i think is absolutely the norm.
unless there are some special needs or very unusual circumstances, why would you not want him to use public transport.
surely you don't want to keep mollycoddling him forever ?
3 miles is nothing.
there are 11 year olds schlepping across London on buses and trains, carrying books, bags musical instruments, and then walking half a mile.

I'd also consider it to be the norm. I also went to a secondary school 3 miles away and travelled by public bus- it was fine and how the majority of people got to school right from Y7. My mum took me on the bus in the summer holidays to show me the route/landmarks to remember where to get off, and then once you've done it for the first few days of school it just becomes second nature.

Absolutely normal. In fact my younger DD was encouraged by her primary school to start travelling to school by herself in year 6.

Normal, honest!

It's normal for Y7 to get themselves to school using whatever method suits their journey- bus, bike, foot etc

Absolutely normal. My DD is Y8 and has been using public transport to get herself around since middle of Y6. She is on dedicated school transport, but there is a service bus as well and I would have been happy for her to take it from day 1 in Y7

3 mikes or ten miles of bus journey makes no difference. Is your child sensible about crossing roads/not likely to get on the wrong bus/get off at the wrong stop etc? A few practices before they start and all should be fine.

He'll be absolutely fine. From year 7 mine did a commute of about 15 miles including having to change train.

I travelled 2 miles to primary school by public transport (bus) when I was 5, though I know things were different in those days (1960s).

Thank you. Very reassuring

Completely normal for Yr7 to take public transport to school by themselves. Schools in central London often tell parents that they expect pupils to be able to get themselves in and out alone by 3 different routes by the first half term if not sooner. (That's not usually a straightforward single bus journey but a combination of bus train and tube - often through the larger railway interchanges and termini.)

I would run through the journey with him a couple of times before school starts and let him get on with it - but if he hasn't got one already get him a phone so he can call if there are problems.

Normal- especially in cities.

Perfect age to start.

There are usually other children doing the same so they go with the flow.

They tend to make another group of friends too - bus friends, being the ones that live closest which is handy.

Start training them now - get them to make simple journeys which they are familiar with all by themselves. That way they can learn to be on their own, before they have to tackle all the newness of the school run to their new school.

Coming home alone from primary might be a way to start?

Both my daughters commute into central London from South east and have done since reception.
DD1 used to make her way from primary school Ur 6 to Southwark cathedral twice a week as a chorister.
Only challenge was getting on rush hour train home from London bridge.
Would have let her travel on her own sooner but school had blanket ban until after Feb half term of Yr.6

She moved to Westminster area for secondary and DD2 started making her.way to mainline Station on her own. Dad would meet her there to travel together & we started letting her go all the way once we were confident she would get on right train. This started from Jan term.of Yr 5. Once she had her own phone &. school would allow it.

DD2 now Yr7 so both travel in by train.and.then tube to different stations. DD1 doesn't travel with DD2 once I get off the train as it's not cool to be with little sister

It's not just them knowing the route. It's knowing alternatives and when to call for advice or help.
DD1 oyster card just stopped on way home..
She called me so I could add money to her.debit card and she could buy a new one at station.
They both know buses as well as trains they can catch to.get nearer to home for Dad to pick up in the car if.one of the lines is down..etc.

They adapt amazingly well..

At our city primary most kids sort themselves out going to and from school in Yr5 and defo Yr6. By yr7 they all ready to commute to high alone. I travelled 3 miles + on my own many many moons ago with no mobile phone etc

It would also be social suicide to be taken to school or picked up by Yr6 lol

@tiggermummy70 - mine had same YR 6 experience as your DD1 - used to get themselves to choir practice on the northern line from school from Easter of Yr 6 onwards.........

It's absolutely normal - but I do think that many parents don't foresee how much their children will grow once they enter Y7. My dd went to a secondary school that was out of our area and involved taking public transport. I lost count of the number of people who asked me (with concern) how she would get there!

The other thing is that they will want to go out and about with their friends and they will need to learn how to use public transport. Also my dd's school expected them to travel by public transport to their sports ground, so again, it's important that they can do this independently.