Keswick school commute (from a West Cumbria perspective)

[Paninis]

Yes, I’m early. Eldest is Y5.

Looking at Keswick school.
Anyone know anything about it?

I’ve done a lot of research and been and seen it. I really liked it. Seems a welcoming school, kids looked happy and engaged, lots of clubs and other things going on. It really stood out from some other schools to me. My concern is the commute.

DC would have to commute from Whitehaven area each day. I know there are many dedicated school busses so it’s definitely a do-able journey. What are these like? Times? How does it impact on social life? Homework? Other life things?
How do you cope with after school clubs, because I’m assuming there’s no bus if DC stays for these? Other things which go on at school like parents evenings or plays?

Basically, is the commute worth it or I am looking through rose-tinted spectacles?

Hi , also from the area , but children do not attend Keswick school so can't answer your question.
I think you'd get more answers if you asked on Facebook / local online groups etc.

Thanks @VictoriaBun, I will try that.

Making a massive assumption you have secondary aged DC here but did you look round Keswick school when making secondary school choices? If you did, why didn’t you choose it?

Also, I hope you don’t mind me asking, its not for any weird creepy reason, just I'm on an information search at the minute.
Which school do your child(ren) go to, and why did you choose it? (PM me if you feel more comfortable with that).

Why not west lakes? They don't score too badly. The commute to keswick is going to cost you, be long days for the kids etc.
I'm sure if your kids are willing then west lakes (Wyndham to most of us 😂) will offer good resources.
I think a lot of keswick attendance is status. Would you definitely qualify anyways?

snobe.co.uk/best-secondary-schools/cumbria

Ahh good old Wyndham. Although I was Ehenside 😂

I think we would actually have more chance of getting into Keswick than west lakes.
West lakes has been really oversubscribed lately compared to Keswick. Fair few kids here going to Keswick so have a chance. We’re massively out of catchment for West lakes and don’t know anyone who’s got a place in the last few years (although it’s on the considering it list along with Whitehaven). And haven’t figured out how I’ll actually get DC there (West Lakes) in the mornings with the wonderful stagecoach bus service we have.

But yes, its the commute that worries me. I know it’ll cost, but so will West Lakes. I think wherever we go will will have to pay for a bus of some sort so cost isn’t the major concern because it’s just inevitable. Also the things I mentioned above about social life and homework. West lakes would still be a decent bus journey with a walk thrown in as well as leaving earlier than to get the Keswick bus for some reason (again, think this is due to the wonderfully sporadic bus service we have) but on the flip side, it’s not too far away so can jump in the car and get to things in the evening or do a pick up when needed.

I did like Keswick school, but I did wonder whether Keswick was just status and maybe, like I said above, rose-tinted spectacles. Possibly went in expecting it to be good so I only saw the good. I don’t know.

@Paninis

I have one child at Cockermouth.

It's crazy that there is more chance of getting into a school further away isn't it 🤯

You have a lot to weigh up x

My DC2 was at Keswick Year 7 to Year 11. Left in 2020. They had a brilliant time and the teaching is amazing as are the extra and co-curricula activities. We live over in East Cumbria and DC boarded 4 nights a week which worked well for us given I and DH travel lots for work.

DC2 had good friends from West Cumbria who came daily as well as from the Pennines. They all get to know the X4/X5 bus route. I can't recommend it more highly. They moved for the 6th form more due to wanting to go to DC1 school than any issues with Keswick- we would have been delighted for them to stay at Keswick. Do DM me if you'd like more info.

@amiold - very crazy! Especially as we probably won’t get into Bennies (even closer) either.

Nice to hear your DC enjoyed Keswick @Juja. At least I know it wasn’t all rose tinted spectacles now. Boarding wouldn’t work for us. I wonder whether the boarding made a difference to the experience of the school? Not having to travel would open up more extra curricular options.

I looked into the X4/5. It goes to Workington (takes an hour!), then Whitehaven is another 30ish minutes on the 29/30 bus (after a 15/20 minute wait for the bus) and then there would be a walk involved. Eeek! This makes after school things almost impossible unless we pick DC up in workington (although that’s still another 20 minutes on their journey).

It’s really tricky. Lots of people are telling me the school is amazing, including some of the kids locally. I believe them. They manage well with the dedicated school bus, some of the younger ones say it’s tiring at first but have got used to it, but very few do after school activities. Those that do get picked up in the car, so there’s the potential of talking to other parents and having a car school for after school activities. Something to look into. I’m a bit hesitant to send DC to a school where they can’t be fully involved with the whole of what the school offers because that’s actually one of the reasons I like it. Would be a bit pointless if you get what I’m saying.

Sorry I wasn't very clear - DC2's friends from West Cumbria all used the dedicated school bus for commuting to/from school. The X4/5 was only for going to see friends at weekends / holidays or alternatively I suppose you could use for getting home if staying late for an after school activity. Penrith kids use the X4/5 daily but it is only 45 mins.

I completely see what you are saying. Quite a number of the extra curricula are though in lunchtimes (the website has a current list) so I don't think they miss out too much. I'm not sure when the team sports practices and matches are. Some definitely after school or back late.

As you say pupils are pretty tired when then get home to W Cumbria so I'm not sure how much energy they have for local sports clubs / youth groups etc - best to ask people near you go to Keswick. My DC did several activities in Keswick after school (some out of school / some in school) so yes inevitably only having to travel Monday am and Friday pm freed up more time for these.

Good luck with your decision...

My 3 went to/are at Keswick and we have been very happy. Youngest is in 6th form now, so I have had at least one child there for nearly 15 years. Mine have all done well and been very happy. We had a bit of an issue with bullying with my middle DC in year 7 but it was swiftly and effectively managed. Otherwise no problems. Good teaching, lots of extracurricular activities etc and we like the "traditional" ethos. Travel is an issue, but from where we live there was always going to be a fair journey and my children grew up seeing older kids in the area doing it so always expected it. Plus all their friends were on the bus - they almost looked forward to it as a kind of rite of passage!
We are in West Cumbria but not quite as far away as you OP. Fortunately the bus passes the end of our road so there is no extra travel to get to the bus stop and it's a pretty direct route from our house with only another couple of stops after ours. So DS leaves about 7.50 and gets home about 4.10 on most days, which isn't that much longer a day than lots of children who live in urban areas I wouldn't think. From Whitehaven it will obviously be longer and I would look into the routes the various buses take as sometimes they go round quite a few villages en route and it might take longer than you'd expect.
The biggest downside of the journey is if they do after school activities. We have a village WhatsApp group and share lifts as there are often a few kids staying most nights even if they aren't in the same year group or doing the same thing. It's definitely worth trying to share lifts with other parents in your area if you can, as otherwise it's a bit of a pain if your child wants to do any sports etc after school.
Cockermouth is probably also a good possible option for you, though I don't know what the transport is like. When my eldest was moving to secondary we didn't even bother looking as it was very oversubscribed then, and then once one was at Keswick it was a bit of a no brainer to send the others. Oversubscription at Cockermouth seems to be far less of a problem these days though and I know quite a few families from the Whitehaven area whose children are going there now. Everyone I know whose children have been there have also been happy. I'd still prefer Keswick personally, but would have been happy with either really and if the transport is easier to Cockermouth it might be a good choice for you.

Personally I think Keswick is an amazing school. Please don’t discount it because of the bus. Fantastic teachers. Very caring school. Focussed on the child and not the results. Lots of outdoors encouraged such as John muir award and DofE. Lots of other extra curricular also encouraged that isn’t outdoors such as a codeing club and book writing club. Good range of GCSE subjects. So many opportunities offered both inside and outside of the classroom. It’s all about the child, not the results, they encourage every child to do their best and the atmosphere and feeling around the school is just something that is amazing. They also have a very low staff turnover and kids are happy and well behaved. It’s done fantastically for DC1 (Y12) and for DC3 (Y8). There is an on site nurse which is really important for us because of DC3 health/ hearing issues. The learning support department is very very good. The school are really accommodating when listening to the needs of DC3 and we have had lots of conversations on how to make things work for DC3. I think I’m trying to say they are a very supportive and cooperative school. However, the school bus. This will cost, and, as you know, bus does not wait for kids who want to do after school activities and it will be your responsibility to pick them up from school. My DC get the stagecoach if they have after school activities and I combine a shopping trip to Workington or cockermouth to pick them up. However, lots of other children in the area do attend Keswick so there are lots of friends locally. I know of 2 busses from Whitehaven, one goes along Loop Road about 7:50 (for interest, so does the Cockermouth bus although I think it’s 5 minutes earlier) and get back about 4:20 (strangely, the Cockermouth bus is actually later, about 4:30ish). The other goes through town about 7:45 and gets back about 4:30. Not sure about other busses but know there is one going through Cleator Moor/Moresby way.

For a bit of comparison, DC2 is at West Lakes. For no other reason than it was the right school for them. We were very lucky to get a place off the waiting list at the end of the summer holidays (would have been at Keswick otherwise). Last year it’s cut off was in the catchment and the cut off is getting closer and closer to the school. Lots of STEM things going on and science heavy school but on the plus side all the science teachers are very well qualified in their science area. Encouraging of the kids. Not as much extra curricular as Keswick but they do still try and get the kids to be involved with things. Have more BTECs on offer at GCSE
compared to Keswick. Have no experience of learning support so can’t compare that. Have had more of a problem with communicating with the school, but they are still alright. I find the bus to WLA an absolute pain, although has the advantage of DC2 can just get a bus home, although they are unreliable, if staying for extra curricular. Has to go on the stagecoach 30 and actually leaves earlier than the 2 that go to Keswick. On the bus form middle of town at 7:40 and had to walk to it first. Bus gets back about 4:30 then the walk back.

From experience of my children’s experiences, and from the experience as the parent, Keswick is the better school overall. No question about it. However, as I’ve mentioned, it depends on the child, WLA was the better school for my DC2 where as DC3 needed what Keswick could offer and wouldn’t have coped at WLA.


My DC4 might go to Whitehaven. I never thought I’d actually say that, but, there have been massive improvements at that school, it’s not the same place it was 3/4 years ago. I’m particularly interested by their creative curriculum. Although, I will probably end up sending them to Keswick.

@Paninis I attended Keswick school and commuted from Silloth each day, because I didn't know any different it never bothered me, I set off around 7.30 and got in around 5ish. Your children will make friends who live in Keswick I'm sure, I did and if anything was on after school I used to go back to theirs and someone would pick me up. It was a wonderful place to go to school and I'm so glad that my parents chose to send me there even though we had moved away from Keswick.
There was a LOT of kids from west cumbria and I'm sure there still is, like literally bus loads coming in from there.
My four siblings went there too so my family attended for around 15 years with no major issues.