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Secondary education

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Original poster

expect to walk 3 miles twice per day

33 replies

Sunshinesally78 · 15/09/2023 17:03

My DD is going to be heading to high school next year and I wouldn't class where we live as walking distance to any high school so I was having a look at my local authorities policy on bus passes and they will only issue if the school is over 3 miles away, our nearest is 2.7 miles away and is a Catholic school, we are not religious so that wouldn't be an option for us however I found it quite surprising that the expectation is for kids to walk 3 miles twice a day or am I just soft?!

OP posts:
Sirzy · 15/09/2023 17:04

the free bus passes may be only for over 3 miles but surely you can still access the buses closer?

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 15/09/2023 17:06

It was always a cut off point at 3 miles going back to the 70s. But it was an option to pay for a school bus pass, if a bus and spaces were available on that route. Is this an option? Or is a public bus an option? Or cycle? - assuming it’s safe and safe to leave a bike at the school.

Dizzydahlias · 15/09/2023 17:08

The expectation is you’ll pay.

merryhouse · 15/09/2023 17:11

It's always been three miles.

You might want to check whether they'd allow you to discount the Catholic school when it comes to free bus eligibility (iirc, you can't just not apply to your nearest and then say you don't have a place within three miles).

While it's possible you wouldn't get a place at the Catholic school, it's by no means certain (depending on your area's demographics, and whether they still have the faith criterion in their admissions policy, which many schools are dropping). If you actively want to avoid it you might end up having to make a case.

IHearTheMermaidsSinging · 15/09/2023 17:13

I used to walk that distance to school and back every day as the school measured distance as the crow flies, and not by road mileage, so I didn't qualify for a bus pass.
I was given money for bus fares by mum and she said I could catch the bus, or save it and walk. So I only caught the bus in the very worst of weather, and saved up spending money for my hols. Great incentive.

PurBal · 15/09/2023 17:14

I don’t think 3 miles is too far or unreasonable for an 11 year old. My 2 year old can walk a mile (not fast, but doable). Could always cycle.

thoushallleave · 15/09/2023 17:18

Walk, cycle, bus or car. Where do children from her primary school go to? How do they get there? If she is over 3 miles then she should get a free bus pass but she will still need to get a bus. Ds's mate used to walk in good weather and bus in poor weather.

BoohooWoohoo · 15/09/2023 17:19

They are assuming that you will pay for transport or that she will cycle there.

loubielou31 · 15/09/2023 17:39

Yep, statutory walking distance for secondary school is 3 miles but this is the route you would walk not as the crow flies. The only way you would get free transport otherwise is if the route is hazardous and there are very specific rules as to what constitutes a hazardous walking route but if you believe it is there are ways to get it assessed. Less than 3 miles and you would have to make your own way to school to school, so walk, cycle or drive them, or pay for the bus.

If you don't apply to your nearest school then just because the school you chose is over 3 miles away does not entitle you to paid transport. If you apply to your nearest school/ schools and do not get a place at them and if the school you are allocated is more than three miles then you would be eligible for school transport.

With council budgets being so squeezed school buses are one of the savings most are trying to make.

Spacecowboys · 15/09/2023 17:46

Is there not a service bus ?

prh47bridge · 15/09/2023 19:05

That isn't your LA's policy. It is the law. For children aged 8 or more, free transport must be provided if the home to school distance is more than 3 miles by the shortest safe walking route unless you made the allocated school a higher preference than your nearest school or failed to name your nearest school as one of your preferences. There are some circumstances in which the entitlement kicks in at a shorter distance (e.g. when the child has a disability that means they cannot reasonably be expected to walk to school). However, if you don't apply to the Catholic school you are unlikely to get free transport to the allocated school regardless of the distance to the school you actually get.

DisquietintheRanks · 15/09/2023 19:43

Unless you live in the Himalayas, 3 miles is about a 50 min walk. That really isn't that bad twice a day.

Rainsdropskeepfalling · 15/09/2023 20:00

Same here - if you don't live far enough away for the bus you cycle. The school has lockers for the kids that cycle in.....

MelodiousThunk · 16/09/2023 19:18

I walked the same distance to school from age 8 (70s) like many other children. There was no feasible bus route and most people didn’t have a car.

DS cycles that distance and has been since yr 4, solo since yr 5. It’s hilly and muddy in winter (all off-road) but he isn’t made of sugar.

LucifersPain · 16/09/2023 19:28

You are soft, I did this in the 80s.

CinemaCrazy · 16/09/2023 19:32

My school was 2.99 miles, I walked a mile to the nearest bus stop and then my parents paid for my bus pass.

Kenwoodmixitup · 16/09/2023 19:32

I walk three miles each way to work 5 days a week. It’s a long way. It’s 50 minutes walk and it’s hard.

continentallentil · 16/09/2023 19:47

It’s not that far

Get a second hand bike?

wendown · 16/09/2023 21:09

I'd find it hard work to walk that distance twice daily as an adult. No way would I want my child doing it as an eleven year old. Luckily not an issue for us in London, schools are close together and the public transport is extensive. I can understand why it's govt policy though, as some places are far from schools and the cost would be huge. And realistically many families who choose to live in rural areas would accept long walking distances or having to ferry their dc around for years.

user149799568 · 18/09/2023 12:00

Kenwoodmixitup · 16/09/2023 19:32

I walk three miles each way to work 5 days a week. It’s a long way. It’s 50 minutes walk and it’s hard.

And it's even harder for an 11 year old on days when they need to bring in sports kit and/or a musical instrument.

LadyDanburysHat · 18/09/2023 12:04

Is the catholic school classed as your catchment school? We only have catholic primaries where I am, but if you lived next door to it, it would not be classed as your catchment school unless you wanted a religious school.

If it is your catchment school, as @prh47bridge said, you wouldn't get paid transport to another school anyway, as you only get transport to your catchment school.

WickerGirl · 18/09/2023 12:05

I did this for 4 years at high school, just over 3m each way.

Pushpull · 18/09/2023 12:10

It's tricky isn't it because 3 miles at 16 is very different from a safety point of view than 3 miles at 11.

I think in part the guidance is so unclear on school buses (or at least our local authority is) but you can apply for a place on a school bus if there's one suitable and if there is a space you can have it but you'll have to pay.

user1483387154 · 18/09/2023 12:11

I used to bike there and back every day at this age, same distance.

Bramshott · 18/09/2023 12:12

It's been 3 miles for years and years, and yes, it doesn't make much sense in view of how far people are generally happy to walk these days, but I doubt increasing the budget for school transport beyond the legal minimum is going to be on anyone's list of vote-winners...