Travelling from Bexleyheath to Bromley High

[Aya3G]

My daughter has been offered a place at Bromley high for year 7 entry in Sep. We currently live in Bexleyheath but plan to move to Bromley when our second daughter currently in year 4 finishes primary school. I know BHS has a school bus leaving from Sidcup and eltham stations. Does anyone have experience of their kids travelling from Bexleyheath to Bromley High?

We also got an offer for my daughter and we live in Welling. Did you manage to figure out how to commute to the School? We are looking to move to DA15 so we can be closer to the school compared to Welling.

Hi @MAAK2 thanks for your response. We are still considering the best option. There is a direct bus from Bexleyheath to a stop 5 mins walking distance from the school but its a 50 min bus ride. There is also a fast superloop bus to sidcup and Chislehurst stations. Considering her getting BHS school bus from Sidcup but with the hassle to get to Sidcup and the cost of the bus we arent sure it makes sense. We plan to move to Bromley in 2 years when our second daughter finishes primary school. So its all still up in the air.

Can she get the train from Bexleyheath or Barnehurst to Eltham and then the school bus?

@Rosecoffeecup that was my original plan when we were considering the school. But the school bus stop seems about a 15 min walk from Eltham station so thats made me a bit nervous.

Ah yes you're right, I thought this stop (red arrow) was showing an additional stop in Eltham but actually I don't think it is showing that at all. You're right it's about 15 min walk, and about half of that is uphill.

Alternative could be train to Kidbrooke instead? Though tbh given the time spent on the train + school bus, I'm not convinced it'd be any quicker than a 50 min direct bus route.

Forgot to add pic!

Yes its a difficult one. Might have to try out all the options with her over summer then decide.

I don’t have experience but I recently caught a very fast superloop in the area and both Chislehurst and Bickley station are walking distance to Bromley High. So how long from your house is it for your daughter to catch the SL3 Superloop in Bexleyheath?

Oh thanks so much. Thats a good one. I just checked and I can probably drop her off at out closest Superloop bus stop every day. Reduces a 50 min bus ride to 37 mins and im sure there will be lots of Bromley high girls at Chislehurst station when she gets there x

Wondering if your girls ended up going into BH / Bromley High and if they are happy there?

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Hi, yes my daughter is now in year 8 there and she is happy and thriving. However , the journey is long for her and so we are working on moving closer.

Oh thanks so much @Aya3G, really appreciate the response. We are considering it and all I read so far was a couple of comments of parents moving their girls out because of bullying. Obviously this can happen at any school but I was starting to worry and wonder if there is truth to the ‘toxic environment’ comments I had read before. I’d hope the pastoral care and nurturing care should be there to support. Glad to hear your daughter is thriving there.

Bullying isnt something thay she has spoken about for her year group, but she has mentioned it a little about other years. However, from what she has said its something the school has addressed strongly. They take pastoral care very seriously and the Headteacher is very present and approachable. Unfortunately I do think these things happen at most schools but will say BHS seem to take it very seriously once it come to their notice. I would suggest having your daugher participate in a Taster Day. I think kids are very good at sensing if an environment is not right for them.

@Aya3GThat’s super helpful insight. Thanks so much, I am really grateful for your feedback and we had the same impression that the head is great. We will make use of the taster day too. Many thanks!