Pay someone to drive teen from Hampstead Garden to Rickmansworth

[NewHereNeedDriver]

Help! We need to hire a 3 mornings/wk driver from Hampstead Garden (near Golders Green) to get our teen girl to school in Rickmansworth 7:30 to 8:15. We don't have a car, and thought she'd use transit or a coach, but couldn't find a rental close to either. We signed a year-long contract for this fee school (couldn't get into a state school without a post code when we moved from California for a job). Our 13 yr old is exhausted and often in tears by the time she gets home from the long commute (1.5 hr each way, but would be 45 minutes in the morning by car). Hoping someone trustworthy may already be driving that way, or could use some extra cash: 100 gbp/wk. She would be most comfortable with a mom or young woman.

Does the school offer flexi boarding? I’d be looking into this as an option.

Get a car
What happens the other two mornings ?
You cannot pay next to nothing cash for 3 x 45 minute journeys (meaning they have another 45 or more to get back to their starting point) so likely 3 hours of someone s time plus expenses petrol etc maybe 60 each journey x 3 at least 180

I bet Addison Lee would do a school run job like this.

I think the PP who have pointed out Addison Lee are onto something here.

Are you really fixed for a while year at his school though? Hampstead Garden Suburb (I know the area well) to Rickmansworth is not a commute I would put myself through for work, so I certainly wouldn't want a child of mine to have to do that. Can you not just give a terms notice? I suspect you are pretty set on private school, and since we don't know what the school is, it's tricky to know whether it's worth it, but there are a few private day schools in Hampstead: South Hampstead High (may be tricky to get a place at) St Mary's, St Margaret's, Northbridge House, King Alfred's. Would it not be worth giving a terms notice (if possible) and switching to a local private?

I’m assuming this is RMS, in which case flexi/weekly boarding?

I can assure you that getting to RMS (assuming that’s her school), won’t take 40 minutes. Coming out of London on the M1 is usually ok but once you approach Watford then the traffic is a shocker. It would easily be an hour each way at that time in the morning - hence the prices you have been quoted by taxi companies.

I am also guessing that you have signed a rental contract in HGS which you can’t get out of so you’re feeling a bit stuck. There are lots of places to rent further out which are on the RMS school transport link like Berkhamsted, Amersham, Chesham, Chorleywood etc.

You could move her school. RMS has a terms notice on fees so regardless of your one year contract, this is all you are liable for. If you give notice now you are liable for next term fees but she could start anywhere else immediately. If you can take the financial hit then this seems most sensible. Good options are South Hampstead High if she’s bright, Francis Holland Regent’s Park, Queen’s College, Mill Hill, Northbridge House and Queenswood (although further out has a door to door bus service).

Alternatively she could flexi board on two or three nights to break things up.

Otherwise I don’t think a car service is going to actually make her journey that much quicker due to traffic.

there will be a coach service from somewhere like Mill Hill you can drop her at

2. you get her to a jubilee or met line station and she gets herself to school

it will be at least an hours drive. Trust me

You're looking at minimum £3.6k a term in costs for this car service, I'd look at moving her school asap and put the lost fees down to experience. This has got to be better for her in terms of friendships, socialising etc anyway.

RMS have a coach from Stanmore, could you get her there by taxi or tube?

Could you not get a car, sorry if you’ve already explained this

Mini cab firms do school runs. Maybe enquire about a price for the whole term. If you hire someone to drive her and this was their only job for you it could be considered to be a private hire job so they would need appropriate insurance, something a babysitter wouldn't have.

Based on what I know others pay for shorter journeys in less traffic, you are looking at £50-60 per day (remember is a 36 mile round trip as it's out of area it's unlikely they would pick up a return fare)

Assuming it's RMS I second or third looking into Flexi Boarding. I know of a now year 11 who's done it a couple of times a week since yr8 and loves being able to stay over.

I agree- flexi boarding tues and wed would only leave mon and fri with a 3hour commute. It would be similar cost to taxi too.

Second this, and RMS is not worth such a long commute, there are plenty of better schools around HGS.
It won't be 40 minutes anyway in the morning traffic.

@Ubertomusic That’s a rather harsh statement about RMS. It offers an awful lot to many girls and would be a great option coming from the USA where they are behind the U.K. curriculum at all school ages. It’s sporty, has great art and music and a lot of history.

If you define “better” just based on academic results in external exams then yes you’re right. But they have great value add with girls outperforming what would have been expected of them by some way. For some girls getting a 6 at GCSE is a huge achievement and schools like RMS are incredibly proud of them.

I have several friends with girls there - all universally happy and doing exceptionally well. For some children it’s the perfect school so please don’t write it off as a poor school to the OP who is already having a tough time just trying to juggle everything!!!

What are you/she doing on the other two mornings?

I think it’s likely to be longer than you think by car and probably a lot more uncomfortable than the current tube. The Met line is fairly comfortable in that the carriages are high-ceilinged and it’s mostly overground. Traffic also highly unpredictable.

I'm sure it's a perfect school for many, and the grounds are lovely, but it's just not worth the 1.5hr commute from HGS, that's all. I've been driving for school runs in N London for five years - 40 minutes is not a realistic estimate for this route, unless driving very early, say 7-7:10am. Five minutes late and you're stuck.
It's a massive overkill, especially as Northbridge House is on the doorstep and they prob have a space, and the area is generally packed with private schools.

Yeah, I didn't see anything wrong with @Ubertomusic's post tbh. RMS is a lovely school, but it's not so fantastic as to warrant the sort of journey OP's DD is having to make. It's not unreasonable to say it isn't worth the commute, and I speak as someone whose 2 best friends have/had daughters there. If OP loves it that much, moving closer to it and increasing hers/her DH's commute would be a more sensible solution.

OP are you aware of this international school, much closer to you in Friern Barnet?

www.dwightlondon.org

I suspect the OP isn't coming back because they've had enough criticism of how batshit their idea is of putting a child through a horrendous commute for a mediocre school.

THANKS to all who heeded the "Help!" tone of this email and offered practical solutions! Snoop, I somehow missed the coach idea until now-- got caught off guard by the RMS statements.

WOW Roses2 for calling me "Batshit crazy" and attacking RMS. I'm 60 (fortunate enough to have adopted) and it's my first time on social media because I heard how harsh it can be, but thought a mums group would be supportive.

But happy to have this resource, and will stick with it as I know I'll have more questions in this daunting new chapter, and hopefully have some elderly parenting advice to offer ; )

OP I’m fuming on your behalf at @roses2

roses, hope that post made you feel big and clever eh? Nothing like kicking a fellow mum when they’re confused and reaching out for support. You should be ashamed of yourself.

OP I hope you find a solution that works for you. I know lots and lots of girls at RMS but we’re local. My son goes to a school quite far away and has a long coach journey, this is a decision we made because we thought it was a great school worth the travel, and there are others doing the journey from our area - once you’re out of your rental agreement you can find somewhere to live that works better if your DD settles at RMS. Good luck!

Thanks for the support, Snoop. It truly means a lot right now.

I already need a break from social media so I'm bowing out now.