How long does it take your DC to get to school?

[evtheria]

How long does it take your DC to get to their secondary school? And how - walking, by car, by bus...

Anyone whose child has a long commute eg over 30mins one way? Do they regret it? Does it really affect their social life, or how tired they are on average?

The teens I know walk to theirs in about 10-20mins, but being nearby was a huge factor for the parents in choosing the high school, no matter how good/bad the school was.

I'm just wondering if that is basically the norm in other areas (and therefore we'd probably be terrible for considering a longer commute for our kid).

DS has 50 min journey. Car/train/walk. School is in the city and we are semi rural.

20-25 min walk to secondary. Leave at 8:05.

I'd hate to be sending them off any earlier than 8am, or for them to be reliant on me for lifts. Independence is important.

Live rurally. 15 minutes in the car to the bus stop. Then 45 minute bus journey to school. Lots of the kids do the bus but most are walking distance to the bus stop (although a lot get lifts even if they can walk it).

He's fine, he enjoys the downtime scrolling his phone on the bus

2.5km can be walked in less than that!

DS is currently in year 6 and school is 30 mins away by car. Once at secondary this will be nearer to 40 mins each way. It’s fine, we enjoy having time together in the car to chat, listen to music and audiobooks.

35 minute walk to secondary school, it’s our nearest one.

Just under 5 minutes walk

It's about a half hour walk or ten minutes in the car. I chose school over location as there is a secondary school almost within sight of our front door but it's really bad. Lots of behaviour issues and a bad record with SEND which was a factor for us.

30 min brisk walk, 40 if she dawdles with friends. It’s a lovely walk, mostly through tree lined paths. I rather envy her!

DS2 - walks and it takes him about 35-40 mins. He walks with mates though and I doubt they walk quickly...

DS1 - used to get the bus and it took 25 mins. He went to secondary school in a different town though

It wouldn’t be here, it’s very hilly and lots of busy roads to cross, but yes not far off!

One a 15 minute bike ride away. The other an hour by school bus (plus a 10 minute walk to/from the bus). I was quite worried about the bus ride eating into DD's day (she gets home at around 5pm)/social life but the bus is a very social experience and she loves it. DS (who cycles) does enjoy being able to hang out with friends after school when the weather is nice but tbh I'd rather he was hanging out on a bus supervised!

DD's is 45 min on 2 buses ( she's a trainee teacher on second placement... they are expected to travel up to 90 minutes each way)

About 35-40 minutes in total, which includes lift to train station (2mins), 7 minutes on train, then meets school bus (10-15).

About a 20/25 minute walk. Sometimes goes with friends, sometimes on his own and sometimes if I’m feeling generous on my wfh days i’ll drop him if it’s pissing it down.

Bus stop 5 mins, bus journey 10mins. It's a school bus so they socialise on the bus.

3 minute walk although it depends what first lesson is as art is further away than English.

Now (chosen sixth form) 1-2hrs - depending on waiting for bus (1hr) and c.20 min walk each end.
Previously it was 20min walk to local secondary.

About 1 hour, car, train, walk. A bit longer on the way back because of the train times. But our local school is pretty poor ad doesn't offer some of the subjects she enjoys. She's pretty tired and it probably impacts her social life.

25 minute walk. Up a massive hill unfortunately.

20 min walk. DC love it

40-50 minutes walk

My children wealk 45 minutes each way. It's fine, the exercise does them good!

Secondary - 90 minutes each way. Two trains, short walk at either end and a platform switch in the middle.

She's been doing it since primary, so 10 years now, but DH or I commuted with her till secondary.

No problems at all with it - gets a seat and wifi on the trains, does a lot of her homework or watches movies downloaded onto her ipad.

She stays late a couple of days a week for afterschool clubs or extra curriculars.

If she wants to see friends at the weekend she just gets the train into London to meet up.

Her commute next year will be about 5 minutes longer, and train plus tubes rather than 2 trains.

Ages! We moved my daughter at the end of year 8, she’s now in year 9. She was at a dreadful school where there was a lot of disruption and she just wasn’t learning anything and totally miserable. She now goes to a brilliant school but has to use public transport so she leaves at 7.30 and gets two buses. She’s usually home for about 4.30. Her old school was a 15 min walk so quite a difference however she’s so much happier. Lots of her friends get the bus so she’s got people to sit with and she actually quite enjoys the commute (apart from when it’s cold and the buses don’t turn up).