School Transport costs and Social Exclusion

Imp

silvercar wrote: »

Grammar schools usually expect their pupils to do a lot of homework, adding two hours of walking each day is going to make the school day exhausting, particularly for a 11-12 year old.

It is always easier to find a reason not to do something. If the OP and her son really want to go to the grammar school, then she would find a way to make it happen.

silvercar

Imp wrote: »

It is always easier to find a reason not to do something. If the OP and her son really want to go to the grammar school, then she would find a way to make it happen.

I agree. But I think walking 7 miles a day - with a heavy school bag - is too much.

I would investigate public transport options, there should be a monthly bus pass that would work out less than £78 a month for one child. Contact the school, there may be a school coach, there may even be a "friends of XX school" that offers transport grants. These grammer school often have ex pupil supporters associations that can offer help.

kelloggs36

silvercar wrote: »

Grammer schools usually expect their pupils to do a lot of homework, adding two hours of walking each day is going to make the school day exhausting, particularly for a 11-12 year old.

Not that much more - they aren't slave drivers!!!

Fly_Baby

Whatever the family income, £78 seems to be a really cheap price to pay for your child to attend a free grammar school. Count your blessings, OP.

Our town is really expensive but even here an adult monthly bus pass is £50 for a 3 mile route. So a local bus should work out cheaper than £78 in any case.

Fly_Baby

pigpen wrote: »

The school my middle son is at the uniform is so cripplingly extortionate I seriously considered moving him.. the blazer alone is £140.. in total one set of full uniform tots up at around £500!!!

:eek::eek::eek:

What school is he in, Eton?

I imagine, catering for his school dinners is done by Gordon Ramsay, no less?

bertiebots

Imp wrote: »

"My son goes to a school 3.5 miles away"

Was anybody else's first reaction to this was 'buy a cheap bike'.
Or if you are scared of him crashing and dying, then he could walk, that would take about an hour, and he would be fit.

Seriously, 3.5 miles is not far. My walk into college each day as a student was 2.5 miles - usually took 35 minutes, and as a school kid (11 years upwards), from where my bus dropped me off to school was 2 miles.

As I said in my post its a very busy route ,no way is it safe on a bike .Its a main commuter road between 4 large towns and no one cycles on it! Anyway what does it matter? I wasnt saying I wasnt happy to do it...just think its a shame all schools dont provide the same standard and that parents feel the need to travel and that involves a cost. I wish he could have gone to the nearer school but its gcse pass rate is about 30%. When you care about your kids education its worth the hastle. My children are all very fit btw but I feel a 9 hour day (not including after school clubs ) might be a bit much . Plus maybe you are fortunate to live in a "nicer" area than me and its safe for lone kids to walk everywhere. Not really that simple I am afraid (and sad to say).


Anyway this is about the OP and I still wish you luck:D

Errata

Fluffy - the school may have bursaries to help with transport costs for pupils from low income familes, or may know of a local or national charity that can give financial support.

hardpressed

Do you have a car if so could you ask the school if there are any pupils from your area whose parent would like to join a school run/

pollypenny

£78 a month for the bus sounds terribly expensive and you have my sympathy. However, there must be a monthly or season ticket option which would be considerably cheaper.

floss2

Fly_Baby wrote: »

Whatever the family income, £78 seems to be a really cheap price to pay for your child to attend a free grammar school. Count your blessings, OP.....

I'm sorry, but I find this quite patronising. I can only assume that you have never lived on an income (full time earned, tax credits & maintenance) where to have to find £78 a month for a child's transport to school would mean not paying the council tax AND water rates.

Errata wrote: »

Fluffy - the school may have bursaries to help with transport costs for pupils from low income familes, or may know of a local or national charity that can give financial support.

Exactly what I was going to suggest.

OP, start by contacting the school and enquiring whether they have any transport support fund for pupils from lower income families.