Bus service from Burnham to BHS

[Guest55]

I think I'd want a really good reason not to send my child to the local GS that they could walk to.

Spending nearly £9 000 and at least an hour a day on a bus needs to be for something special ...

[Cando_dad]

Thanks all for your replies. Our DD has no special interest like Drama or music but generally likes sports. Travel is a consideration for us specially when elder DD is in Year 8 in Kendrick. Managing parent taxi for both kids could be challenging.

We went to BHS open evening last week but missed BGS. Car travel to BHS was not bad at all as no motorway involved. School's first impressions were good with many confident children around. Coincidentally our tour guide girl was from Burnham and uses the bus. She didn't seem to have any issue with travel or after school clubs.

Single gender versus mixed is also a consideration as elder DD is already in girls only school. I have seen some discussion on this forum on this in past on this. We did ask the BHS headteacher on social interactions aspect. The school didn't have any planned social mixing activities but she didn't see it as a problem. Any thoughts on this would be helpful.

Best regards,

[Guest55]

Please go and look at BGS before you decide. I'm sure there will be a way to do this.

Personally there are a number of concerns re single gender schooling - especially where they don't see it as a problem. Other girls GS in Bucks do look to have events with nearby schools .... AGS/AHS, DCGS/DCHS, etc

If one of your children is already travelling in the opposite direction then I would say BHS is not sensible. What time did you actually travel to the school? Was it during the school rush hour?

[scary mum]

BGS has open mornings in October http://www.burnhamgrammar.org.uk/191/calendar" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Tinkers]

Does/Can your older DD get to Kendrick on public transport? A lot of girls do.

[Cando_dad]

Elder one does use public transport. We didn't need parent taxi for her last year in the evenings as public transport connections are good.

The younger one will use bus to BHS (if she passes and selects BHS). Considering there are no public transport links we will end up doing some evening trips for after school clubs and for socialising. These are likely to be mostly out of school peak hours. For the open evening we left around 5.15pm and reached there in less than 20 minutes.

Thanks for the link. Will visit BGS open morning before finalising the preference.

Best regards

[Guest55]

How long does the bus take?

Try the journey at 08:00 or 15:15 - it will take at least double the time.

[Booklady]

How long does the bus take?

Try the journey at 08:00 or 15:15 - it will take at least double the time.

Actually sorry to disagree but it really doesn't! Pretty much whenever you go, even at 8am or 3.30pm it takes 15-20minutes from Burnham to BHS depending where in Burnham you are. This is as its all rural back roads you take - past Cliveden and up past Odds Farm. Its around 7 miles.

The school bus is reasonably reliable - we've only had a couple of issues - and have been using it since Y7 - DD1 now in Y12.

Public transport is, however, not good North to South or South to North here - so parent taxi is required if the school bus is not caught mostly. That said - we often share - there are other families round here!

Good luck in whatever you and your daughter decide

[scary mum]

Booklady is right, in truth it is a fairly quiet route. Really it comes down to single gender or mixed, local or not so local. The bus route and timings are given in the letter sent out with the pass, if anyone has that handy. Of course it probably takes a bit longer than just driving if there are a few stops along the way (DSs bus takes about 25-30 mins for a 10-15 minute drive).

[Guest55]

So actually I was right - it does take double the time he quoted.