11 Plus Exams Forum

I've noticed lots of transport questions recently on here and I was just wondering how children get to see their school friends out of school when they live so far away. Is it a case of either driving them long distances or having to wait for the weekend to see friends (and still having to drive a long way to drop them off and pick them up again)?

Many go into Stroud after school and then get a later bus home. Mine do meet at weekends but yes, there is a parent taxi service involved!

Weekends only; but that would be the case even if we lived next door to the school I think. Can't imagine them wanting to pop and see friends they have spent all day with, and they tend to be occupied in the evenings with a combination of homework, vegging out, larking about outdoors and Scouts etc. At weekends they use a combination of bike, bus and parents if they want to go somewhere; but mine have friends who don't go to their schools and are just as likely to see them as school friends.

It doesn't just affect the children who live a long way from the school. We often seem to have to deliver our children (who have walked to school since Y7 and wander down town at weekends) to school friends houses up to 25 miles away for sleepovers, or picking them up after they've got the school bus with a friend.

We live close to school.
DDs BF in year 10 lives out of county (just) but there is a convenient bus.
They tends to stay late after school and they hang out together until hat bus arrives, an hour after school finishes.
Occasionally they will all meet up in Stroud or Cheltenham at the weekend.

Otherwise it is Mums taxi.

DS Year 9 doesn't socialise at all. Maybe a couple of birthday parties in a year but he is contented loner.

Personally I would not expect my kids to ""Commute"" a long distance to school.

I just wish DS tried to see his friends during the holidays. I have even offered to be taxi, but he just doesn't sort anything and would prefer to hide in his room. He doesn't even get to see his friends from primary school as they are already busy. I know he can be a bit of a loner who likes his own company but it would be nice to have him want to go and see a friend. Any advice?

Dd is the opposite and we have either the house full of her friends or she is going to their house.

MedievalBabe you are discribing my son! I am constantly trying to get him to ring his friends or meet up with them, all to no avail. (I also have younger daughter who is complete opposite and constantly with friends).

I think teenage boys are just a bit like that, mine certainly are.

Only one of mine ever goes to friends after school & they are usually those on the same bus. DD used to be at a school 15 miles away, so of course her best friend was 15 miles the other side if school, so a 60 mike round trip to drop off. Needless to say it didn't happen very often & usually involved a stay. A good reason for going to a local school.