11 Plus Exams Forum

We have had the great news that our daughters score (251) will get her into SGG so are now beginning to think seriously about the logistics. Does anyone here have experience of travelling from Tamworth to SGG? There is a bus that goes very close, we are wondering if a group of girls use the same bus, or do people arrange car shares? Is there anyone in a similar position who would be interested in a car share? Any information gratefully received. Thanks in advance.

Congratulations to your DD on a brilliant score.
I have no experience of bus travel from Tamworth to scgsg but bumping for you!
I am sure that she will be fine on the bus - DD2 says a few of her friends travel quite a distance bus/train/bus and are ok with the travel. Unfortunately none of them are from Tamworth!

Our standard standard forum checklist for those considering car shares, which is worth a look through.
Checklist when considering a car share:

• How much do you really know about this parent from a child safeguarding point of view? (Remember, anyone working with children, e.g. bus drivers for the school service, must have a current DBS form.)
• How much do you really know about their driving skills? Have you seen their insurance and car roadworthy details? (Remember that public transport and dedicated school services are required to have these, to a high level.)
• How would you cope if your child fell out with the other children in the car pool, or wanted to do different after school activities, or didn't want to stay after school when the other children were staying late?
• How would you cope if one of the other car pool parents had their car break down, or off the road for some other reason, at short notice?
• What if it's your turn to drive, and you or your child is sick?
• What if the other family turns out to be unreliable, or the driver/their child is regularly late, or ill?
• What if the other child moves to a different school?
• What if one child needs to stay after school for an activity or event?
• What if the driver smokes when driving?
• What if the driver's conversation turns out to be objectionable or age inappropriate?

Thank you, we appreciate no system is perfect and, working in education, I am very aware of child protection aspects but it is an avenue worth exploring in our opinion if the bus option doesn't work for any reason. The worst case scenario is we drive every day and that is possible but there are enough cars on the road as it is and it makes no sense to add another if other options exist.

At the moment we do not know of anyone else travelling from Tamworth so getting others experiences will be very helpful.

booellesmum wrote:Congratulations to your DD on a brilliant score.
I have no experience of bus travel from Tamworth to scgsg but bumping for you!
I am sure that she will be fine on the bus - DD2 says a few of her friends travel quite a distance bus/train/bus and are ok with the travel. Unfortunately none of them are from Tamworth!

Thanks anyway, we guessed that a good number of girls will get there by bus. It's early days still and we have lots of time to work out options.