Morning all,

Just found on the Beths website that they are running a coach from Orpington and surrounding areas from Jnauary 2020!

For anyone else worried about DS's journey to school! Eases my mind a bit!

https://www.beths.bexley.sch.uk/

Brilliant. Be great to find out the exact route and which of the surrounding areas it will serve, particularly Bromley as that’s where we are x

They sent an email out to parents yesterday asking if there would be any interest. No route details yet, but they said that they would reverse the route coming home so the children who are on the bus the longest in the morning will be the first off in the evening.

That's hard to imagine - wouldn't the distance from the school be more of a factor? Or the coach really goes round the houses stopping everywhere.

Presumably, in the afternoon, the coach would just zip back to the furthest pick up / drop off point by the lost direct route, then work its way back towards Bexley, dropping off as it picked up in the morning? Hopefully the most direct route not actually passing any of the pick up points nearest the school on the way, if the order of the dropping off is to be strictly adhered to - I think I would definitely have a moan of my DC's journey were to be extended artificially, given that if one lives in Orpington, sending one's DC to school n Bexley is a choice, not a necessity?

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DJ Coaches currently run coaches for Townley and the Dartford and Wilmington schools and have many years’ experience of running a successful and competitive service for its customers. We anticipate the cost to parents and carers to be something in the region of £5.85 per day, however, this will be dependent upon the size of coach and the route required. They have also advised that, dependent upon the exact route, the journey should take around 40-50 minutes and we are hoping to ensure that the first pick up in the morning becomes the first drop off in the evening to ensure fairness of travel times.

I paraphrased! Assuming the route would be similar to the Townley one I'm guessing they would do Petts Wood-Orpington-Green Street Green-Chelsfield in the morning, and the same in the afternoon. http://www.townleygrammar.org.uk/media/ ... -flyer.pdf

Not quite sure why it's 'fair' that someone who has chosen a school 10 miles away should have the same amount of timing travelling as someone who has chosen a school one mile away.

It may be understandable if the route is sort-of circular, rather than radial out from the school.

No one who lives close to the school will be getting a coach; public bus transport is free for children and you can stay for as many after school activities as you like. If the route's circular that does make more sense, thanks.

You can do Beths from Orpington at present but it's two trains; this must be another option for children doing that. Hoping to get a school which will be walking or one direct train anyway, but good to know what the options are.