Distance from School's

[BucksBoy]

Hi, been reading this forum, very informative and some very knowledgeable people - thanks!

DS didn't get his first choice GS and we are going on the waiting list. Reading the Bucks CC Guide for Parents, it states that once other rules have been applied, places are offered in order of distance between the nearest school gate and home, based upon the "the shortest appropriate route".

My questions are;

1. What does "the shortest appropriate route" mean? Is there a maximum distance for walking? Does it assume that journey's over x miles are by car?

2. Is this to, form or am average distance of the journey's?

[Etienne]

Shortest appropriate route – the
shortest appropriate route between a preferred
school and your normal home address will be
measured by computer, using our geographical
information system. We use a database that
combines the Ordnance Survey ‘Integrated
Transport Network’ (ITN) data as at
14 November 2008 plus a database of footpaths,
entered on our system before 14 November
2008, which have a proper made-up surface such
as tarmac or concrete. If you think that your
child’s ‘shortest appropriate route’ may
include footpaths or roads which may not
already be included in our database, please
check this with us before 14 November
2008. More information about how we measure
the shortest appropriate route together with
details of the footpaths currently on our database
and how the database is compiled can be found
on our website – www.buckscc.gov.uk/schools/
parents/admissions/ Do not assume that a
footpath you regularly use is necessarily included.
Please check and contact us if it is not included in
our database and you feel that it should be.

[BucksBoy]

Thanks Etienne, but was after a definition of "shortest appropriate route"

Also, the link in says "Please note: This site is currently only available from within Buckinghamshire schools", which I am not, so no further

[mitasol]

These may help.

http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/bcc/content/i ... -326624712

http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsi ... ermap/itn/

http://www.transportdirect.info/web2/ho ... tingloop=Y

[Etienne]

Dear BucksBoy

It has nothing to do with how you travel or with averages. It is the shortest distance between the two points, as measured by their computer system. Some authorities use the straight line system ("as the crow flies"); Bucks use the shortest appropriate route.

Sorry the link no longer works. It doesn't help people that BCC have reorganised their website.

Thanks to Mitasol for the alternative links.

[BucksBoy]

OK, so looks like "shortest appropriate route" route is a combination of footpaths and roads. Hardly an appropriate route for a child to walk 10+ miles each way per day!

[Sally-Anne]

Hi Bucksboy

No! In the case where it is a journey by road, then only roads count!!

Footpaths are in the mix because, where a school is heavily oversubscribed - perhaps the allocation distance might be only a mile or two - they obviously could apply.

From an Admissions point of view, the longest walking distance considered "appropriate" is 3 miles. (3 miles is therefore the point beyond which free transport to school is provided to all catchment children.)

Sally-Anne

[Etienne]

I agree with Sally-Anne.

A 10+ mile combination of footpaths and roads might theoretically be the shortest route, but it wouldn't really be appropriate .......

[BucksBoy]

Thanks Sally-Anne, exactly what I wanted to know. So, the definition of the the "shortest appropriate route" means by road only if over the statutory walking distance of 3 miles.

[Sally-Anne]

So, the definition of the the "shortest appropriate route" means by road only if over the statutory walking distance of 3 miles.

I don't think that is strictly true either, as it can be read two ways - note the pedantic comma (the devil is in the detail on these things!):

:: the "shortest appropriate route" means by road, only if over the statutory walking distance

:: the "shortest appropriate route" means by road only, if over the statutory walking distance

However, at 10+ miles from the school, you don't have to worry about it.

Sally-Anne