Practicalities of train from Coventry to Bgham Grammars
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Practicalities of train from Coventry to Bgham Grammars
Hi
Do any parents from Coventry have DC that travel by train to Bgham grammars. I want to DS to do this, but I am concerned as DS is used to beeing car driven to school. How would he cope with a 15 min journey to station and a 45 min trip to school, and then all back again in the evening. Am I worrying un-neccessarily, or should I opt for LSS. LSS is an option, but I rate it marginally better than a good comprehensive. Sorry, I base this on destinations of their science based A Level students.
Do any parents from Coventry have DC that travel by train to Bgham grammars. I want to DS to do this, but I am concerned as DS is used to beeing car driven to school. How would he cope with a 15 min journey to station and a 45 min trip to school, and then all back again in the evening. Am I worrying un-neccessarily, or should I opt for LSS. LSS is an option, but I rate it marginally better than a good comprehensive. Sorry, I base this on destinations of their science based A Level students.
Re: Practicalities of train from Coventry to Bgham Grammars
You know your own child best. IMHO none of the Bham grammars are very accessible from New Street but plenty of parents think otherwise.
Re: Practicalities of train from Coventry to Bgham Grammars
I think there is a significant number who arrive at HGS (and presumably KEHGS) via New Street/City centre but that would be another bus journey after the train. KES/KEHS are close to University station. There is a green bus to KEAS from Aston station and also a designated safe route to walk.
I think a confident, independent child could cope but you are talking about a huge amount of travel every day plus a significant cost. 2 hrs travel per day is close to 400 hours per year so >2500 over the seven years at high school. If I had a decent school close by I think I'd rather they went there and used the extra time on homework, activities etc or even a science tutor!
I think a confident, independent child could cope but you are talking about a huge amount of travel every day plus a significant cost. 2 hrs travel per day is close to 400 hours per year so >2500 over the seven years at high school. If I had a decent school close by I think I'd rather they went there and used the extra time on homework, activities etc or even a science tutor!
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Re: Practicalities of train from Coventry to Bgham Grammars
2 hours a day travelling and then potentially another 2 hours a night homework. Not sure I would do it, even with a confident, outgoing child who is organised and focused. Just think that sometimes there needs to be a balance between education and life.
Re: Practicalities of train from Coventry to Bgham Grammars
I would not want a child of mine walking near Coventry station. Last time I went there I was approached by a number of undesirables and I thought it quite scary; this was during the afternoon!
Re: Practicalities of train from Coventry to Bgham Grammars
You think that's bad. I was in the city centre on Tuesday morning and I ambled past a sprinkling of "undesirables". It was a case of head down, keep quiet and walk on and on!Guest55 wrote:I would not want a child of mine walking near Coventry station. Last time I went there I was approached by a number of undesirables and I thought it quite scary; this was during the afternoon!
Well I will be taking my DS to the station, as I commute by train to Lodon, so i will be able to see him off on his train. My wife will be waiting on the return journey. PS, I also friends nearby BV who will be available - just in case.
As regards sciences, I was mostly impressed by BV.
Re: Practicalities of train from Coventry to Bgham Grammars
My ds2 has a friend at CHB who travels from Coventry. I don't actually know the full details of his journey but apparently it is an extremely long and arduous one - there have been days, for example in the bad weather, when the boy didn't arrive home until very late in the evening.
The boy seems to get a bus toward Kings Norton, then get a train to New Street, then on to Coventry.
Personally if I was doing it, I would wonder if it would be easier to get the 11 to Stechford Station and then get a train straight to Coventry.
But I do think that commuting for that length of time every morning and evening, would really take its toll on a child's health and wellbeing.
I know that a bus (I think a minibus) goes from Balsall Common to the Stratford Grammars, if that is any help.
The boy seems to get a bus toward Kings Norton, then get a train to New Street, then on to Coventry.
Personally if I was doing it, I would wonder if it would be easier to get the 11 to Stechford Station and then get a train straight to Coventry.
But I do think that commuting for that length of time every morning and evening, would really take its toll on a child's health and wellbeing.
I know that a bus (I think a minibus) goes from Balsall Common to the Stratford Grammars, if that is any help.
Re: Practicalities of train from Coventry to Bgham Grammars
There's also a bus from Kenilworth.um wrote:I know that a bus (I think a minibus) goes from Balsall Common to the Stratford Grammars, if that is any help.
Re: Practicalities of train from Coventry to Bgham Grammars
Sounds as though he gets the 11C to Cotteridge, train to New Street then change for Coventry? Sounds convoluted compared to getting a 35 or 50 into B'ham in opposite direction to rush hour traffic - but even that is going to be 40+ mins on top of the journey to Cov.um wrote:My ds2 has a friend at CHB who travels from Coventry. I don't actually know the full details of his journey but apparently it is an extremely long and arduous one - there have been days, for example in the bad weather, when the boy didn't arrive home until very late in the evening.
The boy seems to get a bus toward Kings Norton, then get a train to New Street, then on to Coventry.
Personally if I was doing it, I would wonder if it would be easier to get the 11 to Stechford Station and then get a train straight to Coventry.
Re: Practicalities of train from Coventry to Bgham Grammars
Yes, mike1880, I think that's what he does.
I think ds2 said he tried the 35 but it doesn't come regularly enough...and the 50 must take quite a long time in the traffic, and means more of a walk through the city centre to New Street station.
I still think he may as well get the 11 straight to Stechford and go from there, but then it would still be a long and difficult journey...
There are boys who travel from Derbyshire too, and some who travel long distances from around the Midlands, get shared taxis from New Street to the school. In fact one boy I mentioned a few years ago, was commuting from London!
We are very fortunate to be relatively close by.
I think ds2 said he tried the 35 but it doesn't come regularly enough...and the 50 must take quite a long time in the traffic, and means more of a walk through the city centre to New Street station.
I still think he may as well get the 11 straight to Stechford and go from there, but then it would still be a long and difficult journey...
There are boys who travel from Derbyshire too, and some who travel long distances from around the Midlands, get shared taxis from New Street to the school. In fact one boy I mentioned a few years ago, was commuting from London!
We are very fortunate to be relatively close by.