Distance is not the same as journey
Two schools can be the same number of miles away and feel completely different in real life. One may have a direct train. Another may require two buses and a long walk.
For grammar schools, travel can be especially important because families may look beyond the nearest local options. A school that is excellent on paper can become hard to live with if the commute is fragile, so use the school map and the travel and commute guide before the CAF order is settled.
Example
A child can reach one school in 35 minutes by a direct train and another in 45 minutes on a route that needs a bus connection. The second route may look only slightly longer, but a missed connection could make it stressful several times a week.
What to test
- Door-to-door time on a normal school morning.
- The journey home after clubs, sport or detention.
- Cost and availability of transport.
- What happens if a train, bus or lift falls through.
- Whether the child can manage the journey independently over time.
Put travel beside admissions rules
Some schools also use distance or priority area in admissions. Check whether your address affects the chance of an offer, then separately decide whether the journey is sensible if an offer comes. If two schools are close choices, put them into Compare and judge travel beside admissions and results.