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Transport to and from CH

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:09 pm
by KenHo
My son has a place in September and we live 4/5 hours north by car.

For the first few weekends I am sure we will want to pick him up, even though this means taking Friday off. At some point we will probably want him to bring himself on the train, or possibly even come part way and meet us. I expect we will even stay in the south the odd weekend.

I know that most people tend to come from London and the south, but I wondered if anyone knows about any of the following in this regard:-

Is there any kind of network for lift sharing?
Do they get escorted, perhaps by older children, into London and to the main railway stations?
Do they travel together in groups?
If we can't manage to get to him until say 9pm on a Friday, perhaps on a weekend the whole family come down after school, then is this a problem?

Re: Transport to and from CH

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:39 pm
by lonelymom
KenHo wrote: Is there any kind of network for lift sharing?
This is something I've wondered many times too. Maybe somebody in the office would know whether there are others living in the same area as you. I did think of ringing myself for the same reason, but since I'll have two at CH from September there probably isn't going to be room for any more suitcases in the car now anyway!

As for escorting, yes, they are escorted on the train as far as Victoria. There are quite a lot of pupils who catch the train, and apparently its good fun (everybody is in a happy mood as they are going home!). As for picking your son up late, I don't know whether that would be a problem, again I'm sure the office will know more.

If you do get answers to your questions from the office make sure you post on this thread for the other new parents. :D

Re: Transport to and from CH

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:52 pm
by blondie95
also, although this may not be the case until he is older but if the journey home for leave weekends was too long they can stay at school. But then the reason the moved leave weekends to start on a friday was to allow those who live further a way a chance.
Otherwise trains to london at end of terms have staff accompanying it, im sure your son will at some point be happy to go half way.

Re: Transport to and from CH

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:00 pm
by huggermugger
Lift-sharing is a good idea but it doesn't seem to happen too much... I think at least at first I wanted to be there myself to pick DS up; actually I still do. I see the journey as a time to reconnect with each other. If the weather is good we will stop somewhere & go for a walk and if I'm feeling flush we'll have dinner in a pub.

On a slightly connected note - when I pick him up he often feels car sick after a bit of time in the car. This has never happened before and he thinks it's because he hasn't been in a car for three weeks; he's probably right! Another good reason to stop & go for a walk. There are a lot of good places to walk within a few miles of CH!

Re: Transport to and from CH

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:04 pm
by Mrs C.
blondie95 wrote:also, although this may not be the case until he is older but if the journey home for leave weekends was too long they can stay at school. But then the reason the moved leave weekends to start on a friday was to allow those who live further a way a chance.
Otherwise trains to london at end of terms have staff accompanying it, im sure your son will at some point be happy to go half way.
it is very rare for anyone to stay now - everyone is encouraged to either go home or to a friend`s if possible, as staff need the break too!
I don`t think anyone has stayed in school for the last few Leave Weekends, although there may be some next term due to wanting to revise for public exams and being unable to at home, for one reason or another.

Re: Transport to and from CH

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 10:17 am
by blondie95
yes i thought that would be the case when the expanded the leave weekend

Re: Transport to and from CH

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 11:11 am
by KenHo
I don't think there is any need for him to stay on a weekend.

After a few goes I dare say he will find himself perfectly able to find his way across London on the Tube. Until such time, I was trying to find out what other people do.

When they are escorted by teachers into London, does anyone know if they take them as far as railway stations other than Victoria?

Re: Transport to and from CH

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:17 pm
by J.R.
Mrs C. wrote: it is very rare for anyone to stay now - everyone is encouraged to either go home or to a friend`s if possible, as staff need the break too!
You surprise me Janet.

However did the staff survive a term during my day ?

No such thing as 'leave weekends' in the 'good old days' ! !

Re: Transport to and from CH

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:20 pm
by ailurophile
I recall that when my son was in his second year at CH he was invited to spend the weekend with a friend in Northampton. I got a bit jumpy about the travel arrangements, as son was typically vague ("I think we're going by train, but I'm not sure..."). As it turned out, there was a contingent of Northampton families who had organised a rota whereby each parent would take it in turns to go down to Victoria on leave weekends, meet the children and supervise the onward journey; among other advantages, this saved money since accompanied children could travel at a reduced rate.

This might be a good plan if there are other CH parents living close to you - but I've no idea how you could find this out. It took me two years to discover that a colleague who sits just yards away from me at work also has children at CH! I've long thought it a failing of the school that there is no official parents' network for sharing information (apart from this forum, of which only the cognoscenti are aware).

Re: Transport to and from CH

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:32 pm
by lonelymom
KenHo wrote: When they are escorted by teachers into London, does anyone know if they take them as far as railway stations other than Victoria?
Only Victoria I think, although I'm sure there will be lots of other CH kids catching other trains from Victoria to other stations.

Re: Transport to and from CH

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 2:48 pm
by Momto2
We live down on the coast and have tried over the years to share lifts but it isn't easy. With 2 children and their huge amounts of luggage car space is at a bit of a premium at the beginning and end of terms and now the leave weekend times are staggered it is logistically a nightmare just trying to get a Dep and a UF home!

Re: Transport to and from CH

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 4:08 pm
by KenHo
Momto2 wrote:their huge amounts of luggage !
Why do they have huge amounys of luggage? Do they need to bring everything home at weekends or something? I was assuming that my son could pack a small bag and come on the train.

Re: Transport to and from CH

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 4:43 pm
by Barnes Mum
Hi, In regards to going home at leave weekends it is thought quite importany that the kids have time away from school and 'off campus' in order to have a proper rest and recharge batteries , this is why they are all encouraged to find a relative/friend to stay with if unable to go home.
They only have to take everything home and empty their rooms for the three main school holidays, ie Christmas, Easter and Summer. So for half terms and leave weekends they only need to take home what they need.

Re: Transport to and from CH

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 5:27 pm
by Momto2
Momto2 wrote: With 2 children and their huge amounts of luggage car space is at a bit of a premium at the beginning and end of terms
They do only bring a bag home for leave weekends - I did mean just for the beginning/end of term :)

Re: Transport to and from CH

Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:10 am
by Barnes Mum
KenHo wrote:
Momto2 wrote:their huge amounts of luggage !
Why do they have huge amounys of luggage? Do they need to bring everything home at weekends or something? I was assuming that my son could pack a small bag and come on the train.
Sorry, new to all this, I was actually refering to this question. Sorry for the confusion. :)