Why the right school doesn't have to be the nearest one
It's open evening season. Best-school award nominations are being announced, calendars are filling up with school visits, and families with children moving up to a bigger school are facing some important decisions. It's an exciting time, and a busy one.
When parents choose between prep schools, results, facilities and fees all matter. But research suggests the factor that most often tips the decision is location.
That's according to a 2025 survey of 941 parents by Schoolsmith, which found location came first, ahead of value for money, results, facilities and the breadth of the curriculum. It's been near the top for years.
Families want the same things the best schools are celebrated for: great teaching, strong results, real pastoral care and inspiring facilities. But when the journey is too long, or nobody can reliably manage it, those priorities can quietly give way to whatever's closest.
The daily school journey can shape a child's whole experience, and family life too. A school can be perfect on paper, but if getting there every morning feels impossible, it quietly drops off the list.
When logistics make the choice
Picture a family who fall in love with a prep school 40 minutes across London. Great teachers, a brilliant science department, a headteacher who really gets their child. But both parents work, drop-off is at 8am, and pick-up after clubs is 5pm. After a week of trying to make the logistics work, they choose the school down the road instead. Not because it's better, but because it's easier.
It happens far more often than you'd think. And at prep age, every single journey needs a trusted adult.
Worth considering before location decides
Make your shortlist without the map first. Choose the schools you'd love, then work out the journey. Not the other way round.
Test the route at school times. A 20-minute drive on a Sunday can be 45 minutes at 8am.
Plan for club days, not just normal days. Late finishes are often what breaks the routine.
Map out the weekly routine. Who handles drop-off and pick-up each day, and what's the back-up when plans change?
Widening your choice
KinRoute is launching soon with supervised school runs across London, so the right school doesn't have to be the nearest one.
Choose the school your child will thrive in, and let KinRoute help with the journey.
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