My local school doesn't allow < 11 year olds to walk to school by themselves, they have to be escorted right into the school gate, which is off the main road an

My local school doesn't allow < 11 year olds to walk to school by themselves, they have to be escorted right into the school gate, which is off the main road and down a 150m footpath. Standing at the top of the footpath and watching them walk in isn't allowed. Failure to comply means that child services will be called in. Once you turn eleven, walking 1.2 miles unsupervised to the nearest secondary school is expected. Not to be an old Yorkshireman but when I was nine I had a one mile walk at the side of a busy A road and looked after my five year old brother going to the neighbouring school.