Most parents could tell you that battling the school rush is a tricky part of their day.
However, for parents whose children attend Dixon’s Allerton Academy in Bradford, the situation has become even more difficult.
Three weeks ago, the school closed off its rear gate on Oaks Lane, citing “safeguarding” issues as the reason for this.
Now, parents and children are forced to use the entrance at the front of the school building on Rhodesway, a moderately busy road with multiple bus stops and a single yellow line that runs along its edges.
Recently, I was invited by a group of parents to witness the school rush myself – and, truthfully, I was left shocked.
Parents are not happy about the closure of the Oaks Lane entrance (Image: me)
What did I witness?
As we made our way down Rhodesway at 2.45pm, approximately 45 minutes before school pick-up time, the street was already lined with parked cars.
Mr Ahmed, whose children attend Dixon’s Allerton Academy, said: “Sometimes, parents have to come and park an hour before their kids get out of school.
“Just to get a space.
“It gets so busy, and it’s also much further away.”
It was certainly hard not to feel the same frustration expressed to me by parents.
Cars were parked at increasingly bizarre angles, with many overstaying their welcome on the single yellow lines and others parked in areas designated for buses.
One of the only sounds to be heard was car horns.
Concerns over new route
I was told that the new route has added anywhere between 15 to 40 minutes to most parents’ commutes.
Another parent, Arooj Din, said that the new route is more dangerous than the previous route.
She said: “The road is not lit up very well, and soon it’s going to be dark when the kids come out of school.
“It can get icy and slippery here, too.
“Is the school going to pay to grit the road all the way down?”
Ms Din added: “Parents are fighting this because they are frustrated.
“The [Oaks Lane] gate was so safe.
“The school didn’t consult anybody on this decision.”
The Oaks Lane entrance was closed due to "safeguarding" reasons (Image: me)
School caretaker speaks out
Gareth Kitson, caretaker at Dixon’s Allerton Academy, has been put in charge of shepherding cars in and out of the school gates during particularly busy times.
He said: “It is bad on this main road.
“It’s so busy, in part, due to the back entrance being closed because of health and safety and safeguarding reasons.
“But parents don’t necessarily help themselves.
“The problem is that they’ve got to walk a bit further.”
When I asked him if he had an alternative option for parents that didn’t involve having to park in bus stops, yellow lines or the pavement, he said that he did not.
Mr Kitson added: “The main priority for me is the kids.
“But it’s obvious that parents aren’t happy.”
'This is ridiculous'
As the minutes ticked by, more and more parents began to spill out of the school gates.
When I was speaking to Mr Kitson, a woman driving a car stopped in the middle of the road, rolled down her window and asked me if I was with the Telegraph & Argus.
When I told her that I was, she said: “I just want you to know that this is ridiculous.
“I’m more worried about my son’s safety now than I was before.”
Some cars had to park in the bus stop areas on Rhodesway (Image: school)
Traffic 'horrendous' and footpath 'awful'
Hanna Rahman said her family has to wake up extra early in order to be able to make the journey in time.
She said: “It’s added so much more time onto our commute.
“When we’re forcing the kids up early, it becomes a much longer day for them.
“They’re absolutely exhausted by the time they get home.”
One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, told me that her work has suffered significantly due to the new route.
She said: “I can’t even make it back to work on time now.
“The traffic is horrendous, and the footpath is awful too.
“It’s a lot, especially with little children.
“I’m having to change shift patterns just to be able to pick up my son.”
A bus attempts to make its way down the street, with little success (Image: T&A)
'We want that gate back open'
Speaking to the group, it was clear what they wanted.
The parent said: “We want that gate opened again."
It seems clear to me that this is an issue that is not going to go away anytime soon.
Three weeks ago, Mr Ahmed set up a petition urging the school to reopen the Oaks Lane entrance, which has already garnered over 200 signatures.
Dixon's Allerton Academy, Rhodesway (Image: T&A)
What the school has said
A spokesperson for Dixon's Allerton Academy said: "The decision to close the Oaks Lane gate was taken following a review of site access arrangements.
"The safety and wellbeing of students, staff and visitors is our priority.
"Following the review, it was determined that consolidating access points would support the effective management of entry to and exit from the school site.
"We recognise that this change may be less convenient for some families and appreciate their understanding.
"We will continue to keep site access arrangements under review to ensure they best support the needs of our school community.
"The closure does not affect access for extracurricular activities, with appropriate arrangements remaining in place."
Dixon’s Allerton Academy has not yet responded to the petition.