Travelling to School
- The school promotes and encourages students, staff, parents and visitors to choose a healthy mode of transport to and from school.
- We suggest that walking, cycling or the use of public transport are the best options to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- The school has a School Travel Plan which supports various activities to support sustainable transport throughout the year.
- Cycle training is offered to some Year 7 pupils in their first year at the school on a first come, first served basis.
- Parents/carers are asked not to bring their cars onto the school site and to be considerate of our neighbours if parking in Hutchins Road.
Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys benefits from excellent public transport links, making them easily accessible for students across South East London.
Bus Routes
Students can travel conveniently using several Transport for London (TfL) bus routes:
- 244 – Connects Thamesmead with Woolwich and Abbey Wood
- 301 – Runs between Bexleyheath and Woolwich via Abbey Wood
- SL11 – The new Superloop service replacing route 472, running between North Greenwich and Abbey Wood via Charlton and Woolwich
- 229 – Runs between Thamesmead and Sidcup via Bexleyheath
- B11 – Runs between Thamesmead and Bexleyheath via Abbey Wood
- 401 – Runs between Thamesmead and Bexleyheath via Belvedere
- 177 – Connects South East London to Thamesmead via Greenwich and Woolwich
- SL3 – Offers fast connections between Thamesmead, Abbey Wood, Bexleyheath, Sidcup, Chislehurst, and Bromley North
- 672 – A dedicated school service operating during peak times
Estimated Bus Travel Times
Whether attending Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys or Girls, students benefit from quick and reliable travel options from nearby areas:
- Thamesmead: approx. 5–10 minutes (walk or short bus ride)
- Abbey Wood: direct via 301, 244, or SL3 – approx. 10–15 minutes
- Woolwich: direct via 244 or SL11 – approx. 15–20 minutes
- Plumstead: via Woolwich, then 244 or SL11 – approx. 20–25 minutes
- Charlton: direct via SL11 – approx. 25–30 minutes
- Bexley: via 301, 229, or SL3 – approx. 30–35 minutes
Rail & Elizabeth Line Access
Nearby Woolwich and Abbey Wood stations offer Elizabeth Line and Southeastern rail services. From these stations, students can take a short bus ride to either school using the 244, 301, 229, or SL3.
The Elizabeth Line provides fast journey times from Abbey Wood, including:
- 11 minutes to Canary Wharf
- 25 minutes to Tottenham Court Road
- 29 minutes to Paddington
The line offers access to 40 further London destinations, as well as Heathrow Airport and Reading.
From Abbey Wood Station, buses 244, 301, 229, SL11, and SL3 will take students directly to Thamesmead Town Centre or the school area in a few minutes.
The Superloop SL3 runs every 12 minutes during the day (Mon–Sat), every 15 minutes in the evenings and on Sundays, with first buses departing Thamesmead Town Centre at 5am daily.
Useful Links:
Your child will require a child Oyster/ZIP card (via TfL) which you will need to apply and pay for before term starts.