It's not the 'going to school alone' bit that bothers me - although I wouldn't allow a 5 year old to do this ( and I used to walk my sister to school and back when I was 7 and she was 5). It's a 5 year old on a bike, in London, with an 8 year old in charge. However mature a 5 year old is I can't believe they have great bicyicle skills or road sense. TV crews in Dulwich Village at school turning out time apparently.