crescent

If you are also parents of y11 children, I thought you might find this interesting. The Old Operating Theatre Museum is holding a GCSE bootcamp for EDEXCEL "medicine through time" GCSE History exam in February half term. There are 3 events, at ?15 each, including refreshments. (Details on link below.) DC1 has really found the above museum interesting, and one of their curators (her name escapes me now) has been on a couple of good podcast, so I was just browsing their events and saw the above. DC1 signed up - but we've just been told that due to low uptake, it may not run? So I thought I would share the news! It's very reasonable, a great museum, and a way of making revision seem a bit more interesting perhaps? Any questions, the email address is [email protected] http://oldoperatingtheatre.com/events/2020-gcse-bootcamp-for-edexcel-medicine-through-time-gcse-exam

Hi - some friends have a child taking the Kingsdale banding test in a few days. My friends were wondering what the test will cover (maths, English, NVR?) and said they could not find any info on the website. My child took the test about 6 years ago, and I have a vague recollection that there was a lot of NVR on it, but I am aware that things change. I can?t find any info either - I wondered if anyone could cast some light on the matter? Thank you.

Hi - am hoping someone might be able to help me with this, or point me in the right direction? A couple of months ago, I saw a post on FB about how Kings was looking for volunteers to knit wee blankets for their premature babies. I can?t find the info now, and wondered if anyone on the lovely EDF could help? Was inspired by a lovely segment on woman?s hour about donations of knitted octopi for some SCBU babies - but that requires a higher level of knitting/ crocheting capability than I possess... Thank you.

I second *Bawdy-Nan*'s recommendation: Yes Tuition and Training run typing courses in the mornings based at Sydenham High (the private school on Westwood Hill) this summer holiday. My son (now y9) was taking for-ev-er to do his HW when he moved to secondary school as everything had to be typed suddenly. We signed him up to these lessons, and it made such a difference. I learned my/ our lesson, and so DD1 (just about to start secondary school) has just done 8 hrs of typing over 4 mornings this week. It takes about 8-10 lessons we have found. Not cheap, but these and swimming lessons have been the best money ever spent...

It's a hard one isn't it? We've had similar battles with our 13 yr old DS since he was nearly 12 (past couple years). He is much better this year (y8) than last year. He is much more screen obsessed than his younger sisters, who are much better at self-regulating. If we let him, he would be on the xbox for 3-4 hours, before coming off to watch something on you tube on the computer, before possibly watching something on the telly. We've talked about how addictive gaming is, the effect of gaming (and screen time) on brain development/ good sleep patterns, and about how we have tried to let him self regulate and as he does not, we have to step in. So we have a rule of no more than 2 hours a day, and vaguely unlimited at the weekend, and then spend much of our weekend trying to think of wizard wheezes to keep him off the screens. (He does play rugby/ cricket in corresponding seasons.) Having a set time means we don't argue about the time. He is not very good at remembering the 2 hours, so I did buy a timer, and that has helped too - the timer reminds him, rather than me 'nagging'. I take Flocker Spotter's point about giving them the responsibility to manage their time. But we tried that with DS and he'd spend 12 hours if he could. I am trying not to be controlling, but trying to 'scaffold' my 13 year old learning self-discipline/ time management, and we do try and talk about it with him in those terms. A friend with 3 boys says age 12-14 were the worst for the screen obsession, so I am slightly holding on to that, and murmuring "this too shall pass" to myself.

Hi OP - my son is at St Olave's and we also considered Wilson's. If you look at their results, they are very similar, and of course, that does not give a whole picture. We got Wilson's (2nd choice) at first, then got the St O offer, so had to decide which one to go for. We went to see them both again, and really, there is not much to choose between. The differences for us were: Wilson's is bigger, but had 2 form tutors per form, and boys stayed in the same class for many subjects, while the teachers did the moving round. (Which seemed important to me in Y6, but really, they pick it up quickly!) So that was a plus. Wilson's is big on all sports, but particularly football. At St Olave's, every single boy plays rugby for 2 hrs a week. DS was not a particularly sporty boy, but was keen to try rugby, and loves it! So that was a plus for St O. Despite both being grammar schools (controversial - see posts above), and reputations for being exam factories, I felt this was slightly less so at Wilson's. I loved loved loved the Wilson's HT, inspiring like History Boys/ Dead Poet Society/ Goodbye Mr Chips. His rousing speech was that as the intake was of academic boys, his job was not about the academics, but about making them into the best versions of themselves, into 'good men'. I was slightly misty-eyed at this point. St Olaves...well, not such a charismatic HT. And St Olaves does seem to get a lot more negative press on forums than Wilson's, but I find it's not usually by parents of boys there at the moment, often someone who knows someone. But despite this, in the end, we thought it came down to the commute, train in our case. Like Bovine Juice above we're on the Orpington line, while Wilson's was a bit trickier, with 2 trains and a bus. And we asked DS which he liked, and he liked St O more (I think the biscuits on Open Day played a part). He is super happy there, but I think he'd probably be happy at Wilson's too. He does not find it particularly pressurised, but I think I would! I think it's like a lot of schools (and a similar thread on here about Herne Hill vs DUCKS vs Rosemead). Sometimes, it's not the school: it's just not the right fit for your child. DS was quite unhappy at our local primary, but his sisters really enjoy it. It just wasn't a great fit for him. St Olave's is, but it might not be a great fit for another boy. It's a 'suck it and see' situation unfortunately. Good luck!

Hi, wonder if you lovely Dulwich people can help someone lurking on the edge in se23? DD3 has been invited to a party at JAGS sports club tomorrow. I have heard that parking can be difficult- can one park on nearby streets? I understand that the car park is for Members - which is fair enough- but just thought I'd check first. Thank you!

Thanks Taper. She is very new (only played a couple of times), but keen. I think Waterloo netball sounds great, but she does tap on Saturday already and is loath to give that up... Beacons looked very professional, but perhaps a little high octane for a beginner :o). I have spoken to Raiders, but can't bear the thought of schlepping 3 kids thru Sydenham/ Downham in rush-hour traffic. Such is the price of living in London I guess! Thanks for all that info though.

My daughter (age 10) really wants to give netball a go this year, so I am looking for an out-of-school club for her. I have found Raiders in Downham, and Shooters in Beckenham, and they are both really lovely, but traffic can be so bad to both locations, I am trying to find somewhere a bit closer. Is there a junior netball club in Dulwich/ Nunhead/ Forest Hill? Thanks

I need to sort out our bike storage, and think the Asgard bike store is going to be the best bet. Just wondered if any RL people had one/ would recommend it? And if you do, did you also have a Y bolt put on the floor to chain your bikes to? Many thanks

Sooty, that sounds interesting, I think my daughter would be interested. Do you have a website for more information. Thanks.

Hmmm. Interesting. I live on the very very edge of Southwark, have an SE26 postcode, and the kids attended/attend a Lewisham primary. (Kids are y7, y5 and nursery). Kingsdale is a 15-20 min walk away. Perfect. Our closest secondary school by far. Just a bit further than our walk to primary school. Despite all the negative hype and slightly cult-ish HT's speech, we all really liked it when we started the school tours 2 years ago. It was DC1's favourite out of the 6. But while it is our closest school by far, he had the same odds to get in as into grammar school. So we opted for grammar school, as hard work could shorten the odds, but Kingsdale's admissions felt like relying on a lottery ticket to pay the mortgage. And I agree that a lottery system is the fairest: but only if every school operates like that. So someone in north Dulwich can agonise about whether to pick charter or kingsdale - but I don't have the same luxury. My friend wanted Kingsdale as 1st choice, 20 min walk, but got forest hill (a lovely school but 40 min walk, 2 unreliable buses), while kids from Streatham and Clapham are schlepping to Kingsdale. I am not sure how reliable the current Kingsdale lottery is: a couple years ago there was an article in a local paper saying not a single child from the council estate next door to the school got in. It is difficult, and I guess nobody wants a situation like Charter etc, pricing people out. But Forest Hill/ Sydenham school have just stopped admissions on banding, essentially making this distance too. So why can't Kingsdale?

Hi - I'm looking for 1/2 term activities for my 9 and 11 year old - it's a bit tricky for secondary school age I am finding. Lots of the stuff we used to do is 5-11, but quite 'young' for him now. We've cycled at the velodrome, played tennis - anything else? Any tips gratefully received!

Thanks everyone x

Thanks everyone - MrsTP, thanks for that tip about the special zipcard, will look into that. As he is travelling zone 3-6, something like 75p in rush hour I think, so will be a lot cheaper than a railcard, and he can use a zipcard on the bus as well if he has to. (Although I thought buses were free for under 16s...something else to look into!) Thanks again.

Hi - my son will be travelling from zone 3-6 by train in September. I wondered if anyone else's child commutes by train, what do you do ticket wise? I have started looking at fares on different websites, but my it's confusing! A friend's child does a similar commute, and she says they think the Oyster card is cheaper than a railcard, which surprises me somewhat. The benefit of the oyster (zip) card I guess is that it can be used on buses etc too, not just a specific train route. Any advice/ anecdotes gratefully received!

Thanks all, love this forum! The way our drive way works, you wouldn't really be able to see if from the kerb, as we have a very high brick wall (6 ft or so) that runs in front, broken only by the drive way... Was surprised that planning permission submission was ?170ish - making a bike store for 3 bikes increasingly pricey!

Hi, am hoping more experienced people might give me their advice here... We're a semi and share the side return with neighbours, so 5 wheeelie bins there between the 2 households. We used to have the bikes in a shed at the back, but just never used them, as we'd have to bump them down 5 steps to the back gate, move 5 lots of wheelie bins, just a massive amount of palaver with 3 kids in the morning. We've had the bikes in the living room for a few weeks (nice!), and it has been life changing. Son cycles off to school by himself, younger 2 and I get our bikes and mooch off to school/ preschool. It's great. 5 bikes in the living room is not so great. We have space in a our front garden,and I am looking at something like Asgard or Protect-a-cycle (which has a high wall it could go against)> My 2 main worries are: 1. Do I need planning permission for a bike shed (I am sure I have seen these in people's front gardens...). I have heard that 'many London boroughs don't let you put a shed in your front garden' - any one in Southwark who have one? 2. Is it a hopelessly naive invitation to burglars? (Does a Fort Knox bike shed just look like a challenge to break in?) This is all fuelling DH's drive to move to the shires, so I am desperate to find a solution so I can cling on to the Big Smoke for a bit longer! Any words of wisdom gratefully received.

Hi - wondered if any of you have had a mobile petting farm at your school fair, and if so, could you/ would you recommend them? Thanks!

My kids' school PTA is girding its loins for the annual summer fair. I'm looking into 'entertainment', and was hoping some local parents might have some recommendations? We've had a Punch and Judy act in the past, and last year we had a circus skills guy (juggling, plates on sticks etc), which was great fun. We also have a parent who does magic - it's this sort of thing I was thinking of. Any recommendations/ top tips from your school fair experiences would be gratefully received!

Thanks Bovine Juice - have pm-ed you.

Just that really. We love the school and are thrilled DS got in, just wondered if there was anyone else locally (it seems to be mainly Wimbledon and Sutton kids so far, and one boy in Penge!) Would love to hear how your boys are enjoying school - 1st choice was St Olave's, which we know a bit more about. Thanks.

Wow Newboots, really? Have you driven around Forest Hill school? Seen the 'sort of area' it's in? My child goes to a local Forest Hill primary school. It is a really mixed intake, and vast majority of boys will be going to Forest Hill boys. Many of those are band 1a. It's about the great primaries, great kids and great teachers at the local schools, not sure what you are basing this on...

My daughter has been going to tap classes at Scott and Wiseman's in Brockley every Saturday for the past 18 months or so, and absolutely loves it. The only issue is the time - classes are at 1.15-2, and as an older child has commitments on Sundays, it wipes out the weekend for all five of us... So sadly, I think we need to find an after-school class. Can anyone recommend another tap class locally? Preferably Monday-Friday... Many thanks.

Hi- we've had a dance wear mix up. DD1 has a tap exam tomorrow and black seamed tights are required. Schlepped down to Beckenham dance wear... No, they don't do black tights. Have tried Push studios. No, only footless. Am hoping someone out there has a pair of black tights I might be able to borrow/buy for my 8 year old? Thank you!!