Monkey

Apologies. Fat finger. Mistake now corrected. Just wondering about those of us who live in a secondary school black hole. I?m on Dunstans Road. Too far from Sydenham School nowadays and not sure we?ll get into Harris Girls ED due to the complicated admission process. Would like a co-ed in any event if possible. I honestly am delighted about Charter ED and think it?s a great addition to the area but it doesn?t solve my problem.

Yes, well done, James. I was wondering whether councillors could now start looking at the case of those of us who don?t have access to Charter ED...

You're very generous, Bikpon. My former neighbours? dog used to howl for hours every day and we were often stopped by passers-by who assumed our neighbours were not aware and that we were kind of guilty by association for not telling them. Well in fact they were well aware. Any owner who leaves their dog alone should check on his behaviour with neighbours. And if the dog howls, he should go straight to doggy cr?che.

Ok get it. I agree it?s bad. And having lived there for 10 years this never used to be the case. It?s not the school children. It?s literally a couple of households being stupid.

Dunstans Road doesn?t look aged. It?s got new pavements and road surfacing unlike many roads in ED. And it didn?t use to have a litter problem. This is linked to a very small number of households who were too lazy to order new wheelie bins to replace their broken ones (had to do it for them) and one other household constantly overfilling their blue bin. Councillors, if a household doesn?t look after their bins properly so rubbish flies out, does this count as littering? Can they be fined? I?ve really had enough this time.

I?ve noticed more rubbish on Dunstans Road and it?s getting on my nerves. Two of my neighbours had wheelie bins with missing lids (and rubbish flying off everywhere)and getting those replaced, with the very efficient help of councillors, has helped. But I still pick up rubbish in front of my house every day, which has never been the case before.

Looks like Veolia, which manages waste for Southwark among other councils, is trying to introduce harsher rules for its employees, including new terms and conditions making it easier to dismiss staff after six sickness days. More on the story here. https://www.gmb-southern.org.uk/news/gmb-call-on-veolia-to-bin-sickness-policy-changes-to-avoid-strike-action I will email Veolia tomorrow using the contact form on their website.

I?m glad your research is going well, Andrea. And glad you like Harris too. I like the fact it?s small and the head face the best speech out of all them l, I think.

It is, Paddiglora. What seems unreal to you?

I like the Organised Mum Method. Thank you! I?m about to brief the hubby (and our daughter) on it. I should soon be working from home two days a week so the time I used to spend commuting over these two days (four hours) and at lunchtime (two hours) should surely give me six hours to clean. Here?s hoping!

After a local, and supposedly ethical, cleaning company charged me ????? and left my house in a complete freaking state (blinds having to be reinstalled, broken iron, chipped granite worktop as well as a dirty house), i?m left wondering what to do next. Do you do your own cleaning or use a cleaning agency/lady (or man)? If so, how do you manage them? Or if you do it yourself, what?s your routine? Do you have any tips to keep on top of things? An app perhaps prompting you to do stuff throughout the week? Thanks!

Thank you. We?ve done Kingsdale. I?m aware of CV as a colleague?s nephew is there but I have only one girl. I had completely forgotten about Greycoat. I?ll have to check it out. Thanks!

Aarhhh Kristy - forgot to ask about admission policy! Damn it. I?ll just call them or email. Thanks!

Hi all, just back from Harris Girls ED and absolutely loved it, even more so than I did last year. Very, very warm staff, very sharp. The curriculum is broadening, they?ve improved their library, opened up a bookshop and started their own publishing house. The head of art is very impressive as is the head who made herself available for questions. I really suggest people go and visit. This school is often overlooked and really shouldn?t be.

I agree that Sydenham School is refreshing! Beautiful buildings and the girls are really lovely. We?re already out of this year?s catchment and if it shrinks further, we?re screwed. Seeing Harris ED tomorrow. We already saw it last year and are really looking forward to seeing the team again. Thank you for all your help and suggestions.

Thanks all. That?s very helpful. I?ve listened to the K. address already (twice in the same day!) 😊 Generally speaking I find the addresses pretty annoying. I get schools which have moved to a lottery system telling me how they?ve improved outcomes (when they?ve found a way to recruit a different cohort)and schools which operate a catchment in super wealthy areas telling me how amazing they are (when they should really give some kids from further afield a bit of a chance). I think i?m Open Dayed out.

I?ve started looking at secondary schools, including the two Charters, Harris Girls, Kingsdale and Sydenham School. It?s becoming another full-time job. Any others I should add to my list, which are worth seeing and which i?ve got even if only the tiniest bit of chance of getting into? I live by Goodrich School. Thanks!

We?ve been at Goodrich for six years and I think the school is constantly getting better. I personally feel that ks2 is better than ks1 but it could be my own personal experience. Big jump in SATS results this year. Sports and music provisions are very good. Teachers are approachable and seem happy. Strong set of no-nonse, experienced TAs. Lots of clubs after school, including the truly excellent Eos Dancing school.

I?m sorry DiD. This is an awful thing to happen.

Forest on LL used to do flower arranging parties. Might still do. Really good fun. Also chocolate making parties at the Chocolate Museum in Brixton. Or a magic show at The Illusioner in Herne Hill.

It?s a lovely idea, rch. Let us know if/how we can help. Thank you so much!

That?s a nice memory of John, DulwichBornandBred. I have two which I hold dear. The day when I walked in and didn?t see him in the middle of the piles of books he was sorting out until I suddenly saw his head emerge. The other one was when he decided to install a new till on the last shopping day before Christmas and of course it proved trickier than expected. ;-) It?s good to hear that Chener will continue. We will support it, we absolutely will.