Renata Hamvas

I will be discussing this with my Ward Colleagues. Lofty, I don't think this has anything to do with Thames Water. In winter Nunhead Cemetery shuts at 4pm so it's a long way round via either Solomon's Passage or Ivydale road if you want to go down into central Nunhead. Renata

And it's in my Ward!............ Renata

Hello Sonia, thank you for updating me about the situation with Belham. It's great that your new school has been so popular. Many of the parents who are coming to you would have had held places with other local schools so there will be the resultant movement in waiting lists locally,hopefully very soon. Hi Landsberger, there is indeed a lot of truth in your analysis of the situation! Helga, I am just about to respond to your email. Renata

Hi there was a CGS application some years ago. I do know that there have been crimes committed on the footpath in the past. I would suggest a new CGS application for this, in the next round of applications so that we can look into the feasibility of this. Renata

Hi all, this seems to be a thread with a mixture of comments on Camberwell New and Old Cemeteries. There are plans being discussed about an extra entrance at the Underhill side to Camberwell Old Cemetery and also a better access route to HOP station. I will look into Kelvington Road . Renata

Hi Helga, the Belham school had separate admissions this year which means that all the people who have been offered places there also hold a place at another Southwark primary. Over the next couple of weeks parents will be asked if they want their Belham place or the place at the other school this will release 60 places into the system. Even though no immediately near you, this will have a knock-on effect on the waiting lists of local schools. There is usually some movement in waiting lists from now until; September, so it's work checking your waiting list positions for the schools you applied for. Did you apply to your closest schools? You could asked to be added to the waiting list of additional schools. If you pm me I'd me happy to try and help you. Renata

The P12s are on diversion due to roadworks on Oakdale road. They are not serving Nunhead Lane, Evelina Road, Kimberley Avenue, Gibbon Road, Oakdale Road and Ivydale Road. Countdown is not indicating this at all. The buses are following the 343 route from Peckham Rye to Merrtins Road. According to the TFL website this is solely until tonight. Renata

Another thread has been started about this!

Parents? survey: School places in Southwark Southwark's Overview and Scrutiny Committee is investigating the issue of school places planning and allocation in the Borough. They would like as many parents in the Borough as possible to tell them what they think about this issue. They have created an online survey to collect their views. The link to the survey is here. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DH3JYKW Those participating have the chance to win an e-reader Renata

I went to the later consultation meeting on the proposed Harris Nunhead last week. The local residents president were not supportive of a Harris Nunhead school. I have yet to see the evidence that any consultation was done specifically of the opinion of Nunhead parents. The representatives from Harris admitted that there was opposition rather than support so far during this consultation process. having a nodal point in Nunhead for a primary at the hospital site is definitely not a very good idea as it would be a very long walk for parents with young children say eg from Nunhead Station to the Hospital site. There is also no public transport from Nunhead to the Hospital site. In terms of nodal points, this wouldn't have been an issue for the Haberdashers secondary bid. They based their proposal for a potential nodal point on the greatest support/demand for a new secondary school at the hospital site coming from the east of Lordship Lane. Also, secondary pupils tend to go to school independently and at a greater distance than those going at primary. If the school does go ahead and has a nodal point in Nunhead, it is likely that the parents who go there would drive, this is environmental unfriendly and traffic in the area is already bad enough at school run time! Thanks Landsberger for posting these facts. Renata

Hi Petra, yes, if your child has a place at a school nursery, it has no impact on whether or not they secure a place at the school at reception. Many children go to a different primary to the one they attended for nursery. If you have a child already in a primary, in some cases they will have priority for the school's nursery (this depends on the individual school). Renata

Hi Starstarlet, in previous years like this year there have been several families who have wanted a mixed school and didn't secure a place for their child at Charter/Kingsdale/Haberdasher's Aske's. I have visited the school myself (I think the rooftop classrooms are ace), I think it's a good school (70%, 5 GCSEs including English and Maths, note stats in the tables are much lower as they do iGCSEs in some subjects) and I've had very positive feedback from parents whose children attend. Therefore, I have been continuing to suggest to parents who haven't secured a place at one of the local, Southwark, co-ed schools to go and visit Deptford Green. It is a Lewisham school but due to its proximity to the Southwark border, 30-40% of pupils come from Southwark. Its particularly a popular destination for pupils from Ivydale school. The 343 bus goes close by, alternatively there is the frequent train/overground service from Forest Hill or HOP to New Cross Gate. A school that's been improving by leaps and bounds is St Thomas the Apostle in Nunhead, outstanding Ofsted and 76% 5 GCSEs. To clarify that whilst a Catholic school it does take non-Catholics too. Renata

I second the New World. I've been there with my children, and it works well there, dining with children, as they can see what is coming around on the trolleys and choose what they would like to eat. It's a bit like a mobile buffet so there is next to no time between sitting down and the first mouthful! It is not a quiet place, many families and people talking. Renata

Hello all, your child will be on the waiting list for schools above the one offered (or if allocated a school, all the schools applied for). Schools that have vacancies at the moment are as below: School Vacancy List if you are interested in any of the schools below call 0207 525 5337 or you can email [email protected] Southwark Schools - Harris Academy, Bermondsey (Girls) ? SE16 3RT - Harris Academy, Peckham (Mixed) ? SE15 5DZ - Compass School, Southwark (Mixed) ? SE16 4EE - ARK Globe Academy (Mixed) ? SE1 6AG you can also request that your child is added to the waiting list of schools you didn't apply to (particularly if you were aloocated a school, there may be others you would prefer that you didn't originally apply to). There will be movement of waiting lists all the way through to September. Movement varies from school to school and also be aware of the number of waiting lists a school has eg schools that use banding for admissions purposes may have several waiting lists, one for each band,so there is typically less movement than a school that allocates on distance alone. I'm happy to help if you would like some assistance. There are parent transfer advice sessions starting tomorrow: Cambridge House, 1 Addington Square, London SE5 0HF Commencing: 3rd to 6th March 2015 Time: 10am ? 12:30pm and 1:30pm ? 3:30pm ● The School Preference Adviser is part of Southwark Parent Partnership, an arms length service funded by Southwark Council. ● 20 minute slots will be available on a first come first served basis. ● Please note this is a parent only event; There are no childcare facilities. ● Parents are asked to sign in on arrival and complete the SPA referral form before the discussion begins. Alternatively you can contact Southwark Information, Advice and Support Team Tel: 0207 525 5211 Email: [email protected] I'm always happy to help if you would like some assistance. Renata

Hello all, the drainage improvement works are currently in progress. These will be finished by the end of the week. There then will be around a fortnight of resurfacing works (weather allowing). I did ask about alternative path and unfortunately due to cost and time scales of the project this isn't feasible. Renata

Hi Strawbs, I think they are running at 16.42 , 17.12 and 17.42. The other trains are the normal ones for a Monday evening and that's why they are showing up as cancelled. Renata

There is no summer shakedown as such. Waiting lists move when someone takes up a place at another school or moves in/out of an area or changes priority (eg a sibling takes up a place higher up a school). One child leaving a waiting list can have an impact on several waiting lists as different schools are different applicants preferred choices (a chain reaction effect). You can end up appearing to have greater movement in summer. This is partially due to most home moves occurring in the summer holidays, but also quite often people end up sticking with the school they were offered, once they've been to induction days, bought uniform etc. This means that a place that comes up on a waiting list in summer may be turned down by a few people on the list. There can also be some movement in late September where children don't arrive at the start of the new school year (eg moved abroad or taken a place up at a private school and not informed anyone or until it is verified that the child has gone elsewhere). Renata

Hi njc97, I haven't today's service myself, but the feedback I've been receiving from residents is that the trains are running to and from Blackfriars and are following a Saturday service, ie 2 TPH. Renata

I think the HH ones are running as per the emergency timetable on the link above. NH/PR/DH are on a Saturday service, terminating at Blackfriars. Thanks for your posts/emails. Renata

Farringdon Station is flooded. There are no cross London Thameslink trains running and services won't resume until Tuesday at the earliest. There has been an alternative service published for some routes eg via Herne Hill. http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/posters/TLSouth(1).pdf No information is available on-line for the service that I'm hearing many complaints about at the moment, the Sevenoaks to Kentish Town via Nunhead/Peckham Rye/ Denmark Hill. I've just called Thameslink Customer Services and they have said that there will be service running on this line but only as far as Blackfriars and then you'll need to switch to alternative transport. Unfortunately they were unable to give me any indication as to whether the Blackfriars trains will run to the usual Thameslink timetable on Monday to Friday, to the Saturday timetable or any specific timetable at all! I can't guarantee the information I've been given is correct, I would suggest all users of Thameslink services allow extra time for their journeys tomorrow. Renata

Yes, that's what is planned, but there may possibly be extra Blackfriars ones, but nothing is due to happen for another 3 years! Renata

Hi Miga, yes they do, but only at current rates. There was supposed to be double the service, but as the decision has been made to continue the through Wimbledon service (which was going to end), they have scrapped the extra service on this line. Renata

Thanks all, something I think I need to add to the summary (thanks Ann) is that as some people have rail seasons (either to London terminals or rail issued travelcards ie not on Oyster) with barriers not being present at Catford/Crofton Park/Nunhead/Elephant and Castle and often open at other stations during rush hour, the numbers of users on this line is probably being greatly underestimated. I have also taken on board, longer trains, more frequent service. I have noticed that the Victoria trains (when I've used the stations being discussed)seem to be able to cope with their demand during rush hour and it seems specifically the Thameslink ones that are full above reasonable capacity, could users please confirm/disagree with me on this? (I know the thread heading is about Thameslink!) I'm just trying to get as accurate a picture of everyone's experiences that I can. Renata

I spoke to Cabinet member Cllr Mark Williams last night about the current situation with the Thameslink service. The plan is that we go to visit the new service providers (they've been running this service one month!) with the information you have posted on here, pmed me with, emails and verbal communications to try and find a resolution. It has been communicated to me that yet again this morning people were left at Nunhead, Peckham Rye and Denmark Hill stations and half empty trains from Kent whizzed by on their way to Blackfriars! To summarise, the issue is lack of capacity between 7.30-9am northbound in the morning (and also southbound 5.30-7pm.) Residents are regularly being left on platforms at Nunhead, Peckham Rye,and Denmark Hill stations as they can't physically fit on the trains. Those on the trains feel they are dangerously overcrowded. Some passengers have felt unwell or been physically squashed, some tension between passengers due to lack of personal space has been reported, commuters are finding their commute very stressful. The situation has been worsening for some time. Some users feel unsafe using the service. Some previous users no longer do so, they take the 63 bus instead as the situation is so bad. 2018 is three years away and urgent action is required. I think that either extra trains are required from Bellingham to City Thameslink (these stations have sidings to allow trains to reverse) or the trains from Kent need to become stopping services once they hit inner London. Do you think my summary of the situation is correct, anything else to add? Renata

Several Southwark primary schools run clubs during the holidays. I would check your child's primary and and other local or conveniently located ones. I know Heber and Ivydale usually have holiday clubs. Renata