Renata Hamvas

Hi Nunheadmum, the stat I was quoting was that all the pupils had passed at least 5 GCSEs at grade C, however some of these will not have passed both English and Maths, so this is a different stat to Denmothersmith's. For some reason I can't find Kingsdale's GCSEs results anywhere this year! I'll ask them. The problem with results this time of year is that they can change, particularly with the English controversy. To give example, in schools where some pupils took the foundation Excedel papers (the papers where the maximum grade attainable is C), here the C grade boundary was moved from 44/80 to 54/80 two weeks before the results were released. In January the C grade mark was 43/80 and in summmer 2011 44/80. Renata

Charter works on Safest walking distance rather than as the crow flies distance and if you live 800m away by as the crow flies, you are likely to be significantly further away on a walking distance measurement. For Harris boys- non-verbal reasoning is a way to put the boys into bands. To confirm that it then goes on distance. Renata

Banding plus distance for Harris Boys, so the last place offered can vary between bands (other schools also use both eg Haberdasher's Aske's have 9 bands plus distance) . This is done in theory so schools end up with an even spread of abilities. I've been told the same as Molly re Harris boys/girls admissions, when I visited the girl's school. Renata

To update: Ivydale Children's Centre have taken over the One O clock club from the Council. The Club hasn't opened up again yet because the decision needs to be ratified by the Governors at Ivydale. They haven't yet had a Governors meeting when this could be done. They will be running stay and play (One o Clock club) and a variety of other activities in the club building. It will be open soon, but I don't have an exact date. When I know more I will post again. Renata

Thanks Carbonara! Please, check websites for admissions criteria, visit schools, I recommend with your children if they are in year 6 and use your 6 choices wisely, schools do not know the application order and it's good to have a safety net if long shots are unsuccessful! Be aware that last place offered distances can shrink or expand and that where schools select by random allocation (lottery), it can inflate the no of applicants, meaning the % chance for each applicant is reduced! Renata

Hi PRM, Harris Girl's have done very well this year, all year 11s achieved at least 5 GCSEs (A*-C) or more. As this school is in my ward, I have been there a few times and I must admit, I am really impressed by the staff and pupils there. In terms of admissions, the Southwark secondaries are all either Academies or VA, ie they decide their own admissions policies, so you will need to check with each school. At the moment, Harris Boys, Girl's, @Peckham, Walworth and Charter all select on distance. (Charter on safe walking routes and all the others by as the crow flies)Kingsdale selects 10% on Music/Sport and then uses a lottery system within with applicants divided into 3 bands from non-verbal reasoning results. Those who achieve scholarship level in the Kingsdale selection tests are also allocated places by lottery, so even if your child gets one, they may not be offered a place at the school (but it increases their chances!). Renata

Open Days/Evenings have started in ernest this week, remember you have 6 places on your CAF form for filling! Open Evenings today: Kingsdale Foundation School 5.30-8pm (6 other sessions ) City of London Academy (only chance if you haven't gone!)5-7pm Harris Girl's Academy ED (5-9pm, 4 more sessions)- I'm delighted to report that every girl passed at least 5 GCSEs at C or above this year! Thursday 20th Harris Academy@Peckham 9.30-11am Harris Academy Bermondsey 8.50am Saturday 22nd Kingsdale Foundation School 11am-1pm details of all Southwark's Open days are on page 7 and 8 on the starting Secondary booklet. http://www.southwark.gov.uk/downloads/download/2484/secondary_school_admissions Lambeth's Open days can be found here, look at page 13 http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/EducationLearning/SchoolsColleges/SecondarySchoolAdmissionsForThe201314AcademicYear.htm Lewisham's Open days can be found here http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/education/schools/school-admission/applying-to-start-secondary-school/Pages/Secondary-school-open-days.aspx Renata

Applications for 2012/13 round for Cleaner, Greener, Safer Projects can be submitted now. https://forms.southwark.gov.uk/ShowForm.asp?fm_fid=820 If you live or work in College/Village/East Dulwich Wards you come under the umbrella of Dulwich Community Council or for Peckham Rye/Nunhead/Lane/Peckham/ South part of Liversey it's Peckham and Nunhead Community Council even if you have been previously unsuccessful, but eg your project was shortlisted, it's worth applying again, as some applications don't get funded at the first attempt, but do at a second or subsequent attempt. Renata

I think the connections from Honor Oak Park or Forest Hill may be faster and more reliable than from East Dulwich (both routes involve one change) if it's easy for you to get to either of those two station eg cycle and park up your bike. Renata

Thameslink and Southeastern consultations are now closed, thank you to all of you who took the time to respond. Renata

What would my Ward be called then? Renata

South London Line Demise and the Victoria to Dartford Service The South London Line is a well-used regular train servicelinking Victoria and London Bridge. As a consequence of the cancellation of the South London Line,Southwark residents will no longer have a train connection to Victoria at all on Sundays, in the evenings and early mornings on Monday to Saturday and,additionally, half the current service at other times. The service that will remain is the inadequate Victoria to Dartford service that starts at rush hour and finishes in the early evening. . The level of use of this service and the soon to be axed South London Line has shown there is great demand for an evening service to Victoria from the Southwark stations on the Dartford Line. The East London Line is a welcome addition to transport links for Southwark residents. It is however,very much a supplement rather that a substitute to existing routes, as ClaphamJunction is geographically a very different destination to Victoria. Southwark residents need for the Victoria to Dartford service to become a full, frequent early morning until midnight seven-day a week service. This service is currently being consulted on, closes today: http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-29 Thameslink, Sevenoaks to Bedford ( Consultation closing 5pm tomorrow!) This route is well used, with packed trains at peak hours.Many users from Nunhead, Peckham Rye, Denmark Hill and Elephant and Castle use this line as it crosses London, going through the City, Farringdon and King?s Cross. The extension to this consultation enables those of you who didn?t respond before 23rd August, and would like to do so to respond now. http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-23/ Renata

Hi adg974, the bulk of the places at Kingsdale are allocated by random allocation (lottery). In relation to the school itself, I would suggest you go along to an open day and see for yourself. Every child is different and different schools suit different children. Renata

Hi Etta166. All Southwark's Secondary Schools are all voluntary aided or Academies; so all administer their own admissions policies. A few eg Harris Academies, Haberdasher's Askes' use straight line distance. Charter still uses safest walking route, but since the adjudicators decision this includes Wanley Rd. Kingsdale selects its intake by random allocation and Bacon's likewise but in conjunction with a catchment element. Schools with a religious affiliation tend to select on religious belief and distance combined. Some church schools have feeder primaries eg St Francesca Cabrini is a feeder to St Michael's in Bermondsey. Some academies have linked primaries eg Harris Free School and Harris Academy@Peckham. Some have additional selection for speciality subjects eg Kingsdale, sport and music; Prendergast and Haberdashers, music. All of Southwark's mainstream community primaries select on straight line distance. Church schools select on a mixture of church attendance/religious belief and straight line distance. For C of E primaries typically 50% are community places; for Catholic schools it varies from school to school and from year to year, dependant on the number of Catholic applicants. Some of Southwark's Primaries are now academies; ie they set their own admissions policies. You need to check with the individual academy as to their admissions policy eg whether they have a sibling policy and whether they have other priority criteria eg priority to children who would be eligible for free school meals under government legislation. Renata

Kingsdale selects 10% of its intake on sporting ability. You would need to submit a supplementary form and your daughter would be required to sit a sporting ability assessment at the school (prior to CAF form deadline). There are various grades of being successful in this assessment from full scholarship level to half and then gifted and talented. I think how the system works is that more children typically reach full scholarship level than there are places and these children are ranked by random allocation (lottery) with essentially those selected out of the virtual hat up to the 10% being offered places. If pupils in this initial 10% go to other schools, more children are taken from this list. The implication of this that while reaching scholarship level in the Kingsdale sports assessment increases your chance of being offered a place (over other non-scholarship applicants), it does not guarantee it. If a child gets a place who has been assessed as having sporting ability, this equates to extra sports tuition. Location currently has no bearing on your probability to secure a place at Kingsdale, so living in Bromley wouldn't be a problem except perhaps with travel to the school. Renata

Hi Yummymummy, I have had an update from Ivydale Children's Centre, there is still deep cleaning in progress plus the new arrangements and activities are being sorted out. I haven't been given a date for when services will start up again, but there is likely to be a greater variety of things going on eg there may be a baby group and additional sessions for families with children with SEN. Once I know more I will post on here. Renata

Thames Water have been gradually moving along Evelina/Nunhead Lane towards Peckham Rye over the past year or so, laying new pipes. Renata

Hi Kamath, you can apply between now and January. Yes, apply on-line. http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200172/school_admissions this is if you live in Southwark, for Lambeth or Lewisham, you will need to use their form. You can apply to schools from any borough, do however, look at their admissions policy. Most community primaries allocate places by distance. As would suggest suing your 6 choices of schools and put them down in order of preference. The schools don't know your where you have ranked them on the form. ie you can put a preferred school that is a long shot above your closest school and it won't affect your chances to get into your closest school. For nurseries, you need to apply directly to the schools you are interested in. There are also pre-schools that cater for 2.5-5 year olds. Nurseries have already allocated places, so your child may have to go on a waiting list, so you may wish to apply to several schools for nursery. Renata

Secondary school forms need to be submitted by the 31st October 2012 for children currently in year 6. On-line submission is now open. Information about Southwark admissions is here: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200172/school_admissions during the next month or so, secondary schools will hold open days/evenings. I strongly recommend that year 5 parents go and look at schools as well as year 6 parents. I would suggest parents only in year 5 and parents and children visiting a short list of schools in year 6. Please remember you have 6 choices, and do use them as being offered a place at your 4th or 5th choice school is better than being allocated a place by your LA. The vast majority of parents who contacted me following allocation day had applied to 3 or fewer schools. Please look carefully at admissions criteria (eg do they allocate by distance or random allocation or on religious grounds) and prospectuses, these should be available on school websites. You may apply to schools both inside and outside the Borough on your CAF form. You should fill in the CAF form for the brough you reside in rather than the borough your child's school is in. Please put your 6 schools in your order of preference. Schools do not know what position you put them in on the CAF form. They just get notified if you have applied to them and they respond whether they can offer you a place. You will be offered one place, by the school highest on your list that has responded that they can offer your child a place. Check whether any supplementary forms are required for the school. Some schools have banding tests, it is important that your child attends these as the majority of secondaries offer places within a banding system, so without sitting the test, your child is unlikely to be offered a place at that school. Look at previous no of applicants at a school, some schools are very oversubscribed which could mean that your child has only got a low chance to secure a place at that school. Some schools have places allocated to children with a particular talent or ability. Many academically selective schools have their exams in September so that you know the result before the submission date. Be aware that often there are more children passing selective tests than there are places at a school.If you have 6 choices it is fine to have some long shots, but make sure there are some realistic choices schools on your list. If you eg live in Southwark, I would suggest looking at Lambeth and Lewisham schools too. Look at travel times /distances to get to a school. Travel by bus is currently free for children, but you need to pay for the train. You may find however that if you live close to one of the local train stations that this brings many more options for possible schools into the equation. I shal post more information over the next few weeks. Renata

There are several events going on this weekend within the Elephant and the Nun Festival. There will be the Friends of Peckham Rye Park Fete on Peckham Rye Park on Saturday from 12.30 and from 1 the Aquarius Music Festival ( very family friendly) at The golf club at the end of Marmora Rd. On Sunday there will be a fun day on Nunhead Green. Renata

Hi Medusa, please pm me with more details Renata

No probs with doing this, due to the lack of sun this summer though, blackberries are just starting to become ripe, in another week or two you'll probably have a more successful forage! Be aware that some areas of the cemeteries are cordened off for safety reasons. happy picking! (and eating/preserving) Renata

The Peckham Rye One O'Clock Club will be closed next week for it's routine deep clean and to remove redundant equipment. Renata

The parties held at Peckham Rye were to celebrate 50 years of Play Services at Peckham Rye. Some parents chose to use that opportunity to say goodbye to three play-workers who were leaving. As next week is a bank holiday and staffing is short there are play sessions at GMH park celebrating the paralympics (parents have been informed of this). Peckham Rye is not having sessions instead they are undergoing scheduled cleaning and also decommissioning of some old equipment. Renata

Hello all, I have been in contact with the Cabinet Member, Cllr Dora Dixon-Fyle. She would have to sign off any proposed closure of the One O clock club. No such thing has happened. She thinks that the current staff at the Peckham Rye one O clock club may have opted to take voluntary redundancy. Also she has told me that many facilities run by children's services are closed next week for annual holiday. She is organising for posters to be put up outside the clud to clarify what is happening and inform users (She is clarifying the exact situation with the club). The community Council did allocate a few hundred pounds for the One O clock club to have a mini-Olympics, summer event. Renata