Renata Hamvas

I have been investigating this, but haven't got a response yet (otherwise I would have posted on here about it!). Last year James, Southwark's primary school allocations were conveniently moved from April until the Monday after the elections. This meant that new councillors like myself had been in post for a whole weekend and not even sworn in yet nor attended a single training session when local residents problems with primary school allocations came flooding in! It also meant that Southwark's primary allocations were later than our neighbouring boroughs and residents were deciding on (and holding) places in primaries in other boroughs while waiting for their Southwark outcomes. St John and St Clement is a VA C of E school taking about 2/3 of it's pupils from churches together faiths, so it has different admissions criteria to community schools for its places. This is also the first year of the pan London primary school admissions system where parents could apply for up to six primary schools London-wide, and all offers in all London boroughs came out on offer day. The system is therefore different to previous years and additionally, there is only one entry to primary school this year in September. In previous years there was an extra term for movement on lists as 50% of reception children started in January. Renata

Crosspatch39, I believe you must be one of the DKH parents whose application didn't arrive at Southwark's offices. The most likely explanation is that they got lost in the post. Infant classes can't go above 30, so places will only become available if someone holding a place for September drops out.

Entry to primary schools has changed this year to one point of entry in September, so I would assume your daughter would be due to start at Heber this September. I would check how Heber do this, as some schools stagger it with one new child starting each day, so it could be October when all the children have started (and therefore you may want/need to keep childcare for Sept). Renata

The playground will be reopened in the 1st or 2nd week of July, so it won't be open in time for half term, but should be open before the schools break up for summer Renata

I am awaiting a response from the traffic department about this matter, I have also passed on the suggestions from this thread. Renata

I have raise the issues with the traffic dept of the Council and also the suggestion as above, once I know more, I shall post again Renata

Hi Thomasina, all the secondary schools for boys in the area are oversubscribed. Kingsdale have places allocated for children talented in Music, Sport and Mathematics (tested). After siblings the rest of the places are allocated by lottery. The chance this year of obtaining a place in lottery was under 10% Charter offers places on distance to the school. The catchment varies from year to year dependent on where applicants applicants live and sibling numbers Harris boys school has a banding system, after banding, its the closest boys in the band. Haberdasher's Askes-a Lewisham School in Telegraph Hill. It has it's own banding exam and places are allocated on distance within the band. Additionally some places are reserved for Music scholars. You are highly unlikely to get a place here unless on musicality if you live in East Dulwich, but may if you live in Nunhead. Highly oversubscribed St Thomas the Apostle College, Nunhead. Catholic Maths speciality College (not essential to be Catholic to attend here). Forest Hill Boys (Lewisham) distance These are I think the schools that residents of my ward, Peckham Rye, which encompasses parts of East Dulwich, Nunhead and Honor Oak tend to apply for their sons. You will need to submit a form in mid-October for 2012 entry and find 6 schools and rank them in order of preference. It is a pan-London system,ie one form covers all London boroughs. Schools have open days in September and I would suggest you visit as many schools as possible then. Renata

The playground is being redeveloped and was scheduled for completion around the end of May. I will check on this and post back. Renata

Hi Dagi, I don't know much about the waiting list for Edmund Waller as it's a Lewisham school, but what I've found with Southwark waiting lists movement down waiting lists is often caused by sibling applications where parents who have children in the school forget to tick the sibling box on the application form. When this becomes evident, after offer day (when parents notify the council) these children go to the top of the waiting list (in distance order) shifting all the other children down in rank order on the waiting list. Parents should be aware that in bulge years catchment areas for a school go up greatly, but in the following few years they tend to be smaller than before the bulge due to the extra siblings of the bulge year. As you live in Nunhead and in the area not far from Edmund Waller, I wonder if you have considered Hollydale School. This school has a good Ofsted report and is highly recommended to me by parents whose children attend the school. There may be some movement on the waiting list over summer where parents have a place and then move home. Renata

I am very sorry to hear about the loss of your family pet, Woody549. I will report it and request that an assessment be carried out on this road and the surrounding ones. Renata

It's the final day for you to comment on Southwark's secondary school application process at [www.southwark.gov.uk] Renata

I agree with Mumra, there is moving on waiting lists well into Autumn and even the most popular schools find one or two children fail to arrive at the beginning of September. The reason why you have moved down on the waiting list Claire, is that parents with siblings already in the school sometimes forget to tick the sibling box, don't get a place , inform Southwark and then they go to the top of the waiting list on sibling priority. Also there can be late applicants who forget to submit the form or move into the area after the form submission date and they live closer to the school that you do. Renata

It's good to start early thinking about school choices- to work out which are your closest schools use: http://schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk/ put in your postcode and tick primary school (if that is what you are looking for). This site will pull up all school and if you live near the borough boundary you may get a mixture of Southwark and eg Lewisham Schools. You can also find your closest church schools from this too. Look at the Ofsted reports. Results are also important, but remember in primary school, dependant on size, one pupil can contribute to a 3% swing in the results (less in a larger school). Speak to local parents. When the new Southwark primary brochure comes out, it will have information on numbers of applicants/siblings/catchments areas to each school in a particular year. Do fill out all your 6 places, don't put down only schools that are long shots. There are good schools which are undersubscribed. Would you be interested/want a place at a church school? If you want extra information about a school ask here. Renata

Yes Bob, times dates and route section are useful, particularly to prove whether the problems occur at a specific time of day, all the time and whether they can be attributed to altered conditions eg road works or an accident. regards Renata

Just to remind you if you've been busy/forgotten. Please fill in your Census forms, you can do it by post or electronically at www.census.gov.uk It is a legal requirement to do so. Each person who is missing from the Census will cost the council about ?600 per year in funding. Thanks, Renata

Thanks for the feedback so far, the main problem seems to be morning peak from the post so far, any more info from other users? The more info I have the better the case that can be made to get something done about this route.

79% of children got there 1st Choice school 8% 2nd choice school 4% 3rd choice school 2% 4th choice school ie 93% were offered a place at their top 4 schools in the first round 1.5% 5th/6th choice school ie nearly 4/5 of children got their first choice school 5.6% were allocated a primary school, where there were places still left, in all cases this was less than 2 miles from their home. This are preliminary results and and will change a bit after the shakedowns. I agree with Gubodge's point. The parents who were allocated a school may have obtained their (2nd/3rd) 4th/5th/6th choice if they had put it down more schools rather than the council finding them a place. Even if you obtain a place from one of your lower choices, you still automatically go on the waiting lists on the schools higher up on your waiting list, so their are no advantages to only putting down one, two or three schools. It is worth looking at schools that are localish (eg a longer walk or a short bus ride away) and good but not so oversubscribed as your top couple of schools. Also if you follow a religion (eg catholic or C of E or Orthodox), your local church school (eg C of E or catholic) may have sufficient capacity in a particular year to take a few children who practice another religion (eg due to a bulge). Spaces will become available from waiting lists in the next few weeks/months, but movement on lists will vary and the further down a list you are, the less likely you are to get a place. This is the more likely route to get a space than via appeal. Appeals do not have a high chance of success unless there are good grounds of appeal eg SEN, siblings etc. You can join the waiting lists of other primaries. Primaries rank waiting lists following their admissions policies, in the terms of community primaries, this is on distance. If you need my assistance I will try my best to help you (but I can't perform miracles eg make extra school places!) Renata

I have had contact with Senior staff re Dulwich and Peckham Rye Park. This is the first year of the new administration and last year's routine for bin emptying was being adhered to. As we had an exceptionally warm weekend, more people visited parks and local spaces. Later in the year there is an additional late bin emptying and due to the overfilled bins last weekend, this is now being brought forward to cover the Easter weekends. Renata

As I know there have been enquiries about this school here, I thought it would be useful for parent to post this. I am pleased to report that Hollydale School in Nunhead has just had a "good" Ofsted inspection. Well done to everyone at Hollydale School! Renata

I would suggest that parents/carers to accept their offers even if they are unhappy with their offer. All children are automatically added to the waiting list for any schools that they listed as a higher preference where a place could not be offered. If parents would like to check where their child is on a waiting list, they can contact the Admissions call centre on 020 7525 5337 or email schools.admissions@southwark.gov.uk. Updated information on lists will be available on 19th April. Even if parents accept their offers, their child's name will still remain on the waiting list for higher preference schools. Accepting the offer has no affect on waiting list positions or appeals. Be aware that your position on a waiting list can move up or down. It can move down due to late applications from parents/carers living closer to the school than you and also, there have been some parents with children already at primary schools who forgot to tick the sibling box on the application box. If parents wish to appeal for a school that was unable to offer their child a place, they will need to contact the Admissions Team for an appeal form for all community schools or the schools directly for non-community schools (voluntary aided, church, foundation school or academy). The School Preference Adviser is on hand to offer independent, impartial support and advice to parents and carers. Come and see him on any of the drop-in dates below at: The Southwark Learning and Business Centre, Resource Centre, Cator Street, London, SE15 6 AA Email: schoolpref@southwark.gov.uk Monday 11th April 9:30-12:30 13:30- 15:30 Tuesday 12th April 9:30- 12:30 13:30- 15:30 Of course I am still available to assist parents to the best of my ability. Be aware though that every primary school does have limited places, but there is movement on waiting lists over the next few weeks and months to come. FYI 94.4% of children got one of their school choices, this is above the London average of 92% Renata

Mrs Lotte, I don't yet have the ward breakdowns, but here are the overal stats: 79 % 1st choice 93 % one of their top 4 choices 94% one of their choices 6 % were allocated a school all Southwark children were offered a primary school place. These stats are very similar to last years, even with a slight increase in applicant number. The council staff have had a month less time to do this as the 2010 school allocations were out in May, immediately after the elections. Renata

Sorry Chantelle, not to hand, is there a particular school that you are interested in? If you didn't apply this year, but are enquiring for next, this years results will be published in the new application brochure. Renata

Good school, parents happy, children happy! That is the perception I have from parents whose children go there. I suggest Steph that you post and look at previous postings on the Nunhead Forum, nunheadforum.co.uk

Dear smb12, I am sorry to hear this, the catchment for DKH was indeed under 300m this year, 286m. The pan London system uses a specific GPS system and therefore the distance calculation may be slightly different to yours. That you live so close to the school means that you are close to or at the top of the waiting list. If you email me your details, I can find out for you. The letters were sent out yesterday, and therefore yours must still be in the postal system. many thanks, Renata

Some updates- I have raised an enquiry to establish if there are any plans for Harris Boys and Girls to merge and highlighting that this is what some local parents have expressed a wish for. In terms of the 44 places shortfall in the Borough this year, this would not have occured if it hadn't been necessary to closeSt Michael's and all Angels to new entrants this year. Following rebuilding, it will open in 2013 as a new ARK run all boys school. As well as this there wil be a new mixed Academy in Walworth on the site of the previous Walworth lower school. This is planned for a September 2014 opening. It will be non-denominational and is planned to have a STEM speciality (science/technology/mathematics). Renata