stephent

Employing 25 people to run a 240mm property estate for 0.4% per annum doesn't sound particularly egregious... What do you think is a fair cost (given the required expertise and maintenance)?

I agree there do seem a few areas of overlap - if the council paid a 'fair value' to the estate then it would seem that both parties could benefit. As the church has a spot on the board I'd hope DE is acting for genuine long term financial planning reasons rather than an lack of morality though. :)

If they even refused to consider allowing that space to be included in the lease then I think that's unfair. The school should have been offered the chance to take it. Is there any chance of using the space in The Griffin? I'm not trying to defend the estate - they certainly don't donate anything to me - but what I disagree with is attacking any instition for simply acting within its remit, especially when acting outside that is legally dubious. The estate does a pretty good job at doing what it's supposed to do - looking after the named beneficiaries. I still think funding is an issue though - the hospital site is a prize opportunity for a well laid out school, but I doubt we'll end up with much outdoor space there either.

2 St Olaves schools in southwark and in Orpington, and 2 Central Foundation schools in East London.

The Dulwich Estate doesn't make any profits (it's a charity), and it supports a church, alms houses and 4 state schools alongside the 3 private. Surely it's also immoral to sign a lease in full knowledge of the facts (and with clauses that address this), then complain vociferously about about the bits you don't like? It sounds like the main problem is that the govt isn't funding any of these new free schools (inc the hospital site) with a sufficient amount of money to have any playing fields.

Yes you're right - I just looked on the school website and saw this, so looks like this housing was always part of the plan... The grassy area on the Eastern side of the school (comprising the playing field, the ?Secret Garden?, the raised beds and the outdoor classroom) is ?under option? to the school?s landlord, the Dulwich Estate. In very broad outline, under the terms of that option, if the Dulwich Estate obtains planning permission for the development of housing on that part of the school site before 19 December 2018, then the school?s existing lease will be surrendered and a new lease granted of a longer term, but of a site which excludes all of the grassed area (the playing fields on the Eastern part of the site) and the school will be permanently excluded from that part of the site.

The red line designates a 2m high security fence, so I assumed that did set the border of the school site? I haven't seen their contract with the Estate so honestly couldn't say...

The boundaries of the school are very well laid out and there are no playing fields to speak of, so not quite sure what space they're planning on developing? http://planningonline.southwark.gov.uk/DocsOnline/Documents/360196_1.pdf

I'm not sure what Charter would do with it - the site is big for a house, but probably not big enough for any school building. I also very much doubt Charter would get the money - as a property I'm sure it's worth well over 2mil (the hospital is a new school so funding is different). Most likely it will end up being redeveloped for new housing at some point...

Is there going to be much space for playing fields once the Dulwich Hospital site is turned over?

Cycle Siperhighways have turned out to be exceptionally difficult to deliver because they share tfl roads and council controlled roads, and getting everyone lined up has turned out to be painful (particularly when you want to segregate off a large chunk). The mayor now seems to favour his 'crossrail for cycle' routes, or the new quietways.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20154358

Unfortunately I think most areas where both the state and private industry share responsibility tends to lead to some conflict (eg private healthcare, national rail, etc), but I don't necessarily think that killing private schools would make things better, as there's be a raft of new unforeseen consequences... Eg you could argue that the fact that DVIS has a tiny catchment area creates a different set of conflicts, in terms of house prices, easier to attract teachers, easier to raise donations from parents, etc

They do save the state from having to pay for the 8% of pupils that attend, plus bring in overseas investment for foreign pupils, etc. There are certainly some negatives too, but it's not as black and white as you make out.

So bring back grammar schools? :) LondonMix Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I actually don?t disagree with your reservations > about independent schools and would support them > becoming 100% needs blind with special outreach > programs to encourage lower income students to > apply via mentorship and tutoring. > > That would require more funding than their > endowments provide though so the state would have > to step in. > > > I also agree that sending your kids to Alleyn's > isn't charitable but its not charitable to recieve > the benefits of any charity. Its by definition > almost always self-serving.

In the past this used to be the case, but these days a school can't get away with that - they have to prove their charitable status. Looking at this in terms of sharing sports fields is an extremely narrow view, as there are various ways schools can (and do) contribute... Mick Mac Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > All sounds about right. > > At the end of the day its the fact that they are > not profit making that is the relevant driver for > the charitable status and perhaps the historical > point that many were formed from charitable gifts > before state schools existed.

JAGS has been on that site for 120 years (and in Dulwich for 100 years before that), so unlikely they bought the land from them... In terms of private schools doing more within the community I'd actually say that the Dulwich schools are amongst the best of any in terms of building links and sharing facilities (both with other schools and with the wider community - eg the new Music Hall JAGS are trying to get built)

Burge and Gunson have a lot of designer ranges, but pricey...

Our au-pair is joining us from Italy in July, with the intention on improving her English (currently pretty basic). Does anyone have any recommendations for courses/schools that are pretty easy to get to (from North Dulwich or Herne Hill)? Thanks

In theory it should reduce noise, but for ED I think the problem is that a lot of flights bank into final approach overhead, so there's greater engine noise. I know heathrow are looking at steeper descents - that would make a big difference if flights were an extra 1500 ft higher.

Immaterial in some senses, but these things can have pretty substantial changes to noise (due to speed, height, flap settings, etc) *Bob* Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Ok, elements, yes, fair enough. CDA does > technically affect 'flight paths' but - for the > purposes of what we're talking about here, it's > immaterial I'm sure you would agree? ie The method > of descent may have changed from stepped (to CDA) > but they're still 'in the same place' - just > coming down slightly differently.

Elements of the flight path change every few years (eg CDA in 2002 and 2006)... *Bob* Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > So what Heathrow have confirmed is that the flight > paths haven't changed for at least 15 years, apart > from the trials? > > > > Well - you heard it here first folks (slaps > forehead)

monkeylite Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If aircraft noise is an issue, nobody is stopping > you from moving away or getting some ear plugs. Neither, indeed, is anyone stopping you from signing the petition :) Although many people like the convenience of heathrow and its miriad destinations, I don't think anyone would argue that it would be better if there was less noise...

Thanks very much!

We're decorating a room for our 2 year old, and was wondering if anyone had recommendations on good places to buy children's furniture and curtains?