James

>>please don't imagine they rank anywhere close to Alleyns "Rank" - on what? The league tables? Dear oh dear, you keep tripping yourself up and revealing your obsession with results. Is it a mere coincidence that Alleyn's has so many high-profile alumni (children of celebrities and the like)? I think you'll find that yes, the parents ARE on average substantially wealthier than Colfe's or Dunstan's parents, many of whom scrimp and save to pay the fees. Getting in to Alleyn's has a lot to do with having the right connections. None of which bothers me as I prefer a more inclusive, down-to-earth environment.

Ha ha! >>It is expensive though, but I would not put either Colfes or Dunstans in the same division as Alleyns, which is definitely in the premiership. Scuppering your argument a bit by making such a snooty and elitist comment! (Incidentally I completely stand by my remarks). In my experience the Colfe's and Dunstan's kids are more grounded and down-to-earth compared to Alleyn's moneyed little darlings. And incidentally I attended one of the top selective grammars in the country - which regularly beats Alleyn's on GCSE and A-level results. But I wouldn't send my son there as I don't think it's a great school - I think schools should be more than "premier league" exam factories.

Hi Inglesa At the time I went for Haberdashers' and Forest Hill Boys... not a chance with either! So reluctantly went private but so far (fingers crossed) we haven't looked back.

SE14 is New Cross. The full name is Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College, and I believe Monson has already been absorbed into the school so may no longer exist as a separate entity. Whatever your views about Haberdashers', the consensus appears to be that it gets great results and the kids seem to be very happy there - but it's a lottery (literally) trying to get into it. On my visit I liked it but the head's speech left me a bit cold. I found Alleyn's a bit snooty and elitist; my favourite were Colfe's and Dunstan's (both private I'm afraid) - both seemed warm and down-to-earth with a happy, more diverse range of kids. I didn't consider Charter and Kingsdale as they were out of our catchment unfortunately.

I'd have been there but you never asked

Agree strongly with that Canning - Ofsted does not tell the whole story and can be misleading. Some schools are better than others at playing the system and showing themselves in their best light. Also who's to say your child is automatically better off in a school that gets better results, especially given the fact that upbringing has been proved to be the biggest factor in children's academic progress? I also think the headteacher's vision is vital as this permeates the whole school. As for Haberdashers, if I were being cynical I would point out that there are several deserving primaries closer than Monson. By federating with it, in a few years Monson's intake will become more affluent & middle-class as parents move into its catchment (which is predominantly private - not social housing). So Haberdashers will still be able to cream off the more academically-inclined kids while simulataneously claiming that it has 'improved standards' and is 'serving the local community.' Very clever! If Haberdashers really wanted to serve its community why not just operate a conventional catchment system like other local schools? The complex admissions procedure looks very much like selection by stealth to me and many others.

Can you not stock men's stuff too? Like the sound of your shop & fed up with having to go east/central for decent clothes... women seem to have a good choice locally but the options for men are dull and frumpy. I see lots of cool-looking 20/30 something blokes locally who obviously don't buy their clothes here so I'm sure there's a gap in the market.

Sean I hope you're right about the veggie place! Never mind about a rational and progressive society. That can wait. M&S first!

I thought we were getting a Vietnamese restaurant!? And a vegetarian place? And don't get me started on the whole M&S/Waitrose thing... will we at least get a new Co-op?

Try a search on Charter or Kingsdale, Inglesa (using the box in the top right-hand corner). Both are attracting growing numbers of middle-class kids (a sure sign of improvement) and seem to be getting good reports. Haberdashers Aske's is a bit controversial to say the least. It basically pretends to be a comprehensive but operates a byzantine selection process which has been accused of being a covert way of selecting more able/easy-to-teach kids. Its results are certainly extremely impressive for a school that claims to teach children of all abilities. However recent tweaks to the selection process aimed at removing the middle-class advantage suggest that future results may not appear as impressive on paper. One thing's for certain, it remains extremely difficult to get into (although certain things may raise your chances, such as where you live and the music scholarships. The sibling rule would also count in your favour). It's worth looking into bursaries and scholarships at the private schools. Otherwise Forest Hill Boys, Charter and Sydenham Girls all appear quite decent. Harris Boys will be opening in a few years but new schools do tend to take a while to sort themselves out. As for primaries, Heber and Goodrich look good - they seem to be the best (apart from Hamlet and Village), probably due once again to an increasing middle-class influx. Either that or the church schools (if you qualify), although I've heard dodgy things about Cabrini. The remaining state primaries are either awful or up-and-coming - depending on who you ask.

Firstly I admit no first-hand knowledge but I researched quite extensively on the subject for my own son two years ago. Goodrich and Hamlet are good but horribly oversubscribed - you'd need to bag a house as close as possible. Haberdashers? No chance! They now have a feeder system with nearby Monson Primary (so you could always move near there instead?) But a risk, since Monson is a dodgy school and will probably drag Haberdashers down with it. Haberdashers is officially the most over-subscribed state school in the country but offers a few music scholarships - so if your kids play that might be worth a punt.

So how did Elma's End get its name? And Pratt's Bottom?

Oh, here we go... Get a sense of humour Cate & Anna J. And I didn't think there was such a thing as discrimination against horrible housing stock, unless buildings count as human beings. Get off your high horse! I think you will find that the residents of the Aylesbury would agree with me anyway. Most of them want it demolished!

You could take them to the Aylesbury Estate in North Peckham. After that they will think East Dulwich is fantastic.

France, I expect. The cheese-eating surrender monkeys

Speed humps create excessive noise, damage cars and are bad for the environment (they waste petrol, causing cars to slow down & speed up repeatedly). Hate to say it but what Barry Road needs is speed cameras! I never did understand why they chose instead to put up that silly sign that tells you to slow down (which everyone ignores).

This shop already exists. It is called Waitrose.

I agree, perhaps I was being hasty in accusing people of double standards. Sorry for that. And I am heartened by the supportive responses Rosie, Sean and Mockney. The post seems to have been removed now, in any case. I'm confused by BBW's motivation - attention-seeking perhaps?

Well in that case do you understand that calling gay people "turd burglars" is a bit offensive?

I am guessing you're gay yourself, BBW, and using that expression ironically? To be honest, whether this is some flippant bit of "irony" or not, it's pretty tasteless and inappropriate. I'm also amazed that I'm the only one to challenge it (perhaps you were just waiting for someone to bite). Needless to say, if you had used a racial slur you would have been challenged, so I don't see why you think this is any different. Anyone remember Muffintop's enormous thread about racism - where everyone piled in to rubbish my statement that homophobia was generally more tolerated? Well, well, what a surprise. Where are all those people now to challenge this unacceptable remark? Bet if someone had used a racist word they would be falling over themselves to have a go. Double standards or what?

I was shown one next to the blackwall tunnel - billed as "historic Greenwich." They must have been referring to the Dickensian squalor.

"Blackheath borders" = Lewisham

I am still a bit scared after friends were racially abused in there some years back... maybe it's changed? Still think it needs half naked boys on roller skates and glitter balls though.

A bit different I reckon. The rude bus driver is probably not a refugee. However most of the 'immigrants' I have encountered put British people to shame with their work ethic and self-sacrifice.

It ought to be a retirement home for people called Barry. Barry Crier could be the first.