Coach Beth

Two years ago we were on the waiting list for DKH- at number 16 to start with (and we probably went up and down but I didn't' keep up with where we were). About 2 months into the school year, we were offered a place but we turned it down as we were happy with GG So you can hold out, and if you aren't happy with Bessemer, you will probably eventually get a place but what you might find is that by then you really like the Bessemer But if you don't, you can accept the place at DKH.

Next September is when the problems will really hit the fan. Not only will there be no more capacity locally for yet another budge class (except perhaps Dog Kennell Hill) BUT the proportion of the reception places for siblings will be much greater. For the main reason that in those schools which had a budge last year will have a greater number of families with children. So a year one class that now has 90 pupils due to the budge next year will have a reception class of only 60. Yet, there will now be a greater number of families who will be able to claim a sibling place (of course, not all will do so! But there will be a higher proportion of those 60 reception places going to siblings).

Well, I have done the pick up at the school several times for a friend and was just reflecting my own observations as an outsider. However, I do take your point and I certaintly haven't carried out a survey or looked at the statistical data on intake - sometimes going on observation can be mis-leading and I apologise for any offense caused.

If I were you I would definately go look around Bessemer again, talk to parents there, talk to the Head. I think it's a school on the up. If you prefer it to St. John's, then it sounds like you should stay with it. There are several parents who post here who go to Bessemer Grange and love the school. Do a search for the thread relating to the Bessemer Grange Fun Day. Last year, we were offered a place at St.John's - and I turned it down because we were very happy at Goose Green (I like the Headteacher, the ethos and diversty at the school). And I'm very happy with the decision. I've got friends with kids at St. Johns and it seems ok as a school although I've heard concerns with the expense of the after-school clubs and lack of variety/choice in after-school clubs. But every parent will have issues with whatever school their child goes to. Anyway, I think you need to go with your gut. Meeting with the Headteacher of each school should help you ALOT! It's the Headteacher that sets the standard for the school - they will be the one who will be leading the school and responding to parental concerns. That's what I've found anyway - and if I didn't think the Headteacher was interested in my concerns as a parent or in my child, I wouldn't pick the school. So book an appointment to meet the Head of Bessemer and then the Head of St. John's! If you change your mind, hopefully you will still get a place at Bessemer. Although I've heard it's becoming quite a popular choice now.

Ursula a wonderful local interior designer who specialises in kids rooms. Here is her website - http://www.room-to-bloom.com/

Any time you pass a CCTV camera in a public place or in a shop you are being filmed without your consent. I googled this topic as I'm curious and the answer seems to point to that it is not illegal to film people in public places without their consent UNLESS they are in a place where they can reasonably expect privacy i.e a restroom, a changing room, etc. And many famous street photography images of people (i.e.I'm thinking of 'The Kiss' by Bresson of two lovers kissing on a busy street) are of people in public where they were snapped unawares. Or think of newspaper images of scenes of disasters or tragedies or riots - those people have not been asked for their consent before the journalist took their photo and then published it. Or put it on You Tube - think of the woman who put that cat in the bin for a 'joke' - she had been filmed unawares by the couples CCTV and then they posted the clip of her identifed on You Tube. I don't like what that woman did with the cat - but she was filmed without her knowledge and then the film was posted all over You Tube. Having said that, I completely agree that it is not nice for two strangers to film a child while playing - it's very unsettling and not nice - particularly when it is just your child. I would have thought if they were geninue students of filmaking they would have found the parents, told them what they were doing (i.e. making a film or documentary) and then sought permission.

I believe it is a very inclusive school but I suggest to put your minds at rest, that you ring the school and make an appointment to speak to the assitant headteacher in charge of diversity and inclusion who can tell you more about how LGBT parents/families are welcomed in the school. Bullying is dealt with straightaway by all teachers and Mr. Marcelle is a staff person who is solely dedicated to pastoral care/emotional well-being and works with children around bullying/being bullied. Please do PM me if you want any more information!

Yes, the Goose Green School summer fair organised by the PTA will be held on Goose Green again this year on Saturday the 9th July! We will have a range of stalls - less stalls than the Dulwich Festival but still a nice range of food, crafts and other items. The students will be performing and there will be the usual attractions for the whole family. Just before the fair, the whole school will be marching along the streets in a carnival procession! See you there!

How did the day go Cora? Sounds like it was fun!

I do like the school and have said so quite abit before on the forum so I don't want to bore regular readers! I've banged on about creativity in the school in another thread so my two other key points about the school are: 1) Strong Leadership - The Headmistress Sharon Marland is great IMO. She was brought in when the school went into special measures a few years ago and really has put things in order. She addressed all of the points that Ofsted made about the school really throughly and when needed she got rid of under-performing teachers. She is available and open and also ensures the school addresses pastoral care issues. She is always in the playground talking to parents and she is a great supporter of the PTA and the parents. She led the school out of special measures and also for leading the teaching team to enable students at Goose Green to achieve one of the highest scores of all the East Dulwich Schools on last years SAT's - at 79% this was well over the Southwark and National Averages. 2) Excellent Pastoral Care - The school has a wonderful senior staff person dedicated soley to emotional well-being and pastoral care. There is a comfort room for students who need emotional support and they can talk to this staff member when-ever they need too. The playground is well-supervised and the teaching assistants my son have had are lovely, providing emotional support and comfort.

That is a very good point Reren - very popular schools will have smaller catchments. If a school falls out of favour, people will look elsewhere and that school will have a wider catchment. And personally, I think most schools in East Dulwich are pretty much on the same level - I have friends with children at Heber, Goodrich, Dog Kennel Hill and Bessemer Grange (my own child is at Goose Green) and it sounds like their experiences/learning is pretty similar.

No idea I'm afraid!

Do go and look round the schools in your area before discounting them please! Bessemmer Grange and Goose Green schools have traditionally not been considered popular schools but many parents are very happy with the schools. Going on a school tour should reassure you. Goose Green runs a tour monthly (usually first Monday morning but with the May bank holidays I'm not sure when it will be in May - ring school to check after the holidays) which is lead by the Headteacher in which you can also meet current parents with children attending the school. All local schools will run regular tours. Also remember the catchment areas can change quite abit from year to year - if a school was given a 'bulge class' it will take in an extra class in reception one year which will widen the catchment area and then the next year it will be smaller.

Steamed Pudding - I know two families who are extremely happy with Bessemmer Grange school - their children are in year 1 now. cff9 - you might take a look at Bellenden Road school, that is fairly near to you and I've heard some good things about this school too.

Well, at the end of the day the tour is only 45min to an hour and there is so much to cover I think! Although after every tour at Goose Green School there is usually an opportunity to chat to current Goose Green parents who are having their coffee mornings at the same time. My recommendation to all parents going into any school is to have a list of questions to ask - if sports are important to you or music or anything make sure you ask about it as whomever is doing the tour might make an assumption that parents aren't interested in this. Or they are trying to fit so much in they might not mention it. Anyway, this afternoon, there is another opportunity for creativity at the school to shine - it's the Spring Enterprise Fair after school. Each class has been given ?10 by the PTA and given the challenge to take that ?10, buy materials and make something to sell at the fair to make a profit. Last year there were some fantastic offerings - the year six make amazing flower/pebble arrangements in glasses and the year one classes make cute Easter chicks.

And it's a very sweet book Jesse ~ my son has been updating me about it as your's has been reading his new bits he has written to their class every morning!!!

I think this is a lesson for all of the parents to this next year. If you don't put down all of your choices for schools and only put two or three choices what happens is that you are then allocated whatever spaces are left after everyone else is allocated their choices - so people who are getting their 5th or 6th choice will get those allocated before those that only put down two or three schools (that end up being full because the families are nearer or have sibling places). This happened to several people I knew two years ago - I had put down my four choices (at the time we only had 4 choices) and I made sure that on my list was my nearest community school where I had the most chance getting into to. And we got allocated that school which I'm very happy with! Whereas a friend round the corner put down two schools which were very popular thinking she would either get one or those OR they would allocate her to Goose Green which was their nearest school. Because Goose Green filled up with people who had choosen it (even people who might have been further away got preference because they had put the school down on their list of preferences) she was then allocated a school very far away - near the Old Kent Road! Luckily, she put her son's name down on the waiting list for GG and her son got in after the shake down.

I'm a Goose Green parent whose son is in year 1. My partner is a professional jazz musician - he also teaches at Trinity College of Music, Birmingham Conservatory and Wales College of Music. So we are very keen on the arts! We think the standard of music teaching at the school is very high. Rob Parton is a 3 day a week staff member solely responsible for music classes. He has introduced all school singing at Assembly, a choir and instrumental lessons. He is also a professional musician who graduated from Trinity College of Music and he regularly gigs in London. In terms of art, there is an artist in residence who works with the children. Authors of children's books regularly come into the school. The school did really need to get the literacy and numeracy levels of the children up. My partner the jazzer says 'you need to know the changes (chords,notes, techniques) in order to improvise and play jazz' - for me it's the same in that children need a certain level of writing and reading in order to then be able to be fully expressive and creative. Personally I think the state system could focus more on creative arts but I'm happy with the balance at GG - for me, it makes a difference having a professional musician on staff.

My sympathy to all those who are waiting - it is nerve racking to say the least! I'm another positive and happy Goose Green parent of a year one student - my son is doing well and our karoke/quiz evening last week confirmed the friendly vibe of the school. I also have been involved in the PTA (although this year due to my own business taking off I haven't been as involved as other have been ) and helped fundraise for the new green screen and gardens along the Grove Vale fence/playground. When the plants are more established and the climbers are climbing along the fence, it will really lift up the area I think! The folks from the Wildlife Gardens have been in, giving workshops to the kids and the children will continue to plant and also learn about bugs and insects in the schools own mini-beast areas Another school I'd like to encourage people to look at if you are thinking about waiting lists is Bessemer Grange - I know two parents who are very happy with the school and I think it's another 'overlooked gem' of a school on our doorstep.

Thank you Msgee - I was thinking myself reading this debate that just 6 years ago when my son was born and I was tuning into discussions on secondary schools and listening to friends with older children that Kingsdale was a complete 'no-go'. It was completely and utterly dismissed as a school worthy of even being looked at or considered. Now, people are devastated is there children don't get in. Is Peckham Academy such a terrible option really? I take my son there every week for his street dance class after school (Theatre Peckham use the premises) and while I wait, I've had a look round, read about the achievements of pupils and what the school is doing and although it's not an in-depth examination of the school and it's achievements, I've been pretty happy with what I've seen so far. In a few years, it could be the next Kingsdale! I know from my experience as a Goose Green school parent that schools can be achieving far beyond what the last Ofsted claims are - particularly if there is a committment by the senior staff to turn a school around but, like Kingsdale, it takes a few years for the message to sink in and be heard.

Excellent news Cora - well done and congradulations to all the staff, parents and kids at the school!

Stay with Goodrich. You like it. Your son likes it. You like his teacher. He will start with two close friends from pre-school. So wow - a great start for him. You liked Fairlawn before you got to know Goodrich - now things have changed. Go with what has been sent your way and let go of the stance you took before on the issue.

Quite right Sqiggles - Bessemer Grange is a great local school - on the up and lots of positive things I've been hearing about this school too. Well done to Bessemer Grange!!!!

Thanks for this - wow I am so pleased at how well all our local schools have done! Goose Green at 79% followed by Heber at 76%, then St John's at 73% and Goodrich at 71%(percentage refers to the numbers of students achieving level 4 and above in English and maths) As a Goose Green parent, I'd like to thank the Headteacher and all the fab teaching staff for their dedication in working with all the students to turn the school from a failing school to one that is now in the top half of all the school in Southwark!! Well Done!!! And well done to all our local schools - these results show that East Dulwich is fortunate in having good primary schools!!! HURRAH! And yes, these results are based on the tests of the year six students in spring 2010 so the children were 11 at the time of testing. .

Neither me nor my partner drives - we have one son aged five. Public transport is abosolutly fine and when faced with an awkward journey, or if we are taking a long train journey - to Newcastle where we have friends/family we often make a decision to book a cab to King's Cross. We figure that even if we were to take a cab once a month costing ?35 each time it still wouldn't be as much as it would cost to keep a car - i.e. taxes, insurance, petrol.