Coach Beth

I should have mentioned that if you aren't sure where the school is or want to email the office to request tickets, this link takes you to the school's contact detail page on the school website. http://www.goosegreenprimaryschool.org/contact.asp

Goose Green PTA was awarded a grant from the Dulwich Community Council to run a 'Maths, Magic and Mystery' workshop for families in the East Dulwich area. The idea is to help parents and children discover the fun and magic behind maths and the workshop will be highly interactive, involving children and parents alike. We are running the workshop on the evening of the 4th October, 6:30pm-7:30pm. It will be led by local author Rob Eastaway who wrote the bestselling 'Maths for Mums and Dads'. All children (from any school not just Goose Green) from Year 1 to Year 6 with their parents and carers are welcome! We'll have a creche for younger children and juice/biscuits will be provided. You'll need to get a free ticket (we have limited spaces so the event needs to be ticketed) from the Goose Green Primary School office so drop by the office (entrance to the school on Tintagel Crescent) anytime from 8:30 - 4:30pm.

My son has joined a great street dance class on Tuesday, 5-6pm, at the Goose Green Centre for boys - it's run by Get Dan'n'Dance and it's lively and fun. The problem is we need to have more boys to keep the class going! You get a free class and then it's about ?34.00 for the rest of the term (if you were to join at the beginning of the term it's about ?45.00 I believe but as we didn't join till after the term started it was less!) You can call Dani on 07904 424504 for the exact information but do come along and check out the class next Tuesday!

Is there any way to put pressure to get the traffic lights and crossing at Grove Vale (near the junction with Oglander Road and opposite Goose Green School) up and running ASAP? For us parents taking their kids to the school from that side of East Dulwich getting to the school has become a nightmare - the nearest crossings are 5 minutes away and it is very dangerous at rush hour to try to get across without the lights. I haven't noticed any workers working on the crossing or the traffic lights this week. Surely they could put up temporary traffic lights - or at the very least use a lollipop person to help the children and parents cross in the morning and afternoon?

Hello - I second the recommendation for Nutty's Children's Parties - we had a Super Dan party for my son when he was five - it was great! My friend Catherine also runs children's parties for 3 - 6 year olds - you can check out her website at http://www.catherinegrimaldi.co.uk/parties.html

I think it's really not good if the station was to be without an attendent. Ok, they aren't patoling the station platforms but there is at least someone there should you need to call upon someone for help. And you never know when you might need to call upon the help of the station attendent. Earlier this year, I was on the platform and witnessed a woman lose her shoe which fell onto the track! It sounds strange but it was a sort of sandle type thing and as she walked to the edge of the platform she somehow must of sort of kicked it off. Anyway, she was there with one shoe on her foot on her way to work and somone got the attendent who had this pole thing and used it to get her shoe. He said that people lose all sorts of things down on the tracks like phones, bags, etc.

My friend Catherine runs children's parties for 3 - 6 year old's and she's been getting great feedback! Check out her website for more info: http://www.catherinegrimaldi.co.uk/parties.html

I second this recommendation - I recently bought a pair of shoes there for my 6 year old boy and I think it's a great addition to the indoor market as well.

My understanding is that children who are under 12 can see 12a rated films if accompanied by an adult. I would have taken my son if he was 9 - he is 6 now and actually isn't that interested in Harry Potter. But I took him to see the Green Latern which is rated PG 13 with another mum friend and her 6 year old boy and they enjoyed it (except for the kissing scences - wherby they both went 'yuck!' and hid their eyes) and suffered no ill consquences. I think these things are guidance and if you know your child and what they will and will not be affected by you can follow your own wisdom - if she isn't ready or would be scared you made the right decision for sure!

My son went straight from a balance bike to a normal bike without stablizers. When we bought the bigger bike, I didn't think he would really be able to ride it without stablizers but he hopped on it and off he went. What I've noticed is that kids who use a balance bike do get the idea that they need to be able to push off with their feet first, balance and then pedal. Whereas I've noticed if they get used to stablisers, it takes awhile to get that they can't just pedal from standstill. Balfe bikes have a range of balance bikes on sale.

Just noticed this thread and thought I'd respond with the info now on behalf of the PTA You can drop the vouchers off at the school - entrance is on Tintagel Crescent - reception open from 9am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday. The postal address is: Goose Green School, Tintagel Crescent, London SE22 8HG THANKS!

Another cost that should be considered is insurance. Academy schools will have to cover and sort out their own insurance - this can be very costly indeed.

At the Goose Green Primary School Summer Fair this Saturday (12 to 4pm)- which is being held on the Green itself - there will be over 50 stalls, many of them featuring local craftspeople selling all sorts of lovely things. So maybe you'll find something there that would make a unique gift for teachers et al?

and the headteacher.....

Childminders have to go through professional training and OFSTED inspections - and therefore are better able and prepared to cope with a number of children than those of us who have not done so. Nannies look after children in the child's own homes - whereas childminders tend to look after children in their own homes (although sometimes will go to yours).

Budge classes are generally for one year only - as you can imagine, it would mean that the school would have to be drastically extended to fit in 120 pupils each year as they move up each year (i.e. if schools kept taking budge classes eventually each year in the school would have to have 3 classes/120 places not just reception class). It's not sustainable.

I can recommend Danny above - my son loved his 'Super Dan' party for his birthday!

Hiya! I'm also an American living in the UK (I was born near NYC but my family moved to Nova Scotia Canada when I was 10 so I'm also a Canadian). I've been here just over 20 years so I'm not so in touch with the current education system in North America but my brother is a teacher in Canada so I've got some idea of the differences. It is true that the state system in the UK has more of an emphasis on testing and assessment. All state schools have to follow fairly rigid criteria on that - as New Mother points out, all school are required to follow the National Curriculum. My sense of many private schools is that they will also have a focus on academic progress and testing. The exception to this will be private schools such as the Steiner Schools - there is a Rudolph Steiner school in Greenwich. From what you say, the Steiner approach could resonate strongly with your own approach to education. However, it would be definately worthwhile visiting both Goose Green and Bessemer Grange - talk to the Headteachers, look around etc. I've heard good things about Bessemer - lots of positives around the creative nature of the school and overall school spirit/approach. Our experience at Goose Green has been positive in terms of creativity - this week was Art & Music week at the school where music and art at the school was showcased. I was very impressed with the level of music education at the school (music is sidelined in the National Curriculum so it's true the level of music education can vary from school to school) where all children learn to read music, sing in choir, play in a brass band or samba band and where subidised music lessons are also available. There has also been an artist in residence and all children contributed to an art exhibition which was really great! Anyway, PM if you do arrive in ED - would be nice to meet up with a fellow North American in the area!

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!