Coach Beth

It is a very powerful report - thank you for sharing. I think PTA groups at inner city state schools do an amazing job. I know that PTA at my son's school works hard to raise money for a range of things which support students from a range of backgrounds. Thanks to our PTA at Goose Green School, students have been able to go to trips to the theatre, have access to Ipads in all classrooms, have a wild-life garden and mini orchard, have external speakers/workshops including workshops for Black History Month. And just as important (if not more) than the fundraising work the PTA does, the schools annual summer fair and carnival (which involves all students and parents) just could not happen without the hours that the PTA give to organising the event and the volunteer hours that parents put in. Every year, when I go to the summer carnival at Goose Green and see each child perform in their class, and then perform in the music and dance groups and I see the total diversity and cross-section of society that comes together at the school, it reminds me how important it is to have events like this. Those events only happen because PTA's have volunteers who are spending alot of time and volunteering effort - and often on top of jobs as well. As a school governor, I want to say how much governing bodies and school leadership value the work of PTA's! In terms of lobbying and campaigning work, I have been very involved in the NGO sector and political lobbying work (mainly in the women's sector). However, PTA groups are separately constituted charities and as such, are governed by their constitution. Often, this restricts their ability to take part in campaigning or political lobbying. It may be worthwhile however approaching the National Association of PTA groups - as an infrastructure body. they would be well placed to lead on campaigns and perhaps they could advice/support local PTA's who want to support much needed work on poverty and schools.

Then join us on Tuesday nights from now till just before Christmas! Goose Green Community Choir is a fun and friendly community choir and we are welcoming new members! We're the Goose Green Choir and meet from 6:30 - 8pm on Tuesday evenings at Goose Green Primary School. We are very friendly and informal and you don't need to read music or have much musical experience. We sing a range of songs including pop, gospel and world music. BUT, it's all about Christmas music from this Tuesday! Cost is ?30 for each 6 week half-term (or ?15 if you are unwaged). You can come along to your first rehearsal to check us out before committing to pay for the half term.

I would expect to pay at least ?150 - probably nearer ?200.

Yes, I applied for my son a couple of years ago - it didn't take that long but I honestly can't remember how long it took. I remember being pleasantly surprised that it was quicker than they said on the website. But you don't know - it could be there is a backlog or something. I did find Canada House pretty helpful - I emailed them a few times and they got back to me promptly so do email them.

The Overground from Peckham Rye or Denmark Hill is a very useful alternative too. Thameslink service from Peckham Rye up to Blackfriars/Farringdon/King's Cross doesn't seem as bad as the London Bridge services.

My brother on Canada is a teacher and he said that textbooks fell out of favour over a decade ago. Basically was thought teachers could get away with not teaching but just getting students to work through chapters in a textbook.

If you are looking for a good, all-round instrumental music education for your child, I think the new East Dulwich Academy for Performing Arts is pretty good - my son is going there and basically, you get 3 hours of music tuition a week for ?25 per 3 hour session. The 3 hours includes: 30 minutes on your primary instrument (in his case drums/percussion), 30 minutes music theory, 30 minutes keyboards and 45 minutes wind band. As mentioned above, you can also book individual music lessons. For more information http://www.eastdulwichacademy.org/ My partner is a professional musician and I do think that we completely undervalue musicians and the hard work they have put into all their years of study to get to where they are. It's fairly specialist knowledge and experience someone needs to be able to teach a child a musical instrument. Personally, I think it's not feasible for someone on a self-employed basis to charge less than ?30 an hour - particularly if they are having to travel and go to pupils houses. What is good is that if you can afford individual music lessons at home, you can access subsidised music lessons at schools - at Goose Green students can have individual music lessons in a range of instruments including piano, drum kit, flute, clarinet, brass instruments for ?6/$7 a lesson. If your child's school doesn't offer this, I would put pressure on them to do so.

We love il giardino in Peckham - not fancy and very kitch but we like it!

Hello - I can recommend PippaD, who posts on the forum. She's a local childminder with loads of experience - really great with kids and a lovely person as well!

Defo have to recommend a balance bike - my son had one and when he went to a big bike, he totally bypassed stabilisers! The bike shop guy was quite impressed..... Basically, when they use a balance bike they totally get that you need to push off first, balance and then start peddelling. Really great! You should be able to get a second hand one easily - we passed ours to a friend with a younger child.

I try to take the overground at Peckham Rye whenever I can now to avoid London Bridge if I need to get into town for work during rush hour - although those trains can get very crowed too. I also have to do some work at Tadworth in Surrey at the moment (I'm self-employed) and I'm finding the journey out there and back incredible for the number of delays, cancelled trains, etc.

Fingers crossed we get a new secondary school for East Dulwich!

Hello! Check out the drama classes at The East Dulwich Academy for Music and Performing Arts - they are pretty good I've heard. (my son does the music programme which is fab!) Saturday mornings at Goose Green Primary School. http://www.eastdulwichacademy.org/drama/ ------------------------------------- Fancy singing? Join your local friendly & inclusive community choir! http://www.goosegreenchoir.com

Wildlife Garden centre - ?100 I think. Swimming party at the leisure centre - ?75 or ?100 which includes 1hr in the pool and then the cr?che for a party for 45mins.

The rain will be clearing up so come on down to Goose Green for lots of fun for the whole family!

Come along to Goose Green from 12 - 4pm for the Goose Green Summer Fair/Carnival! There will be lots of fun activities for kids including bouncy castle, Little Disco, and traditional fair games. On the stage you will be treated to the schools adult and children's Steel Pan Band, the school Brass Band, the Children's Choir and the Adult Community Choir. The Little Disco Company will entertain the crowds while set up on stage is happening! The entertainment will be rounded off by Dan Maitland, popular local singer/songwriter (and community choir director!) To get a taste of the entertainment on the stage, check out this blog article on the GG community choir website http://goosegreenchoir.com/2014/07/02/summer-fairs-and-moonlighting/ There will also be a range of stall-holders selling their wares and food stalls too. Raffle tickets will be sold up untill 3:30pm and prizes include: Nokia Lumia Phone, DAB Car Radio & Installation from In Car Audio Bellenden Road, ?55 Cycle Voucher from Paul's Cycles, A Pamper Hamper with products including Jo Earle and Rouiller White, ?25 Voucher from Willis B, ?25 from Kuki Hair and much more! See you there!

It's defo going to be a fantastic day! Here is a blog post on the GG community choir website with more info about some of the entertainment on the stage on Saturday! http://goosegreenchoir.com/2014/07/02/summer-fairs-and-moonlighting/

Well done Belle and all the members of the parent steering group. You have shown great leadership. A thoughtful and reflective response which also stays well clear of any divisive politics. Excellent points. Primary school places have expanded greately - a expamstion of form entry at Bessemer Grange, a new harris primary on Lordship Lane, a new primary on Bellenden Road as well. So within 20 minutes walk we quite a substantial increase in primary school places WITHOUT even mentioning the planned expansion of Ivydale. Or the Judith Kerr Free School. Surely it is common sense that a new secondary to accommodate all these primary school students is what is needed. I sincerely hope that someone at Harris sees sense and if they don't someone at the department of education does.

I agree with the thinking about supporting both bids. I think it is important to join forces and as a community state unequivocally that we need a secondary school on the site NOT another primary school. I personally would prefer Habs but would go with Charter if it ended up being the provider. I think that there is a danger of 'divide and rule' at this stage - and we risk losing the site and the opportunity.

Yes, while the two camps have squabbling, harris has smoothly moved in and sounds like has got support from the highest authority to use the site for yet another new primary school.

Well how depressing! Harris seem to have moved in and secured the site with no consultation what so ever - pouring cold water over all the work of local parents to get a new secondary school for the area. So we will have a zillion new primary schools and no new secondary school.

Never ever worked for me and I wish I hadn't worried about it because now the boy child (aged 9) is perfectly able to go to sleep on his own!

I think it is between ?25 - ?30 am hour.

Congrats to all the teachers and staff at Goose Green Primary School! To read more about the award and what it means go to this link: http://www.goosegreenprimaryschool.org/events/noe-computer-science-1 My son (year 4) is very excited about the new ICT discovery centre and about learning code in computer studies and wants to be a games designer now!

There are also classes for 4-7 year olds at the East Dulwich Academy for performing arts on Saturday morning running from 9-9:30 am. Instruments on offer include keyboards and ukelule. Find out more here: http://www.eastdulwichacademy.org/music/mini-maestros-2/