kristymac1

newboots Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I don't think it is ridiculous. I think some > councils are trying to tackle the problem of > families moving temporarily to the catchment of a > popular school to secure a place for the oldest > sibling and then moving a couple of miles away But 800m is quite bit shorter than couple of miles 800m vs 3000m...

I think 800m is way too short, the reasonable walking distance which is applied for primary schools is 2miles isn't it? We moved house when my son was born, further away from the school but we still walk/scoot/cycle to school. If the 800m was applied in Southwark my son wouldn't get in to the school on a sibling place or by distance (even though we are still clearly in walking distance). Think the 800m seems very arbitrary and ill-conceived - ironically we would be unlikely to be offered a place at a school within 800m.....

They do both indoor and outdoor PE once a week at heber, navy shorts and plain white t-shirt for indoor, jogging/yoga pants for outdoor, if it's really cold they tend to wear their cardies /jumpers outside too . most kids wear black plimsoles rather than trainers.

Went to bockett farm in Surrey today with 7.5yr old and 2yr old (bday today!) and it was brilliant, one of the best family days out we've had - great activities for all ages - including the awesome pig race:-). It's an hour a away but Def worth it - we'll be back there this hols x

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The food certainly isn't going to attract > anyone. The food isnt great I agree but at last its honestly priced - there are enough 'gastropubs'in the area selling poor quality food and charging a mint for it!

Hi Kate, my take on it was: > - What seems to be their preference for the > criteria for entry, will it be distance, > 'ability'-bands, affiliation with local primaries, > or some combination of these? Distance & banding - no affiliation to local primary schools. Distance not necessarily measured from the school site - nodal points was mentioned (when questioned) > > - It will be a mixed school but will there be > single-sex classes up to Year 9 as I believe they > have in one of their other schools. Single sex up to Yr 9, mixed recreational activities > > - Does it sound like there be ways for children > living miles away to go this school (via music > 'scholarships' or whatever?) No intention to have a scholarship entry for specific specialism > > - Apart from music, will they want to be known for > any other specialisms? The specifically said they weren't intending to have any specialism > > - How big do they anticipate the outdoor > playground/sports area will be (they presumably > have a rough idea of the building footprint)? Do > they expect all sport to be done on-site, or do > they plan to share facilities elsewhere as Harris > Boys Academy does. They didn't touch on this at all. > - Do they have anything to say about the rival > Charter bid? Why go with Haberdashers instead of > Charter? No mention other than there was another bid by Charter. Kristy x

Got my leaflet delivered yesterday, we're on Dovedale Road. Thanks, will definitely be attending

Hi, are you leafleting the 'black hole' areas? If hb are going to take on board the views of parents with regard to admissions you really need to be leafleting houses in those areas around Peckham Rye too (speaking with complete self-interest) Thanks Kristy

Oh No! She was a real sweetheart :-((

Shoe-horning a primary school permanently onto the Harris Girls site would be of total detriment to the facilities available to the pupils at Harris Girls. I am a supporter of the proposed co-ed secondary school (with certain caveats) but I think there is a danger that those leading the campaign for the co-ed secondary are not considering the impact on the other secondary schools in the area. Campaigning against putting a primary school on the hospital site in addition to the secondary school is fine but not if their answer is to simply shove the primary onto the site of another secondary school which quite clearly does not have the space. Why are the space needs of the proposed new secondary school considered to be more important than those of existing schools?

The issue as far as I can tell is that the hospital site is 'preferred' simply because it is the only sizeable site in the wider area suitable. The need for a co-ed secondary school isn't in that immediate area (being so close to Charter). No-one yet has mentioned the possibility of measuring distance/banding from a specific nodal point - the nodal point being measured from the point by where there is greatest need/black hole. Unless that is figured into the application criteria, I will be withdrawing my support for a secondary school on a site for which the immediate proximity is already catered for.

?1 the norm here, although the Tooth Fairy pushed the boat out last time with a shiny ?2 coin - on account of the tooth being knocked out (by Toddler brother's head) rather than falling out.....

Lovely thing to do, we I'll be happy to donate, will pm you x

Hi HOMum, There's 5 1/2 years between my two and it definitely wasn't planned that way. I can remember a similar thread on here about 'choosing' the perfect age gap - it was a very difficult read and I commented at the time how lucky folk were to be able to choose :-(. I wish you well and hope you find contentment in your family whatever its' size xx HOMum Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I wouldn't mind the luxury of baby no 2, but it > seems my body has other ideas and my first child > is 4 in the Summer. I guess whatever is meant to > be is meant to be. While I don't think this > thread means any harm and I appreciate it is a > light hearted chat over an open forum it makes a > hard read for people dreaming for just their first > or second baby to come along.

depending on where you live close to the permanent site, getting to Holmstall road on foot isn't too onerous. We walk (or scoot/cycle) from Dovedale Road to Heber Road for school and its only a 15-20minute journey on foot. Not great when weather is very wet in which case we use the car, otherwise I really enjoy our walk to school (its surprising what you find out from your wee ones amongst idle chit chat....)

Cala san vicente (?) pretty much ticks your boxes, lovely cove beach, quiet, no mega hotels....

Ours stays up all year round and doesn't seem to have come to any harm. We bought a cover for it (like a big top tent top) but have never bothered to use it.....

Well done to the Steering Group for bringing this issue so far - we are now so much closer to getting a secondary school people want. I posted very early in this thread asking for the Steering Group's ToRs and info on their constitution, not least so they could justify their decisions. There are always going to be objectors, particularly the 'losers' in what seems to have been a 2-horse race, that's life I'm afraid. However, I'm pretty disturbed by the personal attacks on James Barber and members of the Steering Group. We all make choices for our children based on personal circumstances and we have no idea, nor the right to know what those circumstances are. As it currently lies, we have potentially 2 established education providers vying to open a new secondary in ED - Brilliant! But who-ever eventually provides the new school wouldn't have done so without the hard work and commitment of the Steering Group and James Barber - thank you to them all.

Here at the momrnt - kids having a great time, an excellent lical resource fir kids!

There's an excellent age appropriate book called 'goodbye tonsils', i used this with my daughter aged 5 and it was great - have tried to find it to lend you but cant find it at all:-\, you should be able to get it from amazon on express delivery. Good luck!

Thank you Simone. I have the upmost respect for the efforts that the Steering group are going to, I am aware of the undertaking involved so sincerely, thank you. Provision of Education for our children is an extremely emotive subject and it's impossible for it not to get heated on occasion - however transparency and dialogue go a long way to dampen the flames......

James Barber Wrote: > Hi kirstmac1, > On the basis of how we're running this campaign we > have over 400 families opting in so far. I expect > lots more over the next few months. If you have an > alternative proposition from a new secondary > school then I look forward to hearing it. I am one of the families who is supporting the campaign and I'm not aware of how the Steering Group made the decision to narrow down the choice to 2 providers. I object to your stance that if I can't offer an alternative then I just have to go along with what a (small) minority have decided - that is so arrogant. > The free school process is about applying to set > up a school that they wish to provide. It isn't a > procurement process and it isn't a referendum. > The Steering Group are a group of local parenting > volunteering from all the supporters we've > received. We're hopeful that the purpose of the > Steering Group will come to an end when an agreed > provider is made and we pass the project to that > provider to run and deliver. But the Steering Group must have some process in place for deciding who that provider will be - its not unreasonable to ask that question is it? > Yes, if the Steering Group was a long term > proposition then all the things you say would make > sense. But they come with an overhead that we > don't need for the time we're expected to be in > place. General public consultation is included in > the free school application process. Won't that public consultation be run by the chosen provider though? Seems to me there are enough people with strong feelings towards different providers I would like to know how the Steering Group narrowed the 'choice' down to 2 (again!) > For those families who don't agree with the new > school. They would not be expected to apply for > places. They get to vote with their feet. Well that's alright then. Unbelievable arrogance.

bawdy-nan Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I reckon 40 people with children interested in > setting up a new school is good enough for me. I > actually don't see any need for a proper > constitution, terms and rules and regulations in > this instance. The aim is to set up a new school > and as far as I can see this is happening swiftly > and efficiently and with, as far as I can gather, > very little internal opposition as to the > direction of travel. Some people on this forum > don't want one and that's fine but enough do. > But my understanding is that the Steering Group is now 'closed' to any new members - it wouldn't be too difficult to ensure that there is a reasonably representative demographic on that group - where did most of the Steering Group first hear about the campaign I wonder? On here, the EDF? Not everyone with a vested interest in their child's school provision reads the Forum. I understand that the Steering Group have contacted parents through the schools (book bags, P&F mailings etc) but this was done AFTER the decision was made on which providers to approach. BTW, I want this to happen, I want there to be good co-ed choice in the area, but I would like it to progress on the basis of transparency and inclusivity (with an firm eye on pragmatism too)

I think it would be very useful if there was more information and transparency on the actual set up of the Steering Group. This group is potentially making an enormous decision (presumably) on behalf of parents and children in the local area. I would like to see clear terms of reference for the Steering group and how it was and will be constituted going forward. I'm unconvinced by the 'canvassing of parents concluded that Harris' would not be approached' - that decision seems to have been taken very early on in the discussions and whilst I have no particular vested interest in any provider it seems very wrong for only two providers to have been approached without any genuine discussions with the community. 'Too many Harris'' is also not a valid argument, and the idea that the chosen provider will creat 'more choice' in the area is just plain backwards if the pool of providers to choose from is narrowed down to two and before proper consultation, thus removing any real 'choice' at all. Without Terms of reference and constitutional rules & regulations, the Steering group, I'm afraid, is not representative of the parents and children in the local area. James, you work with Committees, do you not see the importance of this?

The appt system is chabging again at dmc, notice in window appears to suggest that you wont be given an appt until a doc calls you back to establish whether its necessary or not - seems like a pretty dire system to me. i cannot understand how a surgery can get its admin so wrong. i have been with dmc for 13yrs and its saving grace is one or two exceptional doctors but everytime i encounter the appt system i am tempted to leave...