James Barber

Lord Nash is in charge of new free schools. So they're the decision maker not Nicky morgan MP. The New Schools Network is here: http://www.newschoolsnetwork.org/set-up-a-school/free-schools-101 LondonMix Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > James, none of the questions have been answered-- > the steering committe simply have stated they have > the same questions as me. > > As someone who has been through the process > several times with other schools, I believe you > should know how the EFA makes its determiniation, > what points are officially considered and what > powers Lord Nash and Nicky Morgan have to > intervene. > > I hope these should be fairly simple and > straightforward to answer.

Hi LondonMix, If you still feel any questions unanswered please let me know and I'll endeavour to answer at the weekend. Hi hopsaucey, When I took two parents from the steering group to meet the council leader, at the start of March, to try and gain the council's support for our new secondary school, Cllr Peter John was clear he thought we could have health facilities, a new secodnary school and housing. He suggested our new school could go up needing less land. This really stuck in my mind. It has caused many other conversations with archtiects, sterring groups, etc. this new free school project has been my main councillor focus for a year now. Peter doesnt recall this element of the meeting but then he has the whole council to focus on. If Peter was correct then a few hundred extra homes would mean the primary and secondary place forecasts let alone all the other services would be under egging things. I hope which ever applciation wins gets to use 2/3rds of the site - ie. all the sapce after the new health facilities.

Hi LondonMix, The EFA came within a whisker of not buying the former East Dulwich Police station for the Harris East Dulwich free primary school. It cost ?6M because it was valued, despite previous use being community use D1, for residetnial properties. This gives us a marker that the 18,000m2 of land on the hopsital site for residential use would cost circa ?40-50M vs. the current book value of ?12M. I doubt the EFA would spend ?40-50M just for thel and. I suspect NHS Property would offer a proportion of the site at D1 use but try and keep as much as possible for residential use. We'll hear calls of Sardine Academy again when the land for more space is available but planning policy has encouraged it not to be used for the best possible sized school. So I hope the Charter East Dulwich joins us in lobbying the council to radically amend Southwark Councils Dulwich Hospital planning guidance.

Hi katgod, I posed the issue and pointed out it applied equally to both bids. Southwark Council in 2005 issued planning policies for the hopsital site - https://www.southwark.gov.uk/downloads/download/2255/draft_dulwich_spd-related_planning_documents It allows housing on ths site. NHS property have been soft marketing the site where they ask property developers to state what they would do with the site and how much it would be worth to them. None of these will be suggesting that the 2/3rds not need for new replacement health facilities be used only for a new secondary school. So NHS Property will have the maximum value of the site for residential property. They'll then insist the EFA pay that value to the land rather than based on its current community use. The EFA will not be able to afford this inflated value. The whole site hasa book value of ?18M. so the portion either campaign needs has a book value of ?12M. But clearly NHS Property are looking to sell for much more than this. So without the formal planning execptations of Sotuhwark changing very quickly both campaigns will be priced out of obtaining 2/3rds fo the site.

Hi TE44, Habs books are fully in order otherwise the EFA wouldnt have approved two subsequent free schools, their auditor would qualify their accounts. You've asked a question many of us have been pondering - why is it taking so long for the any suspects to be charged? Clearly not a question for Habs or the Easst Dulwich New Secondary School Campaign. You need to direct that question to Lewisham Police. I don't think they read the East Dulwich Forum so are unlikely to respond here. Hi samstopit, Lord Nash is the minster responsible for new free schools. WE will ask Tessa to write to him

Hi TE44, I also hope the court case happens soon so everyone will have the facts. It is an immensely grustrating situation. I beleive thE Habs children have still had a fabulolus education despite this alleged fraud. Recovering any monies will give Habs a large lump sum to invest in their schools for the benefit of current and future pupils. I hope some of it will go to our new secondary school. We share a potentially major problem with the Charter campaign in that NHS Property are 'soft marketting' the site to massive housing developers. Unless Southwark Council amends the Dulwich Hospital SPD NHS property will then try and sell two-thirds of the land at high residential land values rather than current book value of a community use. This high price will preclude the EFA buying all the land not required for a health facility. We need to convince Southwark Council to rapidly change this SPD - I suggested this to council leader in February when he first gave the councils blessing to the campaign. He said he didnt think this necessary. We need to change his mind.

Hi TE44, Short of you doing everything everyone does at Hab and the EFA I doubt you'll ever be totally satisfied. The EFA are not perfect, not am I and nor are you. Both Habs and the EFA have auditors. Both produce audit reports. Both have learnt lots from what happened. That's also why Habs are suing their previous auditor. Life is about who to trust and when. Habs have existed for an awfully long time educating a huge number of children. So yes if I'm guilty of anything it is trusting that after 420+ years of providing education they know what they're doing. I trust Habs more for having experienced this alleged fraud and learning from it. What we measured against were those newer systems and processes that have been in place for over two years and were the method the alleged fraud was discovered by.

Hi Otta, Many thanks. Hi Bornagain, Since the financial problems were discovered, through implementing new federation wide processes and systems, the Haberdashers' Aske's Federation having told the EFA immediately, they have had two further free school applications approved by the EFA/DfE. This tells me that the EFA and DfE are totally happy with the financial systems and processes put in place and that the rigour applied meant that alleged wrong doing was found. On this basis I have no fear that our application will be damaged by this historic problem. Much as I would not expect the Charter bid to be damaged by its historic admissions problem culminating after many years in a finding against them in 2012. Both school providers are great. We chose, as detailed in documents we've made as transparent and public as possible, for Habs.

Hi Vik, No. 63% joined our campaign after Habs was announced as our preferred school provider and I/we've made it clear to supporters they could withdraw their support if they didn't expect to put Habs first on the secondary school application form. Two have withdrawn their support since I started the campaign. One early on, one after Habs announced. I hope you're wrong and we don't have duplicates between our list of supporters and the Charter list. The EFA would be expected to compare lists to de duplicate them as a supporter on both lists is contrary to the criteria of support EFA requires. On the criteria of community support. Our campaign has been crystal clear and transparent about our levels of support and published them on this thread and in emails to supporters throughout the campaign. The Charter campaign has not. Not sure of why the secrecy but they clearly have their reasons. Not sure why being proud of our transparency is unfair. This transparency has been present throughout the campaign I started. But I would expect the level of support to have an impact on an applicantions likely success but clearly it's only part of the application process the EFA will consider.

Hi bornagain, How do we respect the Police requirement to not talk about the case for fear of prejudicing it and any suspect getting away with crimes while fulfilling your request for complete transparency? I don't think we can square this circle. We have to wait until such time that thE Police close this case - hopefully with people being convicted. As for community support. Clearly the Haberdashers' bid is ahead of The Charter School bid. The former has 678 unique families supporting it with another 32 being checked through. We have no knowledge of the TCS bid community support because their level of support is being kept secret.

Just received an email from council officers telling me of a 7" burst water main on Lordship Lane neasr Bew Court. It must be really bad for such email. Two-way traffic lights in place. It will take 3-4 days to fix. Both pavements damaged with western one closed (but due to reopen tomorrow once repaired). 123 homes without water 60 of those in Bew Court but water expected back on imminently.

Hi cle, I beg to differ. Greenwich Council funded a ?50,000 report into rail options for Woolwich and possible extending the DLR. It directly led to the DLR being extended to Woolwich and ?180M spend. WRT to Bakerloo extension Lewisham have talked about it a number of times and had TfL present. So those TfL officials are clear Lewisham wants it. It must help increase the chance of some form of Bakerloo gonig into Lewisham. Hi picmic, Yes Camnerwell has a high PTAL - which is calculated by number and frequency of each publci transport option. But it doesnt factor how effective timewise each public transport option is to get somewhere or the variability of time it takes.

Hi TE44, Habs have been directed by the Police to say as little as possible until after criminal court proceedings. So I don't believe they've made a public statement after the civil case. I'd be horrified if they ignored a request from the Police - wouldn't you? We can go around and around this again and again but your criticism seems to be why aren't Habs talking more when they would be irresponsible to do so ignoring Police direction. Please, lets leave the police to do their job.

Dulwich to most people nowadays means Dulwich Village. If Habs call our new school Haberdasher's Dulwich School or Haberdashers' Dulwich College it could get confused with other schools.

Planning permission was given last night for the temporary site for this new local school to be on the Harris Girls East Dulwich Academy site, Homestall Road. Tortuous process where the planning application was made 26 May and should have been approved well before 16 July - councillors even gave the applicant a hard time about being late when they did everyhing on time by the book Amazing how hate can blind people.

I'm please that Cllr Rosie Shimell and I called-in this planning decision. It resulted in more scurtiny and tougher conditions beign set than if officers had granted permission under delegated powers. The committee did not vote unanimously and some 2 of the 7 councillors clearly thought it could be refused. Saldy they werent in the majority. So we will get a store there IF the developer can work out who owns the access - one objector was clear they owned half the access and would be closing it. Equally local residents can still exert pressure for more reasonable delivery times and access. After the way M&S have treated them I suspect they wont have the same good will thaT Iceland have required to deliver to their store.

Hi TE44, Because the Police need to finish their investigation. This feels a bit silly now. You've heard the Police told the Habs federation not to talk about this until after any criminal court case. But you keep questioning why Habs didnt talk about it. The problem isnt Habs not talking about it but rather the Police taking over two years. You've asked why EFA didnt push for criminal charges over trying to recover cash. Recovering cash is harder the longer you leave it. The EFA wouldnt be involved in prosecuting criminal charges (perhaps witnesses). That's for the Police and CPS. Hi Fuschia, I'm amazed you've written your post when the Police are still investigating what the press have reported as a complex multi country, multi year fraud. Or have you been briefed by the Police? Hi mrs.lotte, Ditto for me - Haberdashers' East Dulwich. Hi Grotty, As an East Dulwich councillor I have to promote East Dulwich rather than amorphous Dulwich. Agree that college isnt ideal as for me it doesnt sound very comprehensive secondary school like.

Very good. Me and my rubbish typing.

Thanks Vik. I think we're all agreed we hope one of the bids wins through. Hi njc97, It's the lack of snappy names that I'm interested in solving. Ideas? Do you like Haberdashers' East Dulwich?

I've had a PM suggesting Haberdashers' East Dulwich Secondary School which people would shorten to Haberdashers' East Dulwich. Thoughts and views?

I'm keen to keep East Dulwich in the name as that's where it will be. Do others prefer Haberdashers' East Dulwich College?

Children can have free bus trips from TfL but not use the toilets! Sensible clearly long overdue change required.

Would we need an apostrophe with that?

Hi Otta, Yes, this point has been made but it is certainly more manageable name than Haberdashers' Aske's East Dulwich College/Acamedy School. But I'm open to suggestions... Hospital school was cosndiered but have real schools in local hospitals for sick children so I don't like that despite it picking up on using the hospital site.

Hi TE44, Habs are damned if they do and damned if they don't. If they keep things quiet as directed by the Police others say why did you keep it quiet. If they'd publicised it and risked scuppering a court case we'd all damn them for being irresponsible. But I can assure you the risk of fraud is a huge concern for all responsible public sector organisations and their leadership. I sit on Southwark Council Audit & Governance committee - since it was first started in 2007 - we've seen huge strides in detecting fraud - http://jamesbarber.mycouncillor.org.uk/2014/07/20/southwark-council-fraud/ One of my key actions has been to push to invite directors of departments to attend committee meetings if they didnt ensure audit actions were completed in a timely. This appears to have helped give this the focus required with audits actions now being regularly completed on time. The EFA highligting risks is perfectly normal activity that responsible councils will also be doing to their schools. It's just the EFA does it more publicly. My understanding is that the Habs Federation have been trying to recover its money. Fingers crossed they succeed and that sufficient assets such as houses make this possible. The Durham School story you've linked to the school management appears to have been the culprits and hence why EFA pursuing them. Totally different context. Ironic that whichever provider open our new secondary school will be strongly encouraged by the EFA to adopt Habs Federation financial management practices - which after being beefed up are considered best practice..