intexasatthe moment

The link to the report is still on page 2 of this thread . It's https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B9GB1PQuo9iAODYyYzZiMWEtYzEzYS00Y2U3LWE4M2MtNTJiMzhiNjc5YzZl for easy access .

It seems shocking that a school can choose to administer it's admission policy in the way that Charter did ,and for it to go on doing so for 10 years despite people winning appeals which challenged this point . I'm even more shocked by the way in which Southwark seems to have seen Charter's manipulation of it's admission policy as being beyond their remit ( concern even )and by Renatas's comment " Our view is that this aspect of the policy is a matter for the academy to determine as it is its own admission authority." So so long as the policy appears to be fair on paper the school can choose to make it unfair in practice ? I see that Southwark has an Admissions Forum - on Southwark's site it says the following about the forum The forum has a key role in ensuring the admissions system is fair, that it promotes social equity and does not disadvantage children. It also ensures that the admissions system is straightforward and easy for parents and carers to understand. Forums also monitor the local authority to ensure that we are complying with the schools admissions code. Clearly it hasn't managed to achieve the above and I wonder if it even still exists ,the last posted minutes were for a meeting in Feb 2011 . So it would seem that it will be up to parents to monitor and take action if they have concerns about admission policies and they way they are administered . Those involved in the Charter campaign may find their advice and experience in demand .

me too - would be good to narrow down the area though . edited to say - horrible thing for you to go through ,hope you're doing ok .

I'm still stunned at the retrospective removal of informed choice from secondary school admissions for this year. curmudgeon I agree with you . It's worth noting for those who didn't think they,d get in because the Charter hadn't in the past recognised this route from the Dog Kennel Hill side that the ajudicator recommends that late applications could/should be accepted . ( or that's my understanding ) . I honestly do agree with you but ,out of interest are there really that many " choices " ( ha ha ) for those who feel they now have less chance of being sucessful and have "wasted " an application that they would have applied elsewhere ? I'm just wondering where else they'd have tried ...somewhere out of borough ,Deptford Green ?

They could just be house flies coming out of hibernation because you've increased your heating due to cold snap . No need for talk of corpses ...please .

I'd like to know more about the role of Southwark in overseeing secondary school admissions . With all Southwark secondaries being their own admission authorities Southwark might take the easy route and back out all together ,effectively leaving it up to parents to monitor and persue good and fair ( honest even ) practice . Southwark's comment in the adjudicator's report that their experience was in straight line admission policies in primary school and that they couldn't comment on the technicalties of Charter's administration of their policy certainly sounds like they're distancing themselves . And there is now no longer any statutory requirement for LA's to have admission forums so Southwark are free to bow out all together .

And the letter from Southwark supporting the Charter's discredited method of working out shortest walking distance ?

James " it does seem strange that a letter of support from the administration was issued when the evidence was so clearly indicating Southwark Council shouldn't be supporting the status" the report only quotes from comments made by Southwark ,there is no mention of a letter supporting the status. Have I missed it or is it a letter you've seen elsewhere ? Can someone explain how radial distance works - sorry to be dense ! Guess we'd btter hope it's not "radial" as presumably this will be outside Southwark's experience and they'll be at a loss to know whether Charter are administrating the system fairly or not .

Reading the report I am shocked by the degree of autonomy that the school assumed . But this is the situation we have now - all secondary schools in Southwark are their own admissions authorities and this case clearly demonstrates what a strong position they are in to evade the regulations in place to ensure that they conform to the code of practice . ( don't even get me started on the yawning gap between the requirement to be clear and easily understood and Kingsdale's complex arrangement re scholarships ,lotteries ,banding and how they organise the waiting lists ) James seems to be stressing that Southwark have supported the Charter in the dubious administration of it's oversubscrition policy . As far as I can see from the report Southwark commented that they didn't administer any secondary school admissions but that for primary schools they used the "straight line " approach and that they didn't think Charter were in breach of the code . Presumably as the time when Southwark did control admissions to secondary schools receeds ever further into the past they will have even more reason to state as they did in this case that they " are not in a good position to comment on the technical aspects of the case ". I'm not really clear what Southwark should have done ,presumably there were actions open to them . But it's not just the current administration that haven't taken them - this refusal on the Charter's part to recognise a footpath has been going on for 11 years since the school opened . I have a friend who had to go to appeal in 2001 on exactly this issue and she was succesful . Southwark presumably should have taken action before . And I agree with other posters - this corrects the administration for this years intake but has indeed altered the circumstances for applicants to secondary schools this year after they've made their applications .

fox1 - well done on appealing ,it's a long and horrible process I know ,so good on you for perservering . Am glad ( and slightly amazed as IME having "right " on one's side doesn't always mean that one is succesful ) that the school have been told to abide by it's own over subscription rules . Wonder if they'll be as scrupulous at checking out applicants' supposed addresses ?

Huggers - yes that'll be the one ,I read only half of it and want the rest of it ( even thinking of buying hard copy ) for reference . Do you have a link ?

Mmm yes ,tricky . ( sorry tricky not correct/adequate adjective if you're a parent or child affected ) And presumably there may be children currently at other schools who were unsuccesful in gaining entry at yr 7 who would have got in if the school had been recognising shortest/safest walking distance . if they're on the waiting list will this decision give them priority ...

Do you know what will happen to the building now Louise ? And by the way ages ago there was a thread on the EDF which had a link to a lengthy document ,available on line and in hard copy ,with loads of history about the buildings in Rye Lane . I think it was by English Heritage or something like that ? You wouldn't happen to remember it or be able to post the link ?

Have sent you an email James requesting copy . Thank you for the info - correct decision IMO .

James - any views on the suggestion re marking out parking spaces ? I must say as someone who regularly cycles down Melbourne that such a proposal ,if adopted , would appear to free up a few more car parking spaces .

But was found guilty of using threatening words/behaviour and fined so presumably didn't use that line ,or not believed .

Didn't the motorist reply " yes ,yeah I did " in answer to the cyclists question " did you just threaten to kill me ? "

Jasmina - Loz posted the link about 8.30 last night ,it's on the previous page of this thread . But if you still can't find it ,here it is again http://moderngov.southwarksites.com/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=25008&ISATT=1&bcsi_scan_6BDE16B5925DEBDF=bsVQNVUpm9OZIYogZOdgZGjO/SsKAAAA/elzIg==&bcsi_scan_filename=mgConvert2PDF.aspx

Colin - http://www.doglost.co.uk/

Yes I agree, less traffic around at that time of night, wear something bright, plenty of lights. Should be OK I agree - much safer than hanging around deserted bus stops and train stations at that time of night .

Can't find link to Enviromental Health Southwark - can someone else ?

Phoned and reported ,second report today apparently .not reported before today . Thames Water say they'll be visiting . But apparently up to householder to pay if it's their supply pipe ( is in the front garden so guess it could be )

Mmm I've noticed and wondered about this as well . The leak is coming from the forecourt/garden of the house and I wondered if they'd reported it . I'll check the house number and see if it can be reported on line .

You're right Dorothy ,and those people should remember that they're not just doing the best for their child - they're elbowing some other child out . Moi ? Bitter ?

Agree with Dorothy re catchment for Charter . Perhaps their families moved after getting a place ?