intexasatthe moment

I think one of the things that worries me most is the fragmentation of the education system so that there are winners and loosers . In Southwark we already have state funded secondary schools with widely differing admissions criteria being run by different bodies .I can't even vote ( as I could when Southwark controlled the secondary schools ) to change Southwark' political colour - I just have to sit back and watch Lord Harris ,Kingsdale ,Charter decide how they think my taxes should be spent in these state schools . Across the country all the most succesful schools can move out of local authority control leaving the authorities with diminshed budgets to look after the schools with the most difficulties. Our education system is already divisive enough as it is with private schools ,but this way we'll end up with 3 tiers - private schools ,privately run state schools /Academies and local government schools at the bottom of the pile . And you'd better hope that your children have no need of a special school - where will they fit into the above picture ?

Hi - Chemistry ok as far as I can judge ," yes ,I think I did well " . We'll know in August ... Biology today ,Physics tommorrow . At least the A level exams are less spread out . Wish I could anticipate end of exams with more cheerfulness - but it's going to be a long summer ,further extended by delayed start to Autumn term because of building works at his school . ( bit gloomy today ,sorry )

Tad harsh I feel ,lower years to consider . And then all those " intervention " classes they have to provide...

There won't be any local education authorities - or ones with only the weakest most troubling schools to manage - if the current political thinking about more schools becoming Academies carries on . Academies keep the funding that local authorities get for providing support and manage their own schools . So Lord Harris with his chain of schools replaces Southwark Education Authority . Primary schools will be next into the fold I guess.

Oh yes womanofdulwich - the void of study leave ,trying to keep the momentum up . By the time they get to year 13 it feels like it's one endless round of resits .early sits ,mocks ,study leave ... How the poor teachers get any time to actually teach the syllabus ,I don't know !

I know when I was in same situation 2 decades ago ,it was down to offering places to children with special needs

What to do ,what to do - the agony is killing me . Just wish my son was equally stressed - and yes ,before you say it - no doubt all my fault for stressing on his behalf. Picture the scene - driving son to school in Pimlico for A level Chemistry exam( because didn't get a place at any local schools a decade ago ,Charter just opening and parents of peers all lying to get a place and I was too high minded to do same ,silly me ) forgotten calculater - do we turn back ,go on ...? Will hopeless son miss start of exam wandering around looking for replacement ... All you people stressing about primary school places - think what this might mean in terms of secondary schools and don't get caught like me ! Anyone else in A level agony ?

Yes ,that's what I wanted to ask but was too wimpish...

Ok - well here's the opposite of a litterbug and I believe a very rare sighting . Was with brother yesterday visiting mother .Brother was gluing something and needed rubber bands to secure joint so we went outside to look for those red bands dropped by posties. Happened to see a postie ,asked him if he had any " Yeah ,I hate seeing them all over the place I always recycle mine ." Produced neatly wound bunch of obviously old bands .

Oh Barry ,you truly are a star !

If anyone wants to urge their MP to sign an Early Day Motion which condemns Israel?s attack on the aid convoy, supports the UN?s call for an independent enquiry, and demands an immediate end to the blockade of Gaza as well as a lasting settlement establishing an independent state of Palestine just visit http://www.psc.iparl.com/lobby/50 and put in your postcode - easy as that.

And there was me worrying about the amount of revision my son is ( not ) doing . Kind of puts things in perspective .

If he liked Coral Island - would he go for William Goldings Lord of the Flies ? Maybe the old Swallows and Amazons books ? More Steinbeck if he liked Mice and Men ,Grapes of Wrath ?

Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan Un Lun Dun by China Mieville Tom Becker Darkside series Measles and the Mallockee - Ian Ogilvy Darkside series - Tom Becker pm me if you'd like to come and browse my son's library - welcome to borrow ,but would want returned . He refuses to dispose of his books ,which is why we have a library .

Have you tried asking Southwark ? http://www.southwark.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents.php?categoryID=200074

I used this website http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/laptops_great_deals?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs

ryedelma - was it the link to Southwark site quoting distances for children allocated ? If so ,it's page 24 /25 http://www.southwark.gov.uk/downloads/download/1162/introduction_and_how_to_apply

As snowboarder has already said ,sorry .

This http://www.walkjogrun.net/ is good for measuring as crow flies.

This is a good site - as others have said I think - for measuring as the crow flies. http://www.walkjogrun.net/

My info dated ,but it always had ( maybe still does ) a fantastic reputation . Can you check on Ofsted ? It's a bit off the beaten track I think and some way from E Dulwich so that may be why less popular .

If anything can be concluded from this thread it seems that residents in certain East Dulwich areas ,like Ryedale ,Forest Hill Rd are unlikely to get a reception place at Goodrich or Fairlawn . I don't think that this is the system screwing anybody ,it's a question of demographics. East Dulwich is popular area for people with young families ,partly because like attracts like . If primary schools like Rye Oak ,Bessemer Grange ,still have some capacity it seems unlikely that Southwark will support a campaign for another school in this area . But it might be worth a try - local parents were behind the the school ( now Charter ) that replaced the failing William Penn. Other than that ,let people be aware that there are some areas where despite living close to a school ,it's not going to be a certainity about getting a place .At least forewarned is forearmed . And I'm not unsympathetic - I know from personal experience how hard it is . A decade ago we too couldn't get a place at Goodrich ,despite living only 450 m.( as the crow flies ) away. And the secondary school transfer was the same ,which is why I have a teenager travelling an hour each way to school...

kellie - have you any more details about your bike shed ? How much ,where you bought it ?

James would you know whether Southwark's overall change to Labour is likely to change planning regs currently in draft form? Thinking of Dulwich Supplementary Planning doc ,due to be adopted Nov 2011 ?

Thanks for pointers Ruffers ,I've some improvement from accessing control panel ,personalisation,windows colour and appearance . Don't want to tinker more . No one will own up to random clicking ...