intexasatthe moment

What a gorgeous boy ! What an awful time you had ...heartfelt sympathies. Be warned that if you have to go back to hospital environs ,some small unexpected reminder can bring it all back. I was completely undone by smell of hospital handcleaner which left me a quivering heap. Look after yourself .

Kate - not a stepmother ,but sending my heartfelt sympathies. I do think teenage girls can be very,very tricky . Not to diminish complexities of step mother situation ,but feel sure awfulness would be in place whatever your status.

Bumpkin I completely agree . I read Pugwash's post with horror and thought sh*t ,my school age kids aren't doing that ! Still,perhaps their lives won't be ruined like mine was by excessive school work. Loads of A's ,good degree ,and absolutely no social skills ,no confidence and a life long belief that to get by in life and work you have to put in every ounce of effort you possess.

Still holding a good thought for you HeidiHi .

Oh you Charter parents are all so lucky... We couldn't get a place when it first opened ,middle of Barry Rd too far away.

Mscrawthew - yes my son has also had to say goodbye to a fabulous Science teacher . You're so right ,Pimlico used to allow children to be individuals ,now if you're bold enough to criticise the regime you're in for trouble. I know of a pupil who runs an alternative school newsletter/paper - guess what? She's threatend with exclusion and told on a weekly basis by the head that if she doesn't like the school she should leave.

My son's school ( Pimlico ) has become an Academy . Stakeholders ( including parents/carers ) were consulted about the decision and 94% voted against the school becoming an Academy. I think the " consultation " gave many of us our first taste of the spin that surrounds Academies. Some Academies show improved exam results ,some don't. The Academy at Peckham has improved exam results but GCSE results are still below the Government's minimum magic 30% achieving 5 A - C grades. Ofsted has 3 grades - outstanding,good and satisfactory ( the latter is defined by Ofsted as "not good enough ",which may give you an introduction into the workings of Ofsted )so for the Peckham Academy to get "good"is not quite the same thing as a "top report ". Many Academies ( and Kingsdale in the past ,don't know about now ) enter pupils for GNVQ's where one GNVQ pass is equal to ( but not recognised by most F and HE institutions as the equivalent of ) 4 GCSE's at A-C. I have been told by a teacher at my son's school that the English GCSE taken this year included an online test that could be taken as many times as necessary . I have also been told that weak students are removed from the classroom for one to one help that involves concentrating on bringing course work ( which is meant to be completed independently ) up to standard. So on the " improvement of results " front I have misgivings . I have other misgivings about Academies in general in that they privatise state education and remove it from the state sector. The sponsor can determine pay and conditions for staff ( existing teachers enjoy protection for 2 years ) creating a 2 tier employment structure for staff and teachers and fragmenting the existing education structure. They enjoy huge freedoms and are exempt from much of the legislation that applies to state schools - eg the legislation surrounding SEN ,the legislation around parent/carers right of appeal regarding exclusion. The government gives the impression that academies are subject to to the same rules of accountability as the maintained sector .The reality is that these rules vary from academy to academy and are negoitated by the sponsor. The sponsor determines the school's Governing Body - at my son's school we now have a governing body entirely dominated by sponsor representatives ,with one elected parent governor and no staff or teacher representation at all. My personal experience of involvement of parents in the life of the school is that it's all a facade. A campaign by the school ( to call it half hearted would give it undeserved praise ) to attract parent reps has resulted in a handful of parents attending termly meetings where the agenda and discussion is entirely controlled by the school . Consultations have involved 3 selfselected parents attending meetings during the school day . It all looks good in the school Newsletter and on paper - but the spin doesn't match the reality. All Academies benefit from increased state funding ( the sponsor's contribution is often minimal - the interest from a ?2 million trust fund ,on which the sponsor claims tax relief ,and can be a non financial contribution of "DNA " .) Quite why there can't be a level playing field with all state schools benefitting from extra funding is a mystery to me. Why do schools have to be infused with business ideals ?,why does art work by students have to carry the sponsor's logo ?sixth formers made to adopt a dress code on the grounds that it improves learning and prepares them for employment and university ?Should GCSE students be bribed to attend crammer classes by the promise of laptops ? Should so much of the way a school is run be uninformed by parent's views or wishes?

what a brilliant idea ! Fingers crossed for you that it helps.

All this talk of doing one's best/not resting on your laurels/trying your hardest. For me this translated into being a perfectionist and ,though others may succeed in balancing this trait ,I never have and it's definitely blighted my life. Girls can become very competitive in high achieving schools. I have two nieces from the same family - one went to a state comprehensive and the other to a selective private school. Guess which one became anorexic ? I understand what you're saying about not wanting your daughter to learn that she can coast/rest on her laurels so hope you don't mind this word of caution ,always being challenged ,not resting on your laurels can be a double edged sword. Suppose it depends on your personality some become neurotic, others might thrive on being stretched - your daughter might thrive and become the next Prime Minister !

Yes - voted. Though possibly because I'm half asleep ,took me a while to find correct advert.

Thanks for that Michael. Was just about to dash off a cheque - you wouldn't know who to make payable to would you ? ( save me phoning up ) South London Press ? Must say I was depressed /shocked to read article in Guardian today - one of the residents has only just managed to borrow a clean pair of trousers . And with other threads informing that donations are needed of toiletries,nappies etc - I wonder how much help has been offered by Southwark ?

Didn't the PTA resign en masse earlier this year ?

Try this http://www.southwark.gov.uk/YourServices/childrenandfamilies/Nurseries/ for answers to your questions.

Well said Louisiana.

I was a bit shocked to read this The highest spending ( in London )was Southwark, which paid ?4.776 million for publicity last year, which was actually a 5.5 per cent drop on 2006/07. in the Evening Standard last year.

Ways to help http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?9,304307 this is more like the debate I was hoping for..

Umm ,last few posts all seem a bit off topic. Just reading in paper that people not being allowed back into their homes in Lakanal House. How awful for them ,fire bad enough and now they're going to have to cope with not being allowed back . Or will the police let them return to collect stuff ? I guess Southwark must have a team dealing with this emergency,wonder how they're coping ,providing practical support etc?

I'm with Andy - take the cone.

Sounds terrific - thanks.

Just done a search on "what's on " for info on Sculpture Show ,but no luck. Any details ,anyone?

Beats me how it's possible to give a figure for number of cases . Latest advice is that GPs will be able to diagnose swine flu on the basis of symptoms rather than waiting for laboratory testing and If you think you have swine flu, stay at home and either check your symptoms using the NHS flu symptom checker, or call 0800 1 513 513. If you still think you have swine flu, call your local GP. They will be able to diagnose you over the phone. Do not go to the GPs surgery or to the hospital in person. from http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Swineflu/DG_177918

Roll clothes like a sausage.

Yep - Tintagel Crescent,near Mind charity shop on goose green roundabout does a late collection.

oh ,poor thing - hope you get them back.

Does anyone know the science around gaining some immunity from possible second wave outbreak in Autumn ? I mean if you catch it now is your immunity enhanced ,or does the virus just keep mutating as it goes from person to person ?