intexasatthe moment

hp - when you say things are up and running ,do you mean your landline is back on ?

Well I'm sure Harris are on it and working out a solution .

" One of the main goals of banding is to create a comprehensive intake " should be . But I suspect that some Academy chains deliberately manipulate the system to give themselves a good intake . Harris use different banding systems in different areas and not to the effect of achieving a comprehensive intake as at Crystal Palace . They have a lot of money and can call on extensive professional advice so I don't think this is an accident . Nor their failure to explain their admissions policies clearly . And although it may no longer be a statutory requirement for LA's to have Admissions Forums surely we need them more than ever now to achieve coordination . Oh well .

Thanks all ,especially Penguin for the detail in his/her post . I'm taking that as a yes .

I'm sorry to be incredibly dense but could our landlines be affected by the fault but our broadband - BT infinity - be unaffected ?

I think what worries me is how little detail is given about the bands - are they equal in size for instance ? And how opaque the system is unless you're familiar with banding . And apologies for saying earlier that they dont use a lottery system - I see they do ,within the bands .

Apart from the 10% for the technology speciality I don't think there's any suggestion of lottery or being pulled out of hat ,might be fairer if they did . Here's a fuller extract " All applicants to the Academy will be required to sit two tests: 1. A Non-Verbal Reasoning Test (NVRT). Applicants will be allocated to an ability band on the basis of their NVRT test score. There will be 9 ability bands with the percentage of places available in each band being determined by the profile of the distribution of ability of the applicants for the Academy. (Any student ill on the day of the test will be provided with an opportunity to sit the test on an alternative day, provided the illness is supported by an official medical note). Exceptions to this rule will only be made for children with Statements of Special Educational Needs and looked after or former looked after children. 2. Technology Aptitude Test. This test is designed to produce an objective ranking of their aptitude for Technology as a subject. (As the Academy has a specialism in Technology). (The National Foundation for Education Research NVRT practice papers are produced by NFER and are widely available at stationers. The unique nature of the Technology Test makes it difficult for students to prepare for the tests as they test technological capabilities. Past Technology Test papers are not available). 90% of places will be allocated to Zone A - a zone up to 2 mile radius from the fixed point highlighted on the area map. 10% of places will be allocated to Zone B - a zone over 2 miles radius from the fixed point. The fixed point is from the gate at the main Academy entrance on Maberley Road.

Thanks Fuschia . Very interesting read . I do wonder how they operate their banding system for this school . Maybe it helps that Crystal Palace Harris have a wide geographical catchment area and don't limit themselves to closest walking distance . Their oversubscriptions policy http://www.harriscrystalpalace.org.uk/uploads/asset_file/hcacp-admissions.pdf says this "There will be 9 ability bands with the percentage of places available in each band being determined by the profile of the distribution of ability of the applicants for the Academy " "Applications will then be considered against the ability band in which the applicant is placed by the NVRT test score. The number of places available in each ability band will be determined by NFER by matching the percentage of places in each band to the ability profile of the applicants for places that year. Those percentages will be applied to the number of places for the year available after deducting the 10% allocated to those applicants with the highest scores for aptitude in Technology (i.e. 162) " I can't pretend to fully understand these statements - to me it reads as though they take each years applicants ,rank them into highest performers and then divide that group into 9 bands . But I must be wrong .

Thank you James . I've sent a query and will "share" when I receive a reply .

Thanks parentsteeringgroup for that . I have looked on the New Schools Network site - it doesn't seem to cater for general questions or have any info about the decision making process ,but I may well have missed something . Or possibly you have to register with them and start the process of making a specific application before this kind of question can be answered . Like others I feel either Habs or The Charter would be an equally good choice but I was wondering how the powers that be and which powers that be decide . I remember something of a kerfuffle when Nash was reported in the press as vetoing a new secondary school in Holborn that was to be sponsored by The Institute of Education on the grounds that they lacked experience in running secondary schools ( bit rich coming from him but that's another story ). I suppose politics is always wheels within wheels ,hidden from us ordinary folk . And of course I understand that it's unusual to have more than one sponsor ( sorry I find it hard to say provider as it's the tax payers who are providing the funds ) so I guess there may not yet be a mechanism for dealing with such a situation . edited to say I'm not asking for answers to questions in this post ,though obviously if anyone has any that's great . I'm just voicing concerns about how the process seems to be unclear .

parentsteering group - does the EFA decide on finance for buying the site ? does it also decide on which sponsor to go with ? do you know how much influence Lord Nash has on choice of sponsor ? sorry if this is really silly post ,I'm feeling rather ill this morning ( health ussues ,not drink relate ! ) and probably shouldn't be posting at all !

Do you know if the cyclist was female ? I saw a woman on a bike about this time cycling up Barry Rd v close to Goodrich . She had no lights and was on wrong side ( admittedly quiet and straight rd ) for some time . Not that it matters really ,just curious .

People who think they've msrked their space in the supermarket queue by leaving an item on the side . And on their return with arms laden ,shoulder past you and your solitary packet of butter without a word .

What happens to MOL is determined by the Secretary of State . He/she takes into account advice from the LA . But the fate of MOL is not in Southwark's gift .

I'm not saying this with any pleasure but with Nash and Harris both sharing political views, venture capitalist backgrounds and experience of all through schools I fear that Harris may yet to come out of this smiling .

Sorry LondonMix - I blame the heat ! I'd love to hear answers to your questions too but I fear ( and honestly no disrespect ) that this is asking too much of a local councillor who I imagine also has a full time job . I very much doubt that you'd get a straight answer from Nash himself . Particularly from Nash himself .

Thanks for that info James . Could you clarify the position about how much of the site Habs feels it needs ? And am I right in thinking Lord Nash could override an EFA decision ? " We'll hear calls of Sardine Academy " - how dare people people say things like that !

Good points LondonMix . It all seems so vague ,which in my book means open to manipulation . I hadn't realised Habs want 100% of the site ? Surely not ,do you mean 100% of the bit that's earmarked for the school ? James has clarified in the past the percentage of the site that would be used for a school ,I remember him reassuring another poster that there was plenty of space left for Health provision .

" So what exactly do you want to hear? Seriously." = " come up with your solution then " tactic . I'm interested in hearing about and discussing issues that relate to the bid for a new secondary school in the area . And yes I'm serious ,can't think what gave you the impression that I was joking ? But I'm not interested in entering into an argument solely to justify my right to post on this thread .

TE44 is only asking what many of us are also wondering . And James just because you have a blind faith in a government body doesn't mean to say that they are deserving of it . Nor does repeating something make it true . Who is it who decides what the subject of this thread is ? Moderators ? You often use this ploy - we can't agree or we can't prove something one way or the other therefore we should stop discussing it . And before anyone wheels it out - neither does " come up with your solution then " tactic . Tad to passive aggressive for my taste James .

Otta ,it occurs to me that it ( the notion that East Dulwich and Dulwich are distinct ) might be a generational thing . East Dulwich is much more affluent ,and aspirational , now , than it was when I grew up so perhaps the distinction between the two districts has become less clear cut . Not that it matters really does it ? Of greater significance ,in my book ,is that a largely publicly funded institution like Habs can have fallen foul to loosing money on this scale and over a period of time before coming to light .

Dulwich = Dulwich Village . I've lived here all my life and agree with James ,if you say Dulwich people assume Dulwich Village .

Dulwich and East Dulwich are totally distinct areas .

Hi - can't help re Icey Tek i'm afraid but I see these are also recommended by MN and are cheasper . Look v similar to Icey Tek . http://www.leisureshopdirect.com/caravan/cooling/product_49976/dometic_waeco_cool-ice_coolbox_22lt.aspx

Cover it in bark chippings /cat litter as a temporary measure .