dulwichDad11

Great news on the Charter bid. Great to finally have a decision, and well done to everyone for campaigning. I don't understand the point about primaries made by Shuggy. The site of the school that seems to be proposed (and hopefully that will be delivered) - East Dulwich Hospital - looks on the map to be about 1km distance from Dog Kennel Hill school, St John's & St Clements, and Heber primary school, and about 1.5km from Goodrich and Lyndhurst. So based on crow-fly-distance to the school, the catchment would likely include many pupils from all those schools and depending on how many apply, potententially a good many pupils living further away, and so will inevitably serve both East Dulwich and S Camberwell based on its location. Having a nodal point that isn't on the school site can enable a catchment area to centered somewhere other than on the school, but surely many people would feel this unfair if they can't get into a school that is close to where they live.

Another perspective - one of my children moved to DHJS from a school in the west country, in difficult family circumstances, and Sonia Case, the head, was fantastic and the school extremely supportive. She made more friends in DHJS than she had previously in the West country school. Kids don't all respond the same, and school moves are often disruptive of their education, but my experience is that children going through troubled times starting mid-year can thrive at DHJS. But it isn't the most diverse primary in London.

This is great news, littlek1cker. Good luck at the interview.