landsberger

> I'd be interested to know how many local schools > bulged for the current year 4s (given some of > those schools were already three form entry) - I > have a feeling it was quite a lot. Also re status > quo, this does assume that a single sex offer is > acceptable to everyone. I don't know how many schools bulged in 2012/13 (this was the last big [previous) "bulge" year) (I am sure an FoI would reveal this quite quickly) but remember that from year to year, children usually drift away - looking at figures for a nearby borough, I notice that the schools in that borough lost around 110 overall (nearly 4FE) over the 7 years from R to 6. I think single sex education tends to be most attractive to people who want single sex education for girls. I don't get the same yen for single sex boys education (and there is evidence boys actually do worse in a single sex environment). There are undersubscribed - dare I say it, as many undersubscribed single sex schools - as mixed schools, so I don't think the argument is won in either direction.

------------------------------------------------------- > My son is due to start school in September and as > I am not from the UK I was wondering what is > expected of children at reception? How can I help > him (and myself) with the transition to school? The school themselves usually lets you know what children should be able to do at reception - to be able to feed and dress/undress themselves unaided, be toilet trained and be able to take themselves to and from the same. These tend to be non-negotiables. Some primary or infant schools want children to be able to count to 10 and/or write their name, but it's not a catastrophe if they don't - these tend to be desirables rather than compulsory items as children develop at their own pace and some will have been to nursery and some not, some will have supportive parents and some not. Have a look at a similar thread from Netmums about 5 years ago - not that much has changed! http://www.netmums.com/coffeehouse/children-parenting-190/primary-school-age-4-11-years-60/898528-what-expected-children-reception-class.html

LondonMix Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi Renata- its actually both! From page 8 the > document starts discussing the secondary school > strategy, place needs, anticipated expansions and > timing of shortfalls for secondary schools in > Southwark etc. The first half of the document is > devoted to the primary school place strategy > > > Renata Hamvas Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Hi Londonmix, this is actually Southwark's > primary > > strategy! It's updated on a regular basis > > Renata Usually updated annually. So I imagine Southwark are already talking to schools already about expanding (or staying as they are). I suppose, in essence, it depends on this year's enrolment figures to see where schools can be expanded, if appropriate. No doubt Councillor Barber will be here soon saying we need another 20 schools in East Dulwich.... Is anyone actually seriously suggesting ED is short of primary or secondary places ?

According to the strategy, a lot of places are being made available this September - either permanent enlargements, or bulge classes becoming permanent. I don't think there will be a lot of bulge classes this time next year, and, looking at Dulwich as a whole, there doesn't seem to be the demand for additional primary schools in the area, just yet.

tomskip Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Yes, think Renata has just slipped up there. She's probably thinking of Charter ED moving from their temp site to Dulwich Hospital...

sanity girl Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Friendly forumite advice requested please! > > I am planning a summer holiday for myself and my > two children (5 and 9) for the end of August - > taking the Eurostar down to Marseille. So far I've > just booked the train tickets - I've been looking > at airbnb and campsites for accommodation, but > would really appreciate some pointers from people > who know the area and have been on holiday there > before. Ideally I'd like to avoid hiring a car and > go somewhere we can reach by train - either one > place or a couple of different destinations as we > are going for 10 days. I'm after somewhere near a > nice sandy beach, maybe with a pool as well, as > cheap as possible as I'm on a strict budget. I've > been looking at Presqu'Ile de Giens and some > places near Marseille like Bandol and La Ciotat > but I've no idea what they're really like. Can > anyone help? We stayed at the very pleasant Hotel de la Gare, directly opposite the train station (strangely enough!) in Toulon, which was very handy for the train(s) to Marseilles, Frejus and the bus to Hyeres. The beach at the latter is lovely, so if you could get somewhere around there it would be great.

red devil Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Well spotted unc, definitely not indigenous, I > reckon there's a bit of Irish about him, 2nd or > 3rd generation...sound familiar? Definitely not indigenous - probably from LEWISHAM (gasp)

James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I've checked and they're still on track to > complete on time. Very exciting after all the hard > work Cllr Rosie Shimell and I have put in and > former councillor Jonathan Mitchell and of course > the 250+ families who lent their support. Modesty was never an issue for Councillor Barber, it seems! Cynics may remember Harris's venture in Nunhead that residents (and presumably the Council) were similarly assured (by Harris corporate) was "approved" (true) and "on track to open in Sep 2016" (not true). You will forgive me treating Harris's assurances with caution.

fleur201 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Would really like to know ! Thanks in advance 1st September 2016 (theoretically) - though I wouldn't be surprised if it's not ready. Have a gander at http://www.harrisprimaryeastdulwich.org.uk/108/new-building

Funnily enough, there was a discussion here about 18 months ago about the appropriateness of parents drinking at the school gates.... I think we need to be careful but vigilant here - I remember a governor at a Southwark school telling me a tale about parents calling the police about a man standing outside the school looking angry. The police duly turned up and it was discovered that the person was actually living in the vicinity of the school, had a garden full of rubbish from the children dropping litter, and he was observing who was doing it when. His (numerous) complaints to the school had gone unheard. The immediate reaction of course, would have been to string him up from the nearest lamppost, but I dare say had he been asked by one of the lynchmob, he may well have told them what the issue was, before the police had been called. Now, that's not to say that one should not be vigilant and observe individuals, but a friendly word and enquiry will either explain the situation (or scare the person off!). We have a tendency to read the worst possible outcome, especially when children are concerned - it's probably only natural.

> However my question was as to whether the bulge > classes are public knowledge at the point that > parents are putting in the applications in October You will need to ask the schools and academies that. Kingsdale are constantly inconstant in this respect ! > (as has often been the case lately with the > primaries such as Ivydale) i.e. the ones under Council control ! > or are they only > created in response to the number of applications > made? I think a view is taken based on the projected numbers (based on births and other inputs), number of applications received, what else is happening locally (including across the border in other boroughs). For Council schools, that is. For academies, as stated previously, they can do what they want, even if it means the school next door closes down. > Even if Southwark aren't the body having the > conversations with the schools, do you know when > the decisions are made and made public? The Council considers the pupil numbers in the summer of the year preceding the admissions year, so for September 2017, it will be this year. > I have a list of at least 7 possible schools, 5 of > which are all outside chances, 1 is slightly more > possible but isn't my preferred option and one > that is a near cert but my least favourite. That > leaves me 5 spaces and at least 6 contenders above > my dead cert. It would be rather annoying if the > one I left off then bulged after the application > was submitted and that would have meant my child > could have got in. Generally *if* the school is a council school, you will know before you apply. > I know the system is imperfect and - at secondary > level - it's not in Southwark's control. But as > parents we still do want to be sure we do all that > we can. And then we just need to cross our > fingers that it was the right choice. It's only going to get worse when all schools are taken out of council control.

Sunglasses Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > landsberger Wrote: > > > So the Charter ED catchment area is smaller > > than > > > 0.55miles in its first year! Ouch > > > > Given they are only taking 120 kids this year, > I > > am not entirely surprised. > > I thought catchment areas of popular schools > generally only ever get smaller? Not when they are due to double in size in 2018.......

nunheadmum Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Great that so many folk seem to have got good > options this year. The extra bulge classes really > seem to have helped - along with Charter ED coming > into the mix. > > Renata - is there any prospect next year that > we'll know about bulge classes before we need to > make our choices? I can see now that this often > happens with primaries now that the issue of > applicant numbers is apparent. I appreciate that > it may not have a massive impact on the choice we > make but knowing if a closer school is going to > bulge may increase the chance of friends going to > the same school, which could swing your > preferences. Bear in mind, Nunheadmum, that all the secondary schools in Southwark are academies, free schools or VA schools, so are their own admissions authority. They are supposed to inform the Council (not consult - they do not need Southwark's approval) if they are expanding, but inevitably, they don't do this. Which is regrettable for parents if one of the attractions of the schools is the relatively low admissions number, or, conversely, allowing parents the chance to apply and stand a chance of admission.

Sunglasses Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Bidibulle Wrote: > > We are very surprised that we didn't get offered > a > > place at the new Charter since we are 0.55 mile > as > > the crow flies from the nodal point on Jarvis > Road > > but I guess there will be some movement and we > > should go up the waiting list soon. > > So the Charter ED catchment area is smaller than > 0.55miles in its first year! Ouch Given they are only taking 120 kids this year, I am not entirely surprised.

Probably a bit early to do any form of analysis just yet,to be honest, Belle. Give it a week or two.

James Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Coming home from the theatre on Sunday I noticed > there were only two trains per hour to Peckham > Rye. I hope this is not an ongoing situation? When > I first moved to East Dulwich there was a train to > London Bridge every ten minutes on weekdays. Now > there are only four per hour, badly spaced. What > with no London Bridge-Charing Cross trains at the > moment, my morning Thameslink service is overrun > with people going to Elephant & Castle instead, to > get straight onto the tube into the West End. The > trains are often late and/or cancelled. The whole > system is creaking under the strain, overcrowding > is a daily occurrence... Does anyone know when any > of this will get better? And why, while more and > more people are using the trains from East Dulwich > and Peckham, there seems to be no improvement > whatsoever in frequency or capacity? The short answer ? Very, very little. It's not just the rebuild of London Bridge, it's the shortage of drivers. So much so, they are cancelling services because there are not enough staff to drive them. The lines you talk about are part of a mega franchise "Thameslink Southern Great Northern" that was recently awarded to Govia. Oh, you can write a letter of complaint that will get a form response to; you can refer the complaint to the well-meaning but toothless watchdog, London Travelwatch, who will write bon mots and report their dissatisfaction in their annual report, but actually lack any powers to do anything. You can write to your MP who will no doubt do the same. The only people empowered to actually do anything are the shareholders of Govia and the Department for Transport. And, as the franchisee's performance is within what they consider to be acceptable limits, neither will do anything. I hate to be the harbinger of doom, but it's going to get worse. "Thameslink Southern Great Northern" vastly overbid for the franchise and are now looking to cut costs. This will be done in part by keeping driver staff to the bare minimum, and also by destaffing huge swathes of their stations, where there will only be people selling tickets from 6.30am to 11am. Outside of this, there will (probably) be someone checking tickets, showing people how to use the ticket machines and answering queries. Your sole hope to have them stripped of the franchise would be to find any element of financial impropriety in the parent company (which is why Connex were stripped of the franchise).

Maybe ITV couldn't find enough grumpy parents to run a story ?

tomskip Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I see. I don't know what an increase to 360 > represents and I wonder how that will affect > non-sibling places in 2 - 5 years time? It always > has bothered me that this state school on our > doorstep could keep their class sizes so small > whilst turning away hundreds who have applied. Bear in mind Kingsdale don't admit on distance - they admit on a lottery and academic selection, so 120 extra place may not necessarily benefit Southwark residents

Belle Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I believe the point about being able to have an > offer from Charter ED and another Southwark school > only applies this year? As it's its first year in > existence. The same was true when e.g. Harris Ed > (primary) opened and Belham. Yes, and the same will occur if/when other new schools open, which seems likely

Coach Beth Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Yes, I just checked online! We feel very happy > here - no disappointment to report for the > newspapers as we were offered a place through > Southwark Admissions St. Thomas the Apostle which > we liked VERY much for the caring ethos, > outstanding results and really impressive teaching > staff (we're not Catholic but the school takes > about 50% non Catholic students) and we got > Charter East Dulwich whose new temporary site > seems really great which is much more fit for > purpose for a proper secondary school education, > new teaching staff who all seem really experienced > and our only dilemma is choosing which one but our > boy will have the final say in this one! STAC only presently take non-Catholics because they don't fill with Catholic applicants, it needs to be noted.

Renata Hamvas Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Belle, I'm waiting to see what happens this year, > there is an embargo until 5pm so Councillors don't > have any information yet either. > > Good Luck everybody, remember there will be > movement on waiting lists after offer day. > Renata And remember, almost everyone who applies to Charter ED will also have made a Southwark application, so if they accept the latter (and 120 will) then this will free up a place.

LondonMix Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Why do the press > always write the same tired story that parents > can't get their kids into a descent school > perpetuating angst and a feeling of crisis! Because it sells newspapers and because it's something close to home for them - on the rare occasions they are approximately co-equal with the plebs. There seems to be an annual article in the Guardian and/or Indie from a journalist saying "Why I sent my child to a private school" usually based on some variation of the above. Probably because journalists labour under the misapprehension that their concerns are the world's concerns (or at least East Dulwich's) http://www.theguardian.com/education/2012/jul/23/why-send-child-to-private-school (2012) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michelle-maltais/this-is-why-i-send-my-son-to-private-school_b_8407102.html (2015) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/11924357/I-hate-the-idea-of-private-schools-but-still-send-my-kids-to-one.html (2015)

It's not going to happen under the present regime. the Council have no secondaries under its control, and cannot compel secondaries to go mixed. If Academies want to go mixed, that's something they, and they alone will decide, and get the DfE to sign off. LondonMix Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Belle, so, you think people would be happier of > some of the existing single sex schools in the > area were made into co-ed schools? The least over > subscribed school near ED is Harris Peckham in the > Peckham Rye area which is very nearby, co-ed and > non-religious and its less popular than the two ED > Harris single sex schools. > > Renata, is going co-ed something that could > actually be tested via consultation and then > discussed with any of the local schools? None of > the secondaries in this immediate area are > religious schools so I'm not sure that's actually > a major issue. > > Children affected by special needs that fall below > the threshold of priority allocation can only be > dealt with by changing the standard. Requiring an > average child to commute within 2 miles is really > nothing. Most able bodied people can walk two > miles in just over 30 minutes. For everyone to > have a school place much closer than that would > require very small secondary schools dotted all > over the place. That's totally impractical: lots > of new small secondary schools aren't needed; > small schools are much more expensive to operate > and would lack certain facilities; and there is no > physical space to do that in London.

Belle Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > No, not really, but to read the middlebrows and > > the tabloids, you'd think there was. > > Just out of interest, what other media (if that's > what you're referring to) does that leave? Middlebrows (Daily Mail, Express) Tabs: Sun, Star, Mirror etc) So everything outside that.

LondonMix Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > If a child gets allocated a place within a couple > miles of his or her house at a good school, is > there really a problem with the system? No, not really, but to read the middlebrows and the tabloids, you'd think there was. It also fits in with theory that we are being "flooded" and the pressure on school places is a consequence of that. I agree with you, though, it's not generally a problem in Southwark. It IS a problem elsewhere, and the structure is faulty and these two areas are where they should be concentrating their fire. Local councils also cannot build new schools and have to get academies to open, which delays things further. > Today,there is no shortage of secondary school places in > Southwark so while forward planning is necessary > for the 2018 bulge in demand, why are people > unhappy today? Because their child didn't get into Charter/Kingsdale/Haberdashers etc and feel a sense of entitlement that nothing but these schools will do. > What more can the system realistically do? Force > single sex schools to become co-ed? Ironically, parents want their girls (but not necessarily their boys) to be single sex educated. > Serious question- what exactly is the problem and a > realistic solution in your view? I have been banging on about this for years. Each "solution" has its disadvantages. And sadly, people tend only to support the solution that will personally benefit their offspring.