landsberger

Interesting article in the Guardian last month on this issue http://www.theguardian.com/education/2015/oct/13/schools-harris-academy-teachers-ofsted and the Inside Croydon blog http://insidecroydon.com/2015/11/17/hundreds-of-teachers-leaving-harris-academies-each-year/#comment-23455 Thrown into sharp relief when you see the comment above from Sophiesofa "My top tip for parents/kids looking round potential schools is to ask what the staff turnover is like. Don't just rely on Ofsted and results".

Yup, that too, they are very helpful in Southwark

Bear in mind also that the child may be being wilful wishing to bend you to her will. She may be hoping you dispense with the aupair and return to the previous state of affairs. I agree wholeheartedly with DulwichBorn&Bred that getting them to go to fun places and do fun things together and will help in bonding.

Straight line distance for community schools. Have you checked the brochure which gives the furthest distance for the previous year (not a guarantee, but an indication) ? There are a variety of catchment mapping tools as well. The GLA does one, there's also findaschool. http://www.findaschool.info/ I must stress again, these are both approximate indications and NOT the basis for admissions or an appeal. They will basically let you know if you are within a ghost of a chance.

minder Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I had to think for a minute, but totally > understand where you're coming from landsberger! I tell 'em as I see them. And plenty of free schools and academies play fast and loose with admissions in pursuit of good results and not having deal with "difficult" children - far better to let the state schools deal with them (and then slag them off for having low attainment....) Anyway, great news, WorkingMummy, I hope your daughter enjoys where she is, and glad to hear the school and Southwark Council have been helpful.

Places likely to have Y3 vacancies in ED or thereabouts Dulwich Wood Heber Goodrich Judith Kerr has free spaces but is a free school, and will probably only admit you so long as your child is middle class. Further afield places likely to have space Bessember Grange Crawford Dog Kennel Hill Lyndhurst Oliver Goldsmith

LondonMix Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > That's great. It looks like with some additional > work on transferring writing skills to other > subject, the school will get an Outstanding at its > next inspection. Its great to hear the > achievement gap between pupils has been addressed > so adequately. I wish I could be sure it was that scientific, Londonmix.

Formally, the schools themselves do in year admissions, but most subcontract it to the council. You obviously need to find a school that has vacancies in Y3 (ask LBS for a list) - not all will.

My nephew and niece - 9 (G) and 5 (B) year olds respectively have had (and continue to have) issues around this - she reacted really badly when he was born, but didn't actually start scrapping with him until he was capable of fighting back ! She would whine every time he was cuddled or praised - she burst into tears when it was his birthday and demand presents (I kid you not!) and throws a strop if she wasn't given exactly the same food and drink (and quantities) as he was. She's mellowed with time but still has a strong sense of life being "unfair". All the strategies here are worth pursuing - I just wish my sister-in-law had pursued them with the same vigour.

Yes, you can, although you need to realise that not every primary or secondary school prioritises (non-practising) siblings above religious applicants, as some non-religious applicants to VA schools found out last year. You'd be well advised to put more than one choice if applying for a religious school.

Ask to speak to the Head of Admissions at Southwark - I am sure she will help you resolve this. Send me a PM and I will give you the email address.

catma Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I have the same situation re a tree in my street - > it was diseased so had to go but it was a lovely > tree and with the new rules they won't replace. > Although bins can be left all over the pavement, > reducing the width with impunity it seems. Ask the Lib Dems to take it up - they will back anything that will bag them votes.

http://www.thameslinkrailway.com/your-journey/servicestransfer/ says "Thameslink is also taking over the management of seven stations at Denmark Hill, Nunhead, Crofton Park, Catford, Bellingham, Beckenham Hill and Ravensbourne which are predominately served by Thameslink trains. You?ll see the same staff but they?ll have new uniforms and better information as they?ll be dealing direct with our control and will have sight of the entire network and full journey." And "We?re bringing you new trains in early 2016. They?ll be air conditioned and spacious with a walk-through design, full facilities for the disabled and the latest in passenger information systems. The trains promise greater reliability and are fixed in length at eight carriages so there will be no more four carriage services. And at Nunhead we will extend the hours we staff the station next autumn, so that we have someone there from the first to last service. We also anticipate installing passenger wi-fi at Catford, Denmark Hill and Nunhead stations subject to surveys" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thameslink_Programme Has further detail than the map

I hope so. If the school actually opens in Sep 2016, I will be very surprised...

Charter are by no means the only school who do this. Like many schools of the ilk and social background, they'd be a grammar school if they could be.

Any school not like this would soon be closed down or academised by Ofsted and the DfE.

Previously didn't have a brilliant reputation, now has a new head, the head from Sacred Heart is Executive Head over both schools, outstanding Ofsted, new sixth form, and great GCSE results. Is on an upward swing and is still (so I hear) undersubscribed in Y7 this year, so places available.

School is being rebuilt and expanded - present takes one class, will take 2 in the future. On track to open expanded establishment next year. People wanting to transfer to Belham - be aware that they have Y1 and reception open, they won't (correctly) take older kids as they don't have classes open outside these 2). KS2 level 4 - 86% - one of the higher in Southwark and above the average. Good value added scores across the board. Slightly higher than average absence, but I assume this will be parents extending their stay at that darling little villa in Tuscany rather than letting kids run wild in SE15. Ofsted rated "good" http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report/provider/ELS/100775

Don't fret - contrary to popular opinion, an (on time) application submitted at one minute before the deadline has the same validity and will be considered at the same time as one submitted on the first day. I din't know how many times I've told people this and they just shake their head and say "Naaaah". At appeal, you will frequently get someone saying "I applied early so should have been prioritised" :-((((

It's a popular Church school (note therefore the admissions policies - 2 for children with special needs, 35 for Christians and 23 open places, so get pious if you're not already, and want one of the 35...). Note also belief comes above siblings here. 234 applications for 60 places last year (slightly more than the previous year). Ofsted - good. 72% KS2 Level 4 performance in 2014 (below Southwark average of 81%).

Please bear in mind - just because a school Ivydale admitted to 337m last year DOES NOT MEAN they will admit to that distance next year (actually Ivydale is a bad example as they will be admitting 30 more this year than last year, so the intake is likely to reach further). You would not believe the number of parents who lodge an appeal based on the distance figures.

Harris doesn't suit everyone, and, like the council before them, should be subject to the same level of scrutiny that any organisation running schools has. It's equally depressing to read people who say that criticising them is 'boring'.

redjam Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Wow, that is a big reduction for the first year. > Guess Harris got what they wanted. Had nothing to do with Harris, fortunately. Was more to do with what could fit on a temporary site. If Harris had their way, the school would not have opened till 2018. > From the new website it looks like the school will > be opening in temporary accommodation at the > hospital site itself, so I suppose they couldn't > find anywhere else with more space. Simon, can you > confirm that's correct and there's no chance of > different accommodation still being found? I am sure the school would be delighted to get in contact with you if you know where an 8 form secondary school could be plonked for a year or two... > Gosh, that reduced intake is going to make the > shakedown process even more stressful this year > for us Year 6 parents? Capacity still exists within the system, so it shouldn't be as stressful as you make out, but yes, less people than originally planned with get a Charter education.

Went there a couple of years ago - I can tell you where to avoid if you PM me ! We liked the area - Pollenca town itself is really, really nice, Puerto Pollenca is quite busy, but not in a Magaluf type of way - it's more sedate. The bus service up and down the coast is very good and reliable. There's a really good Eroski supermarket if you are self catering and don't want solely to buy the English food available at the (expensive) minimarkets in the town. And some very passable Spanish restaurants in the town itself.

https://companycheck.co.uk/company/06111895/CLASSIC-LOFTS-LONDON-LIMITED/directors-secretaries Shows 2 directors with very similar nomenclatures, both Bernard Doran, with different middle names. I am guessing this may be the person concerned. Their registered address is on North Cross Road. This might be the person people have encountered. One of the two is a director of 5 other companies, including Classic Building Limited Aks Central Lofts Limited (Dissolved) Classic Lofts (London) Limited It may be worth having a look at their performance as well. Sounds like people would be well advised to consider their approach to customer services in deciding whether to use them.