murphy

Queenie23 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > This is a very good post - it spells out exactly > Kingsdale's strategy. I completely understand why > they did it, but those families need to remember > that there are other schools out there just as > good, maybe not with such an appetite for self > publicity. If you think that I am one of those > people who only consider a school to be good if it > gets a 100% baccalaureate pass rate you are wrong> - I've got three children in inner city schools > (primary and secondary)and they have been in the > state school system long enough for me to be > completely aware of life in inner city schools! You did mention that Kigsdale only had a 4% pass rate for the baccalaureate which although true is a bit unfair. Over 4 years 5 A-C incl Eng & Maths has gone from 27% to 59%, with the intake they now have I am sure the Bacc. rate will improve considerably over the next few years. There is always a big time lag with the turnaround of a school and the results as you have to wait for the new kids to progress through the school. By the way you also mention Kingsdale's "appetite for self-publicity" - I think that is a big plus point, if other schools out there are just as good then they should shout about their progress and achievements.

SimonM Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Palace look safe enough to me, given that > Sheffield United have yet to win in 2011...and we > have QPR away live on Sky on 3rd April! Can't > quite recall who QPR's mabnager is, but know he is > most unFergie-like where TV interviews/expressing > his opinions are concerned...:)) Not worried about Sheff Utd, think you are gone. I am, it saddens me to say, afraid of the mighty Scunthorpe. By the way I know Sheff Utd have had too many managers to change again, but Micky Adams and Dave Bassett! Against Palace it was very old fashioned football should be great v Magson's Sheff Wed next year! Sorry that sounds harsh, don't want to see a big club like Utd go down but just can't see you escpaing it now.

Parents, understandably are always selfish. When Kingsdale and Willian Penn (now Charter) were awful, parents who lived close to the school, or in Southwark demanded that they should be allowed to choose schools further away or in different boroughs. Now that they have good reputations the next set of parents are demanding they must be able to go to their closest school or that only kids in the same borough should have priority. Kingsdale used to be abysmal, a few years ago it was known by kids as "the asylum" because such a large percentage of kids who went there were asylum seekers and the school always had free places. It used to get kids coming from all over Lambeth and Southwark and plenty of problems between Peckham v Brixton kids. One of the great strategies employed by Kingsdale was to target schools like Goodrich. It had lots of middle class parents who were unable to get into Charter as they lived too far away. A full on charm offensive was launched to persuade these parents to choose Kingsdale. Marketing music scholarships was a neat trick that favoured the middle class, who were far more likely to have kids already taking music lessons. Once they had the Goodrich parents on board the school went in search of other enclaves of middle class kids such as Honour Oak and Brockley, again with a lot of success. At Kingsdale open day presentations it was predominantly middle class children and parents who were put on stage to sell the benefits of the school, scholarships, small class sizes in core subjects etc. So a few years down the line Kingsdale's strategy has really worked. Investment in buildings, new teachers, scholarships etc means they have a much more mixed intake aligned with good teaching and parent support means they get pretty good results and are highly oversubscribed. The scholarships mean they are able to cream off some pretty able kids and the knock on effect is that even if your kid doesn't get a scholarship it is still a school you would want to send your kids to. Kingsdale chose it's startegy because it was the best way of getting a "mixed" intake but ensuring a reasonable proportion of middle class kids. Charter chose its method - walking distance to school - because they knew they would get a lot of middle class kids from Dulwich and Herne Hill together with the kids from Denmark Hill Estate. To those who say Kingsdale are "stealing" talent from other local schools - on the face of it yes, but before they introduced their policies the answer was no, kids simply chose schools miles away from here or moved into Kent. As the local demographic changes and families with children decide to stay, the local schools are all getting better. God knows how many millions have been invested in Kingsdale and Charter, there are plenty of debates to be had about how they choose their intake, but whereas before no parents would touch either, both are now very good secondary schools. To people who only consider a school to be good if they are getting a 100% baccalaureate pass rate, you live in inner London, it won't happen, move to Kent.

Hate the type of challenges made by Carragher and Raphael, going in too fast and reckless and to support Emerson they are the type that Arsenal have suffered from. There is a huge difference between the type of fouls made by David Luiz the other night - old fashioned clattering - and racing in at full pelt with studs raised with far greater potential for serious injury. Liverpool deserved winners by a long way, as against Chelsea surprised Fergie didn't stiffen the midfield, but Arsenal missed a huge opportumnity by failing to win. Anyway Palace have Cardiff at home tomorrow and QPR away on Saturday, god help us.

At Wigan the ref made one wrong decision on an off the ball incident he didn't see properly, Rooney should have been sent off. Last night the ref, with a clear view of the action made several poor decisions. Emerson, the idea is it is supposed to be a debate not a slanging match. You could have argued "on paper Arsenal have the easier run in but I am worried the injuries/number of games/perhaps lack of experience etc will mean we will slip up when we are not expecting it". The fact is Arsenal do have the much easier run in, even with a few players out (as Utd have), most matches you should win, so for me the debating point is "can Arsenal keep their nerve" - I would be saying exactly the same if it were Spurs, City or Liverpool in Arsenal's position now - I wouldn't be saying it if it were Chelsea because they have been there and done it recently. You are welcome to join the debate and talk about Arsenal's chances in some detail or you can just carry on slagging off Utd, which might be cathartic for you but doesn't take a debate about who might win the league any further.

In the second half Utd couldn't get the ball, surprised Fergie didn't stiffen up the midfield, sure he would have played Park if he had been fit. Chelsea did really well to battle back into it. Ref had an awful game. I think Arsenal should win the league, have a much easier run in than Utd who will drop quite a few more points so Arsenal will never have a better chance, as long as the can keep their nerve.

As others have said, it is all about the location. It will really struggle to ever work as a pub that simply looks to up its game to be like the other pubs in East Dulwich. To work the pub has to offer something very different. Try having The Meatwagon as your partner, he is doing it at the moment at Goldsmiths Tavern in New Cross and doing a roaring trade - people will travel for that. Or make it the south London base for guerilla dining with new mobile food operators coming in for a few days/week/month at a time. Have really good beer, that changes all the time. Keep going with the special comedy and music nights. Thousands of people go to Peckham Rye Park every day - I doubt more than 5% know if the pub exist. Get involved and associated with the park. Unless Enterprise offer someone a great long term profit share or partnership the pub is doomed. Finally a local boozer can work in poor locations, nearly always as a freehold though. This place in New Malden was great a few years ago, did lots of simple things very well and looks like it is still going strong http://www.woodiesfreehouse.co.uk/Home.html

Palace to sign Dulwich midfielder Quade Taylor Sounds like Palace have beaten some premier league competition to sign him.

Can anyone clever find that great Heineken advert of Jordan? If Heineken had any sense it would be back in the papers tomorrow.

First of all skiing is fantastic and it's never too late to learn. There are not too many holidays I can think of where I want to be out by 9am every single day. Some lessons before you go are not essential but of course you will need ski school in resort and by the end of a whole week you should be having a great time. The huge advantage of taking a few lessons before you go though, is you jump ahead of all the other complete beginners and get to be skiing properly on the slopes much quicker. Bromley Ski Centre in Oprington does lessons and is open in the evenings as well. They run courses for complete beginners and it will get you used to using a button lift which can be a nightmare for some new skiers. They also run ski holidays which are pretty good value. Don't buy any kit, renting online before you go saves a huge amount of money. Buy your ski clothes online or get down to TK Maxx, Finches in Forest Hill is good but a lot more expensive. Avoid half term and Easter if you can as the slopes will be quieter and holiday prices much cheaper. Book 2-3 weeks before for the best holiday deals ifyouski and igluski sites are good. For lots of great info go to the ski site - snowheads - where the answer to your original question has been given hundreds of times and you can get lots of info on individual resorts. A little bit of fitness work on your thigh muscles before you go would help, even if its only 5 minutes a day, lots of stuff on this can be found online. Last bit of advice - no more than one beer at lunch, if at all, leave the drinking for the evening.

Keef Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Vice chair of CPFC was on Radio 4 this morning. He > said there would be a new pool and athletics track > if this happened. He didn't sound that confident > to me though, saying there were several hrdles to > overcome if it was going to happen... I think Steve Parish the Palace co-chairman is very confident, Bromley and Croydon councils both support the Palace move. As West Ham are now confirmed winners (just Boris to rubber stamp) Bromley are now faced with what on earth to do with a crumbling NSC plus all the problems with the pool and the general poor state of the park. Bromley are on record as saying they see Palace moving in as a good opportunity to redvelop the whole site, greatly improve the sports facilities and the park in general. Bromley and Croydon also see the Palace move as key in getting the Croydon tramlink extension up to Crystal Palace. The route and costing for the extension have been done and its back on the Mayor's transport blueprint. The main issue to overcome will be local residents objections, the key one being transport. If the tramlink extension gets approval and parking restrictions are put in on match days it will be a huge step forward in solving those issues. Palace are looking to do the planning application by the end of the year with a view to moving into a new stadium in 2015. If it does come off I'm sure it will be a couple of years later than that.

Football supporter map of London Thought you might be interested to see an attempt to show on a map where London teams get their support from. "The map should show traditional supporters and no glory hunters"

Peckham is Millwall, East Dulwich mainly Millwall with some Palace. Main Palace support is Beckenham, Penge, Croydon and down into Surrey, Sussex and Kent but a fair few in Streatham, West Norwood and Brixton as well. Only ?20 to get into most games at Palace and only 20 mins by train or car. Very friendly at Palace especially since an ultras type group started up, they got lots of criticism at first but have made a big difference to the atmosphere. I go the the odd Hamlet game but Palace are a great team to follow and if they move into the park are bound to start getting a lot more support from here.

Pictures of new football stadium at Crystal Palace Looking like West Ham will win the right to move to the Olympic stadium so the proposed move of Crystal Palace FC to the park looks more likely. The propsals include removing the current pool and turning it extra sports facilities, a new underground aquatic centre and a new athletics track for community use.

Emmanuel is very good for both maths and science, problem might be getting a slot with him. I have sent you a pm.

Great news for Palace if West Ham win as they should be able to move into the NSC at Crystal Palace Park. I wonder what guarantees will be put in to ensure West Ham don't tear the track up after a couple of years and what access local kids will get to the stadium. I aslo think that West Ham should be forced to to give money to Leyton Orient over a long period, as long as the money is used for community projects and not just given to Hearn. Oh good to see all the comments on the England game by the way, all big fans are we? Missed the gamem myself but heard Wilshire played well.

Reina hints at Utd or Arsenal Sure either side would be pleased to get him, Arsenal seems a more likely destination though. Any chance Gerrard might be tempted to move/or Liverpool to sell or is he there for good?

Agree Murray good on Friday night and enjoy Fighting Talk as well, not so good on TV so far. Just need Danny Baker to come back for his Saturday morning show.

Chiles great on MOTD 2 but not so good on ITV so far but his panel don't help him. Beglin - too critical of players and dull Green - too critical of players, referees, managers, traffic, weather etc etc was much better years ago Collymore - shouts too much and if you followed his opinions over the course of a season he always contradicts himself Enjoy listening to Pearce (now he has toned down) John Murray and John Campion is OK - and Nevin and Marcotti. Still enjoy listening to Jimmy Armfield - he's comfy, warm, reassuring, like listening to the football with your grandad sat by the fire. Like Peter Jones and Bryan Butler he'lll be missed when he's gone. Neville has done TV before and was pretty good although surprise, suprise he didn't always know when to shut up.

play the percentages - Arsenal

On my last trip to Millwall the sheer number of shaven heads, tatoos, tracksuits and jewellery in such a small area was dazzling, I couldn't quite decide if I had stepped into a Jeremy Kyle rally or a Danny Dyer film set. It was interesting to note, as the 'Walls young men screamed constant abuse, how their girlfriends stood next to them smiling and admiring their manliness, it was rather touching.

Narnia, believe me most Utd fans hate it. You won't hear it used in the pubs before a game or at the ground, no Man U merchandise, no Man U songs. Next time you are up there say Man U as much as possible in the pub and at the ground, guarantee there will be a few sneers. Don't worry it's not a hanging offence but I don't know anyone in Manchester who uses term Man U.

Ladymuck Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > And I was trying SO hard! > > I was hoping to keep this space all to myself too. > But perhaps it could become a glorious space for > all things MAN. U. > > HA HA HA HA HA > > > MAN U > > MAN U > > MAN U Ladymuck I don't think you understand the irony of your own posts. Do you realise that for Utd fans calling the team Man U is insulting and offensive? Goes back years to Munich songs and as a term of abuse by away fans. Should always be just Utd. A bit like Forest fans hate being called Notts Forest.

Jah Lush Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Ronaldo came from Benfica. Yes I know, with Ronaldo I was just talking more generally about players leaving Utd

Utd have six, apart from Giggs, Scholes and Neville, they also have Fletcher, O'Shea, and Brown. They have the advantage of success though so players only tend to move when Fergie decides - only excpetion I can think of is Ronaldo.