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Are you looking at secondary schools for future admission starting at year 7 (age 11), or to join an existing year group? If the latter, you could move next door to your preferred school and still not get a place, as you will be dependent on someone leaving the school to get a place if that school is at its maximum capacity. Last year I helped a friend try to find a school place for a year 8 girl and none of the Southwark schools could help. She ended up at Haberdashers - a much sought-after Lewisham school that just happened to have an in year vacancy. If you are looking at Year 10, I would reckon Kingsdale would be a good bet as quite a large number of students leave to join the Brit School, which only starts at age 14.

I looked at Charter for my son, but he chose to stay at his old school, partly because he had heard of difficulties experienced by switchers. No serious problems, but students finding they spend the first half term (7 weeks) finding their feet - getting used to the different teaching methods and routines, making friends and integrating themselves into new established friendship groups. And perhaps more significantly, finding that the school had done a different exam board and therefore syllabus for some subjects so there was some catching up to do in some topics. Had you considered SFH6? Because it is a merger of Sydenham and Forest Hill, there is integration all round perhaps making it is easier to make friends. My personal favourite of all the 6th forms was Haberdashers, which offers six hours of contact time per subject as opposed to the usual five.

We used revolutions cycling many years ago to get our daughter cycling. However, I have just tried the website and it is no longer working. I would ask Southwark who does their cycle training, or you might like to try Cycle Nation which is a not for profit and does the bike repairs in North Cross Road market.

I would start here: https://exampapersplus.co.uk/11-plus-exam-james-allens-girls-school-jags-practice-papers/ https://www.jags.org.uk/userfiles/jagsmvc/documents/admissions/Maths%20Syllabus.pdf https://www.jags.org.uk/userfiles/jagsmvc/documents/admissions/DOCUMENT-11-Sample-Maths-Entrance-Examination-paper.pdf https://www.jags.org.uk/userfiles/jagsmvc/documents/admissions/DOCUMENT-11-Sample-English-Entrance-Examination-paper.pdf https://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/ Your daughter should be working beyond expected standard - also called at Greater Depth. Give her a chance to look at the sample materials over the summer (look at the examples from Alleys too). Use these to see which areas she needs to work on. If you would like someone to do this with you, I am happy to help (I am a primary school teacher).

Does anyone on here know of a local charity that accepts duvets, sheets and duvet covers? I need to declutter my children's old bedding, since they are now in double beds, but am loathe to just bin them.

There is lots about IH and other online schools, such as Briteschool, on Mumsnet

Thanks Claire, She doesn't yet have a CV - nothing really to put in one yet - but I shall ask her to draft something and send it over.

My daughter's Year 11 work experience placement, which I thought was a done-deal, has fallen through. If you are a local employer and would like the help of a willing and able 15 year old for two weeks at the start of September I would love to hear from you. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

My daughter's Year 11 work experience placement, which I thought was a done-deal, has fallen through. If you are a local employer and would like the help of a willing and able 15 year old for two weeks at the start of September I would love to hear from you.

Thank you. Any other suggestions appreciated.

I have a bright and able 17 year old who is planning on reading geography at university and would like a week's relevant work experience at the start of September. Something like town planning, research, housing or transport would be ideal. Sadly we know noone with these credentials who could help. Could you? Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Penguin68 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Much as I dislike the Mayor's ULEZ - this will do > far more to achieving clean air than the CPZ - you > can quickly show this by asking how much of a > contribution to clean air will not allowing > 'foreign' electric or hydrogen powered vehicles to > park in ED make? Clearly none. Yet these are > covered by the CPZ as are all other vehicles. When > this is forced on us (the CPZ) I would bet a pound > to a fly-button that any ensuing improvements in > air quality will be credited to the CPZ by > Southwark, and not the ULEZ. So spot on Penguin. The ultra low emissions zone is not only going to clean up our air, it is going to take over a third of current vehicles off our roads. Only some of these will be replaced, since many people will either choose not to buy a compliant car because they rarely drive (or will not be able to afford to). This should free up loads of parking spaces. So both problems solved.

We had au pairs from when my eldest was 6 months. When my younger child was born, the au pair regularly took the baby out for walks in the buggy or to baby yoga sessions or just minded her whilst I gave some quality time to my very jealous toddler. I think there may be agency conditions about the age of a child for an au pair, mainly to protect the rights of the au pair after one was jailed for shaking a baby. However, it is ultimately up to what works for you and the au pair and what you both feel comfortable with.

Camberwell Supermarket is where I go. Friendly and helpful.

Thank you. I will get in touch.

We have just made the decision to get a dog and are wondering about dog walking help. As I do not work regular days (any 3 in 5), I would need a flexible lunchtime dog walker who could come on the days I am out. Some weeks I will know this in advance, but at other times I will only know on the day - usually before 7:30. Would I have to change the way I work to fit with a dog walker - or are there any out there willing to provide flexible dog walking?

An au pair would suit you perfectly. She/he could help around the house and care for your baby when you need to work. This could be anything from taking the child to a regular baby group or just pushing the buggy around the block or to the park whilst you make phone calls.

We are looking to update our house alarm and would like to hear which companies people have used and whether they would recommend. Yes, I know this is a lazy approach rather than getting lots of quotes, but if someone else has already done the donkey work and wishes to share...

We had ours built by a local craftsman - and it proved to be very competitively priced because his prices for the better cupboard carousels and other interiors were lower than Howdens. The advantage of getting a custom built kitchen is that the build can be flexible to your needs as you do not have to stick to the custom cabinet sizes. He was great at coming up with suggestions and we are delighted with the result. Please PM me if you would like his number.

Since the introduction of the DKH CPZ parking has become a real issue at the Grove Vale end of Oglander and Copleston. Whilst I would have preferred no CPZ anywhere in the area, once it starts the problems increase as adjacent roads fill up with displaced commuters (and people who rarely use their cars and so are happy to park them several streets away in non-CPZ spaces). I find parking near my home very stressful as I often have to drive around the block a couple of times to find somewhere, and I fear that if the Lordship Lane CPZ comes in, the West Peckham area will become even less tolerable. What is more, if the closest streets to you are in a CPZ which you are not part of, you are really stuck, which I fear will happen here. Unlike some who say the parking issue is evenings, our street empties out between 6pm and 7pm and is full of spaces at the weekend, so this is a commuter problem. And I don't mind helping out a cash-strapped council which has been unable to increase council tax to fund essential services gaining a few extra pounds in the coffers through CPZs.

Thanks, I am looking for slightly more than a basic will. I need someone who can advise on inheritance tax.

Looking to write our wills and would like to hear of any recommendations of local solicitors who specialise in estate planning and wills. Would also like to hear of anyone offering first session free! TIA.

Reluctantly, I have to consent to this CPZ. Since the DKH CPZ was introduced, this area has become so congested with displaced vehicles. The opening of the new Charter ED school will mean more cars parked around here during the day (teachers and other school staff who commute by car). We need to force the question, how much do I need this car/car journey? and encourage people to use alternative forms of transport. I know the low emissions zone will do this, but CPZs can help stagger this impact. Moreover the 75% discount on hybrids' permits, will quicken the conversion to low emission vehicles in the area. Finally, I know most of the income from CPZs will be spent managing them, but this will create jobs which is a good thing, and any residual income can be used in other cash strapped areas of council expenditure, which are suffering from never ending Tory cuts.