keane

I think this is an interesting piece on charitable status of private schools: http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/oct/07/private-schools-charitable-status-reform

What are their 'fruitful' partnerships with local state schools then?! They won't have anything to do with the numerous requests from Heber primary as one of their nearest neighbouring state primaries!

I would really like to see the exact breakdown of the 6 and a half million this year received by the beneficiary schools from the Dulwich Estate to see if all the money in fact does get used to fund scholarships.

Well as I said on the other thread about the money they receive from the dulwich estate for the 'education of poor scholars,' one thing Alleyns haven't been doing for the local community under their charitable status is allowing Heber primary school to sometimes use their field on the left hand side of Townley Rd as you go down the road with Lordship Lane behind you, for supervised (by Heber) p.e lessons. That field & 2 tennis courts is barely used in the week. Heber have been asking for the last 6 years. And yes I think they should do this as part of their charitable status. They receive money from the estate, no one who contributes money to the dulwich estate is given a breakdown of how that money is used by the beneficiary private schools. Heber is a great state primary but has very little outside space, could Alleyns as the nearest school with lots of space not share some of it? Dulwich prep allow Kingsdale to use their playing fields, why not Alleyns?

Good luck hope it is a real success.

I have 2 children at Heber one in year 6 & one in year 2 & I don't recognise any of the issues the op makes in her/his post. We get weekly newsletters, teachers & the head normally email or phone back on the same day you make an enquiry. Lots of meetings about curriculum & teachers always available for quick word at pick up or drop off & longer if you make an appointment. In my opinion the 'downgrade' by ofsted was a farce - I and lots of other parents have seen the school improve year on year, I think the ofsted had more to do with Gove changing the measuring systems for ofsted to try and get more schools turned into academies. Heber appealed the ofsted report and a new re-inspection is firmly in the pipeline. I would say my experience of the school has been overwhelmingly positive. It's also oy the beginning of the term! You should also have a yellow book to record reading progress & a weekly book change to supplement reading at home.

As stated by the op and in my post the money is supposed to be used to help 'poor scholars'.

Yes but why do they give ?6 million a year from money paid to them by local People to private schools? What is it used for.

It's not just dulwich college that gets the money, the group of Dulwich private schools that receive money from the dulwich estate do so every year - this year they received over ?6 million and yet if u live on the dulwich estate you are given no break down of where this money goes - are they spending it all on assisting poor scholars which was the instruction set down in the original pledge by Edward Alleyn? I very much doubt it. I think they should be made to reveal exactly where the ?6 million was spent and see if it fits in with the charitable aims stated in the original covenant. Meanwhile Alleyns who barely use the playing fields , running track & two tennis courts on the left hand side as you go down Townley road from Lordship Lane, have repeatedly over a number of years refused to allow children from Heber primary school 5 minutes walk down the road, to use this facilities for supervised (by teachers & parents from Heber) games lessons. Heber has a very small concrete playground & minimal outside space & would really benefit from being able to share these facilities when they are not in use. The MOST alleyns will allow is for Heber to hold their sports day on this field ONCE a year. And yet they have charitable status?! I think they should be hauled over the coals.

Just took my boys into Mem's the new barbers & would really recommend them, great boys cuts for ?9 and really friendly staff. Also a totally new experience for me in a barbers shop that I got offered wine, Turkish coffee, tea, or juice as part of the service & lovely for a mum waiting in barber shop!

Our spoons came from woolworths by Barbara Comyns Praxis, Fay Weldon The visitation, Michelle Roberts Chronicle of a death foretold, Gabriela Marquez To kill a mockingbird, Harper Lee

Toys r us have them, old Kent road or Sydenham

What school is this? At my kids primary in year one they did only get homework once a week on a Friday to be in on Tues so it really wasn't very much!

Why is it closing? I thought they were doing well - no mention of it in a big profile piece they did with the Telegraph a couple of weeks ago which seems strange?

I think it's a really good idea to invite the whole class if you can in reception as that way you meet more parents & your child will then get invited to other parties which makes their life and yours a bit more fun - & god knows there is so much angst with bringing up children that at least this helps lighten the load in the long term! I used to get brown paper bags from the grocer or similar & get my kids to colour them in or I would write the names of children on them in felt tip & put a few bits from amazon or similar in each bag. Or buy bulk sweets & divide them between the bags which is a cheap way of doing it & they feel like they are going home with a lovely pick n Mix bag day the end of the party.

?500 crazy expensive for 2 hours in room in pub they are taking the Mickey. Try, community centre on Darrel Road, constitutional club on east dulwich grove, at John & at Clements church hall, alleyns hire out their cricket pavilion, we've had kids parties in all these places over the years and all were around ?100-?150 for longer than 2 hours! Also the room above the old mag now the patch is fine & isn't like being in a pub atall as it's a separate room upstairs.

Privately tutor to prepare for reception entrance - is this necessary?! Do any four year olds need to be privately tutored to enter reception? Reception is mostly play based with phonics & beginning to read & write, I cant see the need for tutoring at this age? But then again my children were very happy in a state primary but I don't know much about the private sector, just think it seems very young to be privately tutoring..

And why should the op check if they are there & go elsewhere I they are? That's crazy. They kicked a ball belonging to a small child into someone's garden on purpose. That playground is clearly aimed at younger children, and if they are going to hang out there they could be nice to the smaller kids or as another poster said - get a bus to the southbank & do some skateboarding or something more positive.

Dulwich village won't have street art because the Dulwich estate wouldn't allow it despite proximity of the picture gallery. I would love it if the creepy fly, bee thing which is almost opposite our house near the plough was in the village instead because I see it every day & I really dislike It! It's all subjective of course but for a space that big I would rather look at something more inspiring, bright, interesting than a creepy bee fly thing drinking tea...

Water is off again lordship lane near plough has anyone hear more from Thames water?

There used to be small slot machine place on lordship lane then I think there was a threshers then that went bust. There are quite a few wine shops now though with Bruno & bossman wines & obvs co op sell wine too, tho I always thought odd bins quite a good shop.

Not moaning just wondering if anyone knows whether there is an event on in dulwich park or whether it's a private party with dj's, I know it's summer & it's not late hence not moaning but have to say the crapness of the music (in my opinion obvs) & the volume is getting on my nerves! Tho accept if I played my favourite music full blast for hours in my garden people would probably hate it too!

Can anyone recommend a chiropodist in local area other than the one up by the library? ( nothing wrong with them but just finding them bit pricey & would like to find alternative)

Went last night & loved the atmosphere & menu etc but bit disappointed that the kitchen had closed before 10pm so no chance of ordering any snacks or food with drinks. Is the kitchen always going to be closed by 10?

Traffic wardens were issuing tickets to people who were parked there at 9.15 this morning. There was a row going on as the people who got the tickets were correctly saying that the new signage was not clear. It seems that it is now no parking in the daytime, think it was until 4? But I didn't see the sign. Is a bit crazy as the white lines are still there that make it look like it is on to park so I think people may not realise.