sophiesofa

Or the tip off the old kent road sort of opposite toys r us

Oh that's sad. Maybe they did stop and checked and discovered he was dead. I honestly wouldn't know what to do if I found a dead cat late at night - are vets open late?

Here's a link to the haberdashers' aske's knights academy section 8 ofsted report (after their recent 4 inadequate rating) for anyone who's interested. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/filedownloading/?id=2389453&type=1&refer=0 Sounds like they're improving. I personally think a big factor in that is the increase in exclusions they mention.

Are you overloading it?

Mine's been keyed a couple of times. I think if you're in london there's no point in buying a 'nice' car and just have to accept it will get bashed around. Sad that I think that though. Sorry about your car.

Cedges, I think KK was responding to the post above his, not the OP

It definitely is easier to start a new school than try and turn around a failing one. You can't expect pupils and staff to suddenly be 'good' just because they have a new uniform/building/school name.

I just checked the ofsted for knights and it actually got an 'inadequate' overall not requires improvement. The lowest rating you can get. http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/filedownloading/?id=2344321&type=1&refer=0

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Surely lots of brand new schools require > improvement. I'd have thought it natural for a > school to take a few years to settle. I think they took it over quite a while ago - maybe around 6 years. They got it to good but since it has declined to requires improvement.

taper Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > a top notch secondary school. That's the bit that's up for debate. One of their schools has an ofsted rating of 'requires improvement' so not top notch at all. Yes Hatcham is top notch, I think it's either good or outsanding. James barber has been fantastic in pushing a secondary school froward, I don't think anyone can dispute that. He should be thanked for all of his efforts.

I can't sign up to officially support Charter as I don't have kids yet! But I wanted to post on here to offer my good luck wishes! I'm a secondary school teacher (not at Charter) and I believe Charter is definitely the best choice.

I admit that I have not fully read the q&a documents but I would question some of the criteria. Yes it may be useful to go with a provider that has gone through the free school process before but surely not as important as the long term of having the 'best' school. Knights has a very different intake but you can't ignore it's recent requires improvement rating. Surely progress trumps having been through free school applications!

Sorry if I'm being dense here (or just missed it in the many pages!) but how do I officially support Charter? I didn't realise that it's not too late to support them. I have experience with the federation machine and charter (in differing amounts) and do wish to support Charter. I'm a bit concerned by James barber's obvious annoyance at Charter - doesn't seem appropriate or constructive to me.

My boyfriend and I bought our flat in ED 5 years ago and we had then a joint income of about 58k and saved a ?34,500 deposit by living in a cheap, slightly crap tiny flat with another other couple for a couple of years to save up. We chose to not go on holiday and not going out much in order to save up. We didn't need much space so we picked East Dulwich because we liked it and could just afford a two bed flat do-er upper (230k). We have saved up for all the work we've done on our flat and done it ourselves when we could. If we were looking now with the same deposit we simply would have had to look further out - not ideal but that's just how it works, you look where you can afford. I think it's hard to get on the housing ladder but you need to work for it, compromise and not expect to get somewhere amazing for your first home. Our wages have actually stayed roughly the same yet the cost of living and my commute (I changed jobs) has increased so whilst we're not struggling we rarely can afford to treat ourselves to a meal out and still can't go on holiday. But... we're glad we did it and we're going to sell and move further out and reduce my commuting costs and our monthly mortgage payments. We're in a very fortunate position now as we'll have a healthy deposit. I have friends looking at the moment and it just sounds horrible with this offers over business and open days. The people I feel the most sorry for are my single friends who want to buy. Some people I know are buying with a friend just so they can get on the 'ladder' but don't particularly want to live with someone else. I don't know what my message is really but I just wanted to give a different example.

DuncanW Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > They both have consecutive > outstanding Ofsted reports and appear to be great > schools. Haberdasher's is a federation - Knights in downham very recently got a 'requires improvement' ofsted report. I think it's great both schools are biding. I personally would prefer it to be Charter who win but either way it's excellent that there'll be a new secondary school.

A girl called Lanesra. Spell it backwards...

Teachers generally do let the school/head know early on so they can decide what to do. Kes Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > But presumably the senior management can only > decide which classes to close/ if to close the > whole school once they know which teachers are on > strike? If lots of teachers (in the case of a > multi-union strike) keep quiet until the last > minute the what can the head etc do?

They have gone crazy. We bought our 2 bed garden flat on Lordship Lane for ?230k in 2009. We've done it up but not added any square footage or anything. Had it valued the other day at ?525k!!! WTF that's quite a lot more than double. Absolutely insane.

My car was keyed on lordship lane the other week. I just don't see why damaging people's property is fun! Grr indeed.

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. I would never work for a Harris personally. Children are children, not data! Edited to remove the part referred to below by James. I've been trying so hard not to get involved in the Harris monopoly debate, but hearing they're going to run the primary on the police station site tipped me over the edge! I just wish Harris would stop...

Saffron Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Sounds like you might be getting the brush off. > They can't even offer you a brief meeting THIS > term? A lot of schools have 6 terms a year so it probably means after half term.

DulwichFox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > There is/was a car with the rear offside smashed > in. No sign of any other vehicle when I passed > (Walking) > Road and Pavement closed off. 15.30 ish. > > Foxy The police van that was there had a smashed front section.

It now says it should be mended by 10 am tomorrow! Annoying

I too have post issues. On the plus side the staff at the sorting offce on Silvester Road are always helpful and cheerful.

They've just opened the road to traffic again now although I can only see buses along either side but presuamably once they're cleared the cars will be allowed through next.