Ann

Agree with the above, thank God people like you are around and that the dog wasn't left unnecessarily long. It's a bit like newborn babies being left at a site where they would assuredly be found before too much harm; it's too much of a coincidence that she was left outside the warden's office, they knew someone like kamila would notice. My dog's not chipped but is never left alone and never strays when walked, it's nice to know there are so many careful owners out there. Let's hope the dog is reunited with her family or at least placed with another appropriate one.

Well said, Huguenot.

I agree with BB100 and I commented on that thread. I suppose (Chrism) also I would be a bit disappointed with no trips as all in Year 8 but I would add that there are often more trips at GCSE Level, my year 10 son is on a Geography field trip as I write. To be honest you will find varying degrees of good teaching ( probably ) within most schools. Said son could/would never have opted for Geography as an option if it had been down to his year7 and 9 teacher; " Mum we don't learn anything we just copy off the board", to the wonderfully inspirational teacher he had in year 8 and now mercifully has for GCSE! I could give a similar story for his Spanish and English teachers in his case. Cynically but truthfully I have learned that schools will give key classes to the 'best teachers' to the detriment of year 7 and 8 pupils and likewise years 3 and 4 in primary school. A contentious opinion no doubt but I would be very surprised if forummers with extensive experience of the educational system would contest. It's also shocking going back to Dorithy's post that only one girl at Goodrich was offered a place at Kingsdale! So much for a local Comprehensive; I would have thought that pupils at Heber and St John's have had a similar result?

Cross posted with your post Debi. My typing is very slow.

it seems to me, as it did then, that the scholarships were a way of attracting families initially when it was trying to build a reputation as a decent school. In other words "Give us a try, we can offer something other schools can't." It also seems that the school has gained popularity sooner than it expected which is great but is at a bit of a loss as to how to process these scholarships, hence children not being given a place having gained one (a scholarship) and how on earth do you manage a waiting list like that? People here have mentioned 'lottery' as part of the admissions policy which to me is all a bit no-man's-land, roll your dice and hope you get lucky. Horrible if that's your local school and first choice as it offers no degree of confidence. Well done Debi. You certainly took on that school when it was not popular and have no doubt been part of the phenomenon which has made the school what it is today. My other query was that it is unusual for Comprehensives to have three Specialisms. Kingdale now has Music, Sport and Maths? Does that mean that out of the 15% admitted on that basis split them equally ie 5% each? For an over-subscribed school you'd have to be pretty talented to achieve that. I think that might be what Quennie23 was infering? Cherry picking?

Lots of other Comprehensives have specialisms whereby they can recruit usually about 10% on that basis, I believe. That's nothing new and I believe it usually entailed an entrance test outside of the normal criteria such as distance, faith etc. Kingsdale are different in that they offer scholarships in various areas but don't necessarily offer a place on that basis, ie aptitude for that particular area. I recall from previous threads on this forum that children have been offered 'scholarships' but not ultimately given a year seven place, leading me at least to conclude that the admissions criteria is confusing at best. I sincerely hope that all your children will find a school that suits them. If your child is motivated and have supprortive parents that counts for an awfull lot. Ann

boonoo, I'm so sorry. I live very close to you and have been burgled in the past but not recently. Your post had made me think that we should really all have one of those new separate hard drives which I believe are not that expensive. Like you, I've got a couple of old laptops in our house not worth much and not containing anything worthwhile. Anyone out there who give recommendations on saving valuable data?

I agree with Peckhamgatecrasher, places will become available. With my daughter we never got first choice but did eventually get 2nd and 3rd, although her's was the first year of the pan London admissions and trust me it didn't work! This thread however does echo the thread from a couple of years ago when so many local parents were disappointed with primary school allocations; local schools are horrendously over-subscribed, namely Kingsdale and Charter. You will then get allocated the nearest school available completely regardless to any 'preferences' expressed. It's a lottery unless you've subscribed to a Faith, an Independent or (not available locally), a Grammar. Mark Dodds is right, a lot of local schools are better options now than a comparitively short time ago. I remember when Charter was William Penn, Kingsdale was a no-go area and London Nautical sounds like a fantastic school now but wasn't always. I can only hope that the Harris Academies prove to be a success, they could be fantastic schools locally in years to come. I sincerely hope so. Added to say pupils at St Thomas the Apostle can do very well. I know for a fact ex-pupils have gained scholarships for Dulwich College and Alleyn's Sixth Forms. I've been told that the more academically able boys are well 'catered' for. This has come from staff members known to me who have nothing to gain from me, I'm an ordinary member of society, no political agenda's etc. Not meant to patronise Mark Dodds or any others. I can understand frustration at being allocated a faith school when not requested, Brezzo has made a good point; your third choice was all boys and that's what you've got. I suspect(like Primary School) you will get the nearest school with availabilty regardless to what you asked for.

I agree with the others. If your baby is a bit small they will rescan to check that the baby is continuing to grow and that the placenta is working well. Enjoy the extra scan and for what it's worth birth weight hardly ever correlates to a child/adult size; so a 6lb newborn could end up larger that a 9 pounder only one would be easier to get out!

Another five from me. Can pay via Paypal if easier. Good luck and thanks for posting.

I thought also that tivat's post was partially parents adapting to ' Secondary School Life', but I would never undermine their anxieties. It's a huge step jumping from primary to secondary. One of the aspects I missed was that regular drop off ( if not pick up), you could always have with the teacher if needed. You were also in regular contact with other parents. That doesn't really happen at secondary school and it's a big adjustment for us parents. I don't have children at The Charter but would suggest that if your not receiving e-mails, texts from then they have no concerns. I would suggest sending an e-mail to the head of year copied into the child's form teacher. They won't mind. Good luck. If this has been tried already persist and escalate to deputy head.

Good point ClareC, but school trips still come in at about ? 750- ?800 for one child all in but travel by coach! I would agree wholeheartedly that basic accommodation is fine. I've self-catered as a family in the Alps with no problems. For the evenings when your in it's a lovely way to relax. If you want to go out then do. Again Italy much cheaper than France or Switzerland, haven't skied in Austria bit not sure of the altitude there? The OP sounds quite sporty, you should take to it like a duck to water. Good luck!

Seconded, have done it several times and about to do it again.

The OP was concerned having seen the police in the park. I would be too. The thread now says now found and I'm sure we're all grateful and relieved.

Also beware of getting the 'Fit to Fly ' letter from a GP, they can charge for it but the midwives never do. I agree with others who've implied it's not so much the flight but insurance etc. that gets the airlines nervous. Obviously you wouldn't want to have a premature baby is a foreign country although we are covered with oue EHIC cards within the EEC. Does anyone know how that works in reality? Such as a broken leg ( skiiing) or premature baby. Both would require quite expensive treatment. Do you wave your card and walk away or pay up and face a complicated merry-go-round of insurance claims/ EHIC claims? Good luck Karter with your trip, I think too it's a good idea to have 'one last trip....'

peach

Thank you for the clarification Emily. Stupid me, but you said invitation originally. I never said anything about posters other than that the original post/poster wasn't as honest as it could have been.

Yes Emily, so he is a parent? You say he was 'Up around the school'. I'm sorry but that doesn't really make sense. The letter went out to parents you say, so he must be a parent. Not a problem , it's just that he didn't admit that in his original post, if that's the case.

Moos, Sillywoman and littledfamily thank you for your posts . Emily's post would have scared the sh*t out of me if I was just about to have a baby. I wish people would remember that sometimes when they post here. Sorry to say but Emily does seem a little embittered, check out her posts on The Local Schools thread. This section of the forum remains very friendly, genuine and hugely beneficial to the local community. Well done all of you!

Tony Rabbit, you seem to be familiar with an invitation displaying ' Playmobil' characters that most of us are not familiar with ( the invitation that is). Your original post also suggests you are genuinely curious about the performance of local schools. How did you get the 'Playmobil' designed invitation. Was this an open parent governor meeting at the school? Did other forum members know about this meeting? Tony Rabbit seemed to. It's just all a bit odd. As an outsider from Goodrich school, I would not put too much faith on the value added. As Fuchia very correctly stated, the contextual value is a better indication of true progress. I hate to say this but it's almost like saying the 'value added' is great because KS1 was so poor and it shouldn't have been. I'm not a teacher but have children at the other end of the educational spectrum, ( years 10 and 12). One thing I know for sure is that I want my teachers to get the best out of my children and this has mostly been achieved; I actually steered my son's GCSE choices in a couple of his options purely on my perceived aptitude of the teachers in those particular subjects. So far it's payed off. However I understand entirely concerns of any parent who thinks the teaching is not as it should be. Tony Rabbit I don't blame you for you original query but if you are a parent please say so! If your not I apologise. Let's hope all our children get the education they deserve. I want all our local schools to be good or outstanding.

feast

clots

lusts

slurs

I've watched with interest as have others. My overall impression from the series is that the women aren't that happy. Sorry I can't remember names but the first of the brides last night would win my award for the most miserable bride ever. The lovely young woman (second bride) who had had to give her job and comfortable family home to live in a caravan with her new husband was a pitiful sight and I admired her honesty. Can a single person on this forum truly want that for their daughter? Of course they woudn't! The bare knuckle fight was shocking but preferable surely to the horrible incidents seen so recently in our midst. Perhaps we shouldn't be too quick to condemn elements of our society, Gypsies do seem to have a code of conduct that seems to work well for them. Britains's inner cities arguably don't.