toast

I think Southwark admissions follow a national policy so would be the same as Kingston. I cant see that they give 'nearest school' enough consideration if there are all of these 'black holes'.

Lots of people have thought like this which explains the small catchment areas, and the increadibly high prices around some schools. Three years is a long time schools change, application procedures change and we will probably have a new primary around then. I know they are all long shots but you may find yourself paying a whole load more to live near the current 'good' schools and it can all change. Having said that there are definately areas that have much more choice than others and some areas around the Rye with no choice at all.

Thanks Laurie for raising the issue, extending the 63 would make mine and my families lives much easier.

Hi don't know the school but if it helps I have heard (from reliable source in childrens services) that although as yet unreleased their results this year were amazing. Sounds like Southwark has had a really good year. Bessimer and places like Iveydale seem to be benifiting from other ED families being sent there with no choice, hopefully there will be lots of bright kids there and it will be truly mixed rather than amy kind of sink school. Would be interested to know where you live. There does seem to be an issue over families not getting into any of their nearest schools. Would love to know if you failed to get into your nearest school, as i think we may next year.

Rumor has it that Harris boys site used to be a primary school, they robbed Peter to pay Paul.

Ooohhh.. I liked that! Well put. I would love to know too, especially as i live in a 'black hole'.

Sorry, just read whole post. My clock still works a year on. We didn't use bribery just as a tool so that he knew when it was time to get up (how else would they know!) It did have to be totally out of his reach though outherwise he would have woken it up himself.

Sorry if already mentioned but...... Bunny clock!!! If you introduce it right and make it his little friend it can be magic. Saved our bacon when son no 2 arrived. Keeps them in bed in the mornings too. I got mine on t-internet but i saw one in jo jo mama

They also have the best school fate/ carnival in the whole of ED! Any hay... Back to this thread! As Mrs Lotte points out you may be lucky to get anything withing a mile of your home! So get petitioning your councillors asap.

My experience of the Goose Green Nursery was really positive. Yes there are some challenging kids but the sesions are increadibly well planned and resourced. There is plenty of creative project work and a whole lotta love there. The rest of the school does have its problems but it will improve, lets face it with Dulwich families having no other choice and its location its going to radically change in the next couple of years.

It also just looks/ feels a bit weird (i know this could be a bit unhelpful but vibe does matter in these places).

PS local schools may be dead set against expansion but it's not their choice. The council can and have forced these things through and it may be the only solution until they can build another school near the Rye.

Bessimer grang in particular did really well this year (again found out via reliable grapevine), Goose Green Nursary is wonderful and with the extra places freed up at Dog Kennel Goose Green will have less of the estate pressure and improve fast. Look at me the Robert Preston of the Dulwich school world;-) But it still wont be enough. Southwark schools are getting really good (where else could young M/C families afford to move over the last few years). Like i have said elsewhere the admissions people are working really hard to look after us but clearly seriously underestermating 2010 demand. Admissions are really responsive and helpful but the local MP's have been shocking. It took Tessa Jowell to step in to get things moving. Have the local MP's not walked down lordship Lane? Toddlertastic! I am lobbying MP's now the local election will be slap bang in the middle of the May's admissions chaos following our letters in April. They need gently reminding of this. This area rocks for kids and once they get a grip of local needs it will be the perfect place to live.

Hi sent you private message

We are hoping we have had it but no idea if we actually did. Baby had it worst, high temp, diorrhoea and off food for days. His temp got to 39 calpol was doing nothing to bring it down and he became really floppy. Spent night in A&E being monitored. They were lovely, esp when i became totally covered in puke. The rest of us got a very mild version of the same but much more a 24h thing. Even the 3y old did'nt suffer too much, so like i say hoping we all now have some immunity. Would love to know if it was swine flu but the hospital said they had stopped testing for swine flu and his blood tests pointed towards a virus.

Not sure but i know its a popular and last min so the staff dont know. They have also put an extra class (or 1/2 class) perminantly in Lynbourn grove (the one by Denmark hill). The idea being that places ripple across cambelwell and ED. Helpful but no way near enough. Will free up places in Dog Kennel but with growing number of kids and people not yet trusting Goose Green I doubt it will free up much as far as Heaber and Goodrich are concerned. If you know anyone who will apply in September warn them to get active. Council are making their plans for extra places in Sept 2009 and making decisions re 2010 now, so now and the next few weeks in when to lobby. I got all my info from calling/ emailing important people. Think i should change my forum name to obsessedaboutschools. Goodnews is Southwark schools rocketed this year and we have loads of upandcomming great schools. Just have to make sure we can get into one!

Despite it's other problems the nursary at Goose Green is really lovely.

Our boys are exactly the same ages! Must have met you around. Up for wearing our boys out together

Lack of money is an excuse for everything, there is lots of extra funding comming in and i bet in the next local elections all parties promis a new primaey in ED probably right in the middle of the Rye. ED is just rally badly hit because of the local Baby boom. Parents with 3 year olds have no idea what a squeez it's going to be. The one off solution was a 'bulge class'. A two form entry school is being turned into three form for one year only. Great for this year but increases the sibling burden for next making it even more unlikely that my son will get into any of his nearest schools.

My 3y old has no nursary over the summer and i'm running out of things to do to knacker him out for nap time. Any suggestions?

There were big problems in my local area. My neighbours were the group which met with Tessa Jowell. They got a solution but its a one off and wont work for next year when my son will apply. It's these areas in the middle surrounded by good schools but not close enough to any. All were offered places the other side of Pckham. I am keen to keep the campaign going so do contact me. Happy to give you my number over private email.

Hi I bumped into one of my ex students, turns out she lives on the next road. She is up for babysitting and is totally trust worthy. I want to make sure i offer her the going rate but have no idea what that might be. What is fair these days?

Anyone else getting nervous? According to a school receptionist some school catchment areas were as small as 500 meters this year, 15 children would have had to take places OVER 2 miles away. Local parents made real progress this year using the press and lobbying their local MPs and did manage to get a one off solution this year but next year will be worse and we may not have the high profile support to get heard. If anyone has already set up a group on this forum let me know and i would love to join.

Next year the problem may be worse. We need to start lobbying now.