bonaome

See http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,1231945

I've been doing this commute (from home near ED Police Station bus stop to the office - right opposite Goodge St station) every working day for the last five years. Basically I have learnt:- QUICKEST: bus to ED station> ED to LBG> Jubilee line to Waterloo> Northern line to Goodge St (with a bit of luck and a following wind I can do this in just under an hour door to door) LEAST STRESS: 176 all the way - (it can take an hour, it can take all day - I don't go this way now as the timing is too unpredictable) MY PREFERRED ROUTE MOST DAYS: bus to DMK> Thameslink to Farringdon> tube to Euston Square and then walk - the only problem is the shocking unreliability of the Thameslink, so I use an app to check the thameslink is running OK and if not I switch to the ED>LBG>Jubilee>Northern route. If all OK on Thameslink the 08:19 will get you to Farringdon about 20 to 9 and then with the tube and short walk from Euston Sq you'll end up at Goodge St just before 9am. The 08:19 is a very busy train, more space at the back carriages and lots of folk get off at The Elephant. This takes me an hour, door to door. ALTERNATIVELY: Bus to DMK > DKM to VIC> Victoria line to Warren Street - but Victoria underground often closed for overcrowding (when it is, go to the District Line entrance on the other side of Terminus Place where you'll be able to get in) and the Victoria line is packed when you do manage to get on it. I now avoid this route as since the building works at Victoria started it's all got a bit too unpredictable, timing wise. If all goes to plan, takes an hour - same as Thameslink route. In all cases, if you're the sort of person who doesn't mind going a bit earlier, say 30 mins, it will pay dividends.

Please have a read of this press release from Network Rail http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/News-Releases/Improvements-at-Denmark-Hill-station-unveiled-by-transport-minister-1e70.aspx We actually have ?...a much improved station which will provide passengers with a much better experience as they use the railway. There is better access, better information and better facilities, all of which have made a huge difference to the quality of the station." It seems we have also got ... "better passenger waiting areas and new retail facilities including a coffee shop. Accessible toilets have also been provided within the new station building." The station was opened by Norman Baker MP, Fiona Taylor (Network Rail?s route managing director for Kent) and Charles Horton (Managing Director of Southeastern.) I'm going to tweet @networkrailPR and make them aware of the issues being raised on this thread.

> People think demographics matter more than > teaching and it doesn't. I know the location is a > bit tricky but if this school served a more > affluent / white intake, ED parents would be > walking over hot coals to get their kids a place > regardless of how tricky it was to get to. We looked at BG and put it on our list. Also GG. We'd have been happy with either, but our preference was for Heber and we were delighted to be offered a place for two key reasons a) it's a few yards from our house, but moreover b) we felt it had the best overall atmosphere (community spirit, philosophy). Four years later I still think Heber has a fantastic community spirit, that the kids are really happy and supportive of one another, that they are respectful of each, other and that the staff are warm, caring and do a great job. As I said previously I don't think academics are everything. Especially at primary. I know two families who have moved to Heber from BG. Neither felt BG was a poor school, but both prefer Heber based on the atmosphere and, frankly, the practicalities of getting to it/from it. I hope to go to the meeting next Tuesday and will raise the value added score issue. However it looks to me more and more like a bit of 'yes minister' madness.

DulwichBorn&Bred Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Does anyone find it strange they did the > Inspection the first few weeks of the term? > More so as the nursery teachers were judged > outstanding at teaching and kids do well but it > was the first week (2nd week for some)and there is > no way the teachers can take credit for how the > children were. I find it bizarre . Inspections happen at all times of the academic year. Obviously when an inspection is in the first few weeks of the Autumn term this means that teachers will not know their class well and will have little work to show inspectors. In this case the inspectors are supposed to review the work from the teacher's previous year's class. This was discussed last night at the meeting and is another area where, as I understand it, there were irregularities and the proper procedure wasn't followed - along with many other things that were detailed. I have to say, it seems to me that the inspection was a shambles. There's a meeting next Tuesday at the school to talk about "the data" - the tracking data the school uses to monitor progress of pupils through the school from reception to leaving. I'd urge parents who can attend to do so. It's a good opportunity to discuss the value added score, and if I can make it I shall do that.

I went to the Q&A at the school last night. The basis of the complaint to Ofsted, which the LA is supporting, is that the inspection was not properly conducted. Certainly the report does not reflect my experience of the school (daughter yr3) or the experience of the other parents I know. I know the school to be a happy community of kids who are well behaved, who know and understand the school values, and who are really supportive of one another. It's a lovely school, in my experience, and happpily I think that is somewhat reflected in the Ofsted report. I think there is more to being a good school than just academic progress. Academic progress is of course important. And I also believe that teaching at the school is good, or better and that the Ofsted report judgements are wrong, and that in this area the school was not correctly assessed. It seems Southwark LA agrees, and that is why they are supporting the complaint. At the meeting last night it was very clear to me that the school has not been generously assessing its own performance, but that they have consistently involved the LA and external consultants to validate their approach and progress. The value added score is 99.7 the data available here http://www.education.gov.uk/cgi-bin/schools/performance/school.pl?urn=100793 But I don't know when that data point was generated. It's certainly the case that there's very little variance in these scores for schools in the area - compared to the variance in the data set - and I wonder if it tells a story about inclusion and sen provision in the borough as a whole and e school in particular. I know both these are things that the school has been addressing. The KS2 performance tables tell the tale of an improving school. Percentage achieving Level 4 or above in both English and mathematics 2009 2010 2011 2012 Heber 63% 76% 77% 85% LA 72% 73% 77% 83% England 72% 73% 74% 79% (Source is the data set I link to above - sorry I can't get the formatting better) All in all, I think the school has been poorly represented in the Ofsted and I support the Head and the governors in their complaint against Ofsted.

Some time ago, a friend of mine went out with a copper. One night he was called to a domestic tiff. Turned out the bloke causing all the trouble collected and was extremely competent with samurai swords. Almost killed said copper. Bloke ended up going down for attempted murder. Essentially, the police often do not know what situation they may encounter. And the public turn out to be flipping rubbish at judging situations. I think living London is a difficult job. It's not one many people could do and fact as I think the ads used to say "I couldn't. Could you?"

There's also the photo restorer people on the corner of North Cross Road and (I think) Ulverscroft. They might let you do an emergency print.

Snappy Snaps in Brixton or on Rye Lane.

Meant to say that there is no possibility of getting on the 08:19.

The 08:04 will be ok. Go towards the back of the train. Some of you might even get a seat!

linzbee Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > oh please! they are 1 mile away. its 10 minutes on > the bus. > Its like me complaining if they moved the police > station to Sainsburys. > THAT's 1600 metres further away from me than they > currently are! the sky is falling the sky is > falling! LOVING your work!

James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The survey I was assured shows drivers going > faster than 20mph day and night. Isn't the speed limit is 30 on that stretch of the A2216?

@James Barber James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Making it 20mph will involve making this crystal clear. Why can't we just make it crystal clear that it's 30?

James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The two traffic counts I arranged with officers > are a LOT of nagging show that the mean average > speed is below 20mph but that the 85th percentil > is much higher. The research suggests this happens > when a minority are not clear what speed is > correct. The recommendation under such > circumstances is to have a 20mph speed limit with > appropriate signing to make it crystal clear. Why not have ... appropriate signing to make it crystal clear .... it's 30?

It's usually ok if you get on towards the back of the train. Where the new bridge is, and further back.

Heber is lovely. Great community atmosphere. A very friendly school. The kids all seem to be very happy there. It's been improving steadily over the last couple of years and the teaching now seems to match the pastoral care which I've found to be excellent. You can have a look at the website http://www.heberprimaryschool.com/ but of course you're much better going to see it for yourself. It has become quite popular in recent years. And I think Goodrich remains popular too. Probably best to put them 1 and 2 on your form if they're your nearest community schools. There's no catchment areas. Places are allocated to kids in care, special ed needs, siblings, closest distance to the school gate (as the crow flies). As Heber is only 2 forms of entry (60 kids) it's pretty eary to find there's only afew non-sibling places up for grabs, with the net effect that you have to live within a couple of hundred meters of the school to get in. You might find this useful http://www.findaschool.info/LA_map.php#!Southwark

Not had any issues with O2 either - in 4 years been here. Choose based on which seems to be offering the best deal. You could go EE if you want 4G mobile. Or O2 might be better if like me you bundle your home phone and broadband to get an overall cheaper deal.

bonaome Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > There's a note in the window with the details. ... including where they're moving to, something about operating out of some other business, and a telephone number and email address.

Curmudgeon Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Really? > > Was open last weekend > > What a shame... They were a little hit and miss > but pleasant They've moved the shop up the Plough end of the Lane. There's a note in the window with the details.

first mate Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > bonaome, so you'd rather no be involved? I'm involved. I read through all of the materials of the last application very carefully and wrote to the planning officer with my views. Over Christmas, I'll read through all of the new materials in detail (I've only scanned them so far - busy old run up to Christmas at work) and I'll then write again to the planning officer with my views. BTW: You keep saying that the previous application was rejected. This isn't true. It was withdrawn before a decision had been made.

first mate Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Who does the time limit on objections > and the positing of the application over a major > holiday period work better for, in this case? Those of us who work full time, have busy family lives and who need a public holiday if we're ever to find the time to read through the materials posted on the planning site.

first mate Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > the prior application that was rejected It wasn't rejected, it was withdrawn.

Hi Admin, eastdulwichforum.co.uk does not load the site since you made thr last set of updates. I.e. the site only loads specifying the domain name www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk, if you can't be bothered to type the www. at the front the site appears dead. I believe you need to mirror the A records in the DNS settings for www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk for eastdulwichforum.co.uk - but I' out of my technical depth now and will leave it with you. Thanks

"Is 600k now *really* the threshold for anyone, like my little family, trying to get a three bed terrace around here?" No I don;t think so. See this Rightmove search http://bit.ly/LiLHxM -But I guess it depends on what exactly you're looking for though I'd have though a few in this list would fit the bill. *Sorry for messy post, the formatting toolbar has disappeared off the forum.