Ossito

The most striking aspect that seems to be missing from the commentary, for me, is the reality that there are many years of negotiations still to come. Sunak has acknowledged that the deal leaves Financial Services in a bad place, and another deal needs to be done in that space. Recognition of qualifications is going to need country-by-country, profession by profession agreements. And has there been any media update on the lack of agreement about Gibraltar? I can imagine that will give the ERG much to focus on...

The original Treaty of Rome set a very clear ambition of ?ever closer union?. This was a founding principle established in 1957, so plenty of time for the UK to know what it was joining. Even putting the detail of any downsides of how the EU operates aside, the trend towards regional collaboration is very clear. Everyone might not like the EU version of this, but I?m yet to understand what the strategic political vision and plan is for a relatively small country being outside any formalised trade blocs within this group-political trend.

It should also be considered in the context of Southwark having an allocation of rapid tests to cover 10% of the Borough every week. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-rapid-covid-19-tests-to-be-rolled-out-across-england

I suspect this has arisen from the Prime Minister?s assertion on Friday that schools have access to rapid testing and should be able to use these as a means of preventing large bubbles of pupils being sent into isolation. The relevant section is at around 13m 40s I was certainly unclear as it isn?t my experience, but perhaps the DfE and Councils are still finalising an approach on this??

Our son?s school has told the whole bubble to isolate for 2 weeks after 1 confirmed case. No mention of getting tested. In a bubble of several forms, the chances of a repeat seem quite high.

As of their open day in 2019, there is no distance criteria, it is simply the highest scores in the entrance test. The Head in 2019 said they had pupils coming from as far away as Wimbledon. It is worth bearing in mind that it is a bit of a walk from the station in Orpington, and, depending on the timings, some of the early trains need a change, so it would be an early start from ED.

Because there is plenty of evidence that lack of transparency in school admissions worsens educational inequalities and results in lots of public money being consumed by appeals, which might not be necessary had parents had easy access to the correct information in the first place. https://schoolsweek.co.uk/the-school-appeals-system-is-cementing-inequalities-its-time-for-the-government-to-rethink-admissions/ Strange why a labour authority would want to make this problem worse.

Wandsworth and Lambeth too...

Ianr, I?ve made a FOI request previously. I was told that Southwark don?t hold the data, and I would have to request it from each school individually.

Hello Does anybody have experience of their children selecting GCSE options at Harris Boys? We are applying for secondary schools this autumn. Looking at Harris' GCSE options information on their website, it seems that pupils take 5 compulsory GCSEs, plus a BTEC in Sport, and are then able to select a further 2 options, meaning that they would leave with 7 GCSES and 1 BTEC. The optional subjects appear to be relatively limited choice. In contrast, the Charter East Dulwich requires pupils to take 5 compulsory GCSEs and then 4 options meaning that they would leave with 9 GCSEs, and a much wider choice of subjects. Does anyone with experience of Harris Boys know the reasons for the more limited numbers / options and whether this has any effect on pupils' applications to sixth forms or universities?

It?s my understanding that the final phase of the East Dulwich Charter will build their outdoor sports facilities next to EDG, presumably now next to lots more standing traffic and fumes. Indeed, I really hope that the health impact of increased fumes on children at Charter East Dulwich, DVI, Hamlet, Alleyns, Harris Primary and Goose Green has been given due consideration. It feels like a lot of children that might be affected by the fumes from increasing standing traffic. Even if the schemes do achieve their long term ambition, has the council adequately assessed the short term risk to children?s health in these locations?