school applications

[prdarling]

"Lewisham will be sending their letters out 20 April but they don't appear to be trying to create normal extra reception classes 'bulge classes'.

The most important thing Southwark will be doing is ensuring we have all reception kids in reception classes. Having bulge classes and the distraction or purdah and supporting elections means a five working day delay is required"[/b]

Mr Barber

I recall one of your excuses for Southwark not being able to release the school application results along with the rest of London on time, in April, was as above, that you are busy creating bulge classes while Lewisham is not (I quote above).

This is absolutely untrue as Fairlawn School has a bulge class for September. Fairlawn is in Lewisham. I rest my case.

So basically supporting elections seems to be your only excuse..do you think that you are the only London borough supporting the elections? This is a ludicrous argument.

It seems to me that Southwark is the only London borough incapable of sorting out the school applications and campaigning at the same time, in which case we residents of the borough have much to worry about under a Lib Dem authority.

By not releasing the results,you are creating needless chaos because residents on the Southwark/Lewisham borders who have to accept their Lewisham place by 5th May will have to accept and then possibly reject places once 10th May finally rolls around. This is clearly making a bad situation much worse and is very disrespectful to the other boroughs involved.

Mr Barber, I urge you to release the school applications as soon as possible.

[Smiler]

See the previous thread on this http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,445495

[Moos]

I'm not sure using the family room is the best way to reach James Barber. He's not obliged to read the entire forum to check whether someone has posted a thread for him.

Suggest you either post on his thread in the main room or email or PM him directly.

[prdarling]

Have moved to main room, thanks for pointing this out. Not a big poster so am a bit clueless re locations.

Smiler I have seen the thread - my point is that in that thread one of his excuses was the organisation of bulge classes in Southwark which is not happening in Lewisham. I just wanted to point out that indeed it is, so his excuse portfolio is dwindling.

I just want someone to do something rather than making bloody ridiculous excuses, it's just not good enough.

Anyway, thread moved

Cheers

[toast]

It would make parents, esp Lewisham parents lives easier if places in Southwark were released sooner. It would also be a show of confidence by the lib dems. If, as they are suggesting the problem has been resolved by bulge classes they could allocate early, before the election and put pay to the idea that they are acting out of self interest.

[BeccaL]

I thought one of the lewisham schools burned down recently which might explain the bulge at fairlawn?

[Fuschia]

Lewisham:

http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/7294F22B-0661-48A3-9EB9-1F125286B6B7/0/aa141367301345b6b9e3789927131952Item12PrimaryPlacesStrategy24February2010.PDF

"Given the predictions of rising continued demand for primary places ... the provision of

permanent places is a more appropriate response than the incremental

provision of ?bulge? classes. However, the necessary capital is not currently

available to convert any of these into permanent increases in schools?

published admissions limits from 2011-12 onwards...

(Hence) The immediate priorities are to:

prioritise the delivery of temporary ?bulge? accommodation for 2010-11

and 2011-12;

explore the potential for releasing some existing space in schools by

increasing the number of mixed age classes;

if and when sufficient finance is available, deliver permanent increases in

PAL on existing school sites for delivery from 2011-12, and, in order to do

so, consider incremental approaches to building projects;

investigate possible new school sites for delivery from 2011-12 onwards

negotiate other sites including co-locations for delivery from 2011-12

onwards ..."

[prdarling]

Hmm maybe so but I still don't see why we have to wait until after the elections until we get our results.

Many London boroughs are coping with similar situations and can manage to get their results out in April. I don't feel that JB has given any satisfactory response to this matter and I like most of the other mums I have spoken to along the way don't think that, and I quote the good councillor "Having bulge classes and the distraction or purdah and supporting elections is reason enough to add to the confusion.

I simply don't get it. It's a very poor explanation at best, a pitiful excuse at worst

[Fuschia]

From the same report "As of the end of January 2010 cut-off date, 3699 First Preference

applications had been received on time for the 3156 Reception places

available. ...If late applications are factored in ... this

should result in an additional Borough-wide demand of 15-16fe...

It was ... never

envisaged that... refurbishments or,

...new builds could be delivered before 2011-12. As a consequence any

increases for 2010-11 will continue, as per previous years, to be ?bulge?

classes, that is one-off increases in the Reception intakes."

Lewisham's plan for 2010, like Southwark's, has always been for bulge classes, according to this report.

[prdarling]

Thanks Fuschia for the clarification