St johns and St Clements bulge class

[Coach Beth]

Next September is when the problems will really hit the fan. Not only will there be no more capacity locally for yet another budge class (except perhaps Dog Kennell Hill) BUT the proportion of the reception places for siblings will be much greater. For the main reason that in those schools which had a budge last year will have a greater number of families with children. So a year one class that now has 90 pupils due to the budge next year will have a reception class of only 60. Yet, there will now be a greater number of families who will be able to claim a sibling place (of course, not all will do so! But there will be a higher proportion of those 60 reception places going to siblings).

[Lou]

This all makes me feel sick! My daughter will be due to start September 2012. Being 338 metres away from Heber would have been too far this year (given info from the forum that suggest 317 metres was the furthest non sibling place) I can only see the catchment reducing to account for siblings from 2010 bulge class. This means our next closest is Goose Green at 640 metres, will this be too far!? As others have said who will take a bulge class next year? Not that bulge classes are a good solution. Surely someone (I dont really care from which political party!) must have taken been looking into this. I have lived in East Dulwich for 10 years and over that time more and more people with young families / people starting familes have been moving in. Please tell me I'm not the only person to have noticed this! James / Renatta, what is the plan for 2012 intake? (sorry for those still waiting for 2011 places)

[Renata Hamvas]

The information I have received so far is that there were a large number of late applications after initial places were allocated. These children could not be accomodated by the existing places including the original bulges hence the extra bulges. I have asked for information about next year too.

Renata

[James Barber]

Hi Renata,

Earlier in this thread you indicated a lot of lost applications in the post from Dog Kennel Hill. You're now saying lots of late applicationds - which implies 60+ from the wider East Dulwich area. This all looks very odd.

We would only get so many late applications if Southwark has unlearnt the lessons from 2009.

Guess we're all keen to see what council officials have to say.....

[toast]

Renata Hamvas Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The information I have received so far is that

> there were a large number of late applications

> after initial places were allocated.

There have always been a large number of late applications its no excuse.

[James Barber]

I've asked the chair of the councillors Education scrutiny committee Cllr David Hubber to look into this which has agreed to do and he intends to investigate at their next meeting 28 June 7pm Southwark Town Hall.

If anyone has useful information or experiences about this years buldge classes please email [email protected] and ideally CC me [email protected] as I hope to attend this meeting.

If you'd like to attend please contact me and I'll explain how to do this.

[Renata Hamvas]

In relation to James's point there are a possible 3 lost in post applications to DKH, not lots! This would not have led to 2 bulge classes for 60 children. Southwark was successful in allocating every child whose application was received on time a primary school under 2 miles from their home address. I do not know the background to the late applications at the moment, these are usually either due to people having moved into the area or having forgotten to apply or not realising that they needed to apply yet. Toast, I don't think Southwark can predict numbers and locations within the borough of new residents (unless a new housing development opens) or those who don't apply on time (it would be useful if we could!). There is extensive advertising in public places, community hubs and nurseries to inform parents of the closing date.

Once I have an update I will post.

Renata

[James Barber]

I'm finding this puzzling.

Our area has something like 450 reception places every year. Plans were in place for extra 75 bulge places on top of the permanent 15 extra plces at Lyndhurst. That's 20% extra capacity. We now hear of an extra 60 emergency places on top of this another 13% that gobbles up the few remaining options for buldges in 2012.

At no point has anything about this been communicated to ward councillors. Decisions have been taken. When I've asked for details I've been told I'll recieve something in 10 days time the maximum allowed time for a councillor query to be responded to. Its now 9 days since asking - but if the evidence was avaiable for the caibnet member many weeks ago to make such radical decisions I find it difficult to understand why the delay. This feels like covering up which I'm sure it isn't.

[Fuschia]

It will be interesting to know, James

Each school takes from an area around it so many of the places will be filled by pupils on the borders of ED or possibly even further afield

I would bd very interested to know the info for each school with thd breakdown of initial allocations Inc no of siblings, distance criteria and then thd eventual distance of thd furthest child after shakedown and bulge classes