Ivydale Primary School Additional Class

[nunheadmum]

Just been received from the school........

Dear all

I just wanted to confirm that there will be 3 classes opening in reception in September 2013. We have closely with Southwark to secure this as we are in an extremely unusual position of having a large number of siblings in this age group. Current predictions indicate that without the additional class, some siblings would not be offered a place.

I'd be grateful if you could spread the word amongst the local community as there are many families living very locally who will benefit from this news.

With best wishes

Helen Ingham

Headteacher

[Mae]

Does anyone know what this is likely to mean for the subsequent years' intake? Is it effectively a one off bulge class with consequences for further siblings intake meaning even less places on distance or will it be a permanent increase in school intake number? We will be looking for a place in 2014 and Ivydale is looking increasingly unllikely for us :(

[James Barber]

The plan is a one off bulge class.

[Mrs TP]

The bulges are one-offs at the moment and most (if not all) of the local primaries have taken it in turns over the last few years to accommodate a bulge class. Fair enough there is the need and demand but it does put pressure on 2/3yrs later for those standard gap siblings.

Mae not many of the 2013 intake will have siblings for 2014 but it depends on how many there are from the other years. It all works out in the end though.

[Renata Hamvas]

Hum, the school has jumped the gun a bit on this one, as the bulge has just been formally agreed!

Mae; It is definitely a one off expansion to accommodate a very large number of siblings predicted for 2013 entry. There is no space for Ivydale school to permanently expand. It is not expected that the school will have a huge catchment area as there won't be a significantly greater than normal number of places available to families new to the school. This is an unusual situation as usually it's 2-3 years after a bulge that there are larger number of siblings. For 2014, it would depend how far away from Ivydale you live.

Renata

[midivydale]

What is the current catchment area for ivydale school? Does anyone know?

[James Barber]

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/download/6403/starting_primary_school_in_southwark_201314 page 18 shows distance where not all applicants were successful.For Ivydale Sept 2012 admissison 1,062m.

The proposal is the second consequitive year Ivydale will take a bulge class - despite brochures saying this wouldnt happen.

[Renata Hamvas]

Hi Midivydale,

I would expect that due to the large number of siblings expected for 2013 entry that the figure would be significantly lower than for the 1km 2012 entry. Bulge classes can happen more than once, they are deemed a one off event for that particular year, but they could happen again as another stand alone event. They are a temporary rather than a permanent expansion. Sometimes they may happen 2 years on the trot and then lead into a permanent one as happened with St Anthony's and is likely to happen with Bessemer Grange and Langbourne. It is highly unlikely to happen with Ivydale due to the limited space on this site.

Renata

[nunheadmum]

I think the Ivydale situation is a bit of a strange one-off in that there seems to be an unusually high number of siblings coming through in one year - the large majority from the years above this current expanded intake (i.e. siblings of kids in Year 1 and above when there was only 2 reception classes). In a way, if a lot of the siblings have hit in this year, it may mean that following years have lower sibling numbers - although two years of additional classes will have an effect.

It will mean that it's hard to define exactly what the natural catchment area is for Ivydale but as the area becomes more popular and the school is performing better in terms of SATS and OFSTED, it's likely that it will get smaller than it has been in other years, if there isn't an additional class.

I don't think another year of 3 reception classes was anyone's preferred option but the option of turning away siblings and kids who live yards from the school wasn't realistic either. Let's hope the sibling issue is unusually high this year and it comes back to something more normal in future years as the school doesn't have the capacity to expand permanently. The issue of primary capacity really does need to be addressed at a higher level.

[Mrs TP]

Am I being a bit dim - how does the school know already exactly how many siblings are due next year? Closing date for applications is a way off or have they pre-surveyed the parents?

Just a curious wonder at how they have calculated it.

[Renata Hamvas]

Hi Mrs TP,

Following the issue that the 2012/13 nursery was filled by siblings, current parents were surveyed by the school. There are many families with children in the older classes with the youngest sibling due to start in reception in 2013. There are also a few sets of multiple births (usually it's only one or two per year of sixty). It seems to be totally unrelated to the 2012 bulge, ie it's not lots of siblings of current reception children. There were families who lived a stones throw from the school who were unable to secure one of the around 50 places in the Nursery.

Renata

[Mrs TP]

Cheers Renata - was idle nosiness but gosh was situation for them, good for them being ahead of the game.

[The Nappy Lady]

I'm relieved for the many parents I know who were worried they wouldn't get a place this September, but wondering how they are going to fit everyone in - we shall soon see I guess!

It is Bizarre - my youngest is in nursery with so many children she has known from birth via siblings & the children's centre. Lovely for her mind you!

One lovely thing about intake based on distance is the really strong sense of community it builds, and friendships amongst both children & parents. We are lucky.

[BellendenBear]

This is a general comment about the siblings policy and not about Ivydale specifically, but shouldn't this policy be reviewed? It seems ridiculous that all the subsequent siblings get prioritised for entry to a school even if the family no longer live at the address that they did when the eldest child was accepted.

Obviously I see why siblings need to be at the same school, but surely this leads to people playing the system, ie renting close to a preferred school for the eldest to gain entry and then moving away. This must be so frustrating for those who live close to a school, plan to be a part of that community, yet have no chance of their children being able to get in. Perhaps the sibling policy should only apply if you still live at the address (or a closer one) that you did when the eldest child got in?

[The Nappy Lady]

Hmmm yes I see your point, but then it would be impossible for parents to get their children to school in the morning - you can't be in 2 places at once.

I would like to think the majority don't play the system in this way, but of course a few always will.