Southwark Primary School Admissions for Sept 2013

[number 2]

Hmmm, I know carbonara but there is a fair bit of uninhibited land surrounding Ivydale which takes up a fair bit of the radius. I found a handy map tool thing though that showed how far 600m reaches and there are a fair few streets I hadn't thought of. Ah well, we'll just have to bide our time and see what happens.....

[Abney]

Just been hearing about a lot of people renting houses for a few months and then moving out once they're in. SO ANNOYING. I know people do it, but it shouldn't be allowed.

[Houseoflego]

We went through this a few years back, do remember that a lot of families are on 6 lists so it can look much more desperate than it is. If they get their first choice they leave 6 lists!. We went from having nothing to having our 1st choice just before the summer holidays. Plus there was loads of movement in the first few weeks of term. Good luck!

[oimissus]

I'm bit confused about the figures on that chart - I understand the furthest distance bit, but what does the figure in the column marked 'distance' mean? Also, when will we know which schools will bulge next year - 2 of the schools we'd have high up our list for next year have bulged this year which presumably makes their furthest distance figure a bit meaningless for next year?

 

[snowboarder]

Distance - the number of children who were offered a place on distance rather than siblings etc.

Yeah the bulge thing completely skews things...

[GipsyMama]

Any prospective Sept 2013 Langbourne parents from East Dulwich going to the 'Getting to know you' event at the school on July 12th? It would be good to meet you. I'll be there, we live on the south side of the school. We are excited about new developments at Langbourne, and hoping to be part of a strong community around it...

[GinaG3]

What time is it on please GipsyMama? My partner is at work but we are both interested in going along to see how we feel about it, if push comes to shove..

[GipsyMama]

Hi GinaG3, it starts at 10am. We've just received a letter with details inviting us, and I think you should receive one too, if you have a place there for Sept 13, as we have for our daughter, which she will definitely take up. Sympathising with East Dulwich parents who are some distance from the school, but hoping that, when we all get there, we can build up a supportive community which may make it worth the journey ...

[kamath]

I hope so - a supportive community would be excellent. It is far to come for us. Great to have positive messages about the school though .Hope to see you there.

[GinaG3]

At last! Anyone else having good news? We have miraculously jumped from 14th on Bessemer to 2nd. All my other hopes are dwindling though, moving up to 5 places backwards with DV, Goodrich and Heber. Really wishing everyone the best of luck, and hope we all get the places we want for our children. This has been a very hard couple of months.

[number 2]

That is fantastic news Gina! So pleased for you. With 90 places I'm sure you'll be there in September or shortly after!

[GinaG3]

Thank you number 2, I do really hope so. I wholeheartedly wish everyone on this thread the best of luck with a reception place. Its been such great support to be able to chat to so many people in the same position, I think I would of gone crazy without everyone!!

[goosemum]

Loving the positive attitude GipsyMama! It was no doubt a similar bunch of parents that helped to transform Bessemer Grange and Goose Green into the oversubscribed schools they are today. I'm willing to bet that Langbourne will head in the same direction with parents like yourself on board!

[kamath]

I hope so goosemum. Just wish the school was a bit easier to get to for us. Great news for you Gina - really pleased for you. I agree it has been a very hard couple of months - very stressful indeed and certainly did not expect this .

[GinaG3]

I'm so angry, I think they make these things up! We are now 8th, in 7 days we have moved BACKWARDS 6 places. I feel delusional. They could at least make it comical, I could do with a laugh right now.

[Emski]

I know exactly how you feel, Gina! It's an incredibly frustrating experience. We started at 6 with our first choice school, and felt reasonably positive, and are now 13th with absolutely no idea whether we'll continue moving down the list or eventually succeed in gaining a place. One other school we were told we were first and are now 30 odd!

Helpless and furious in equal measure probably covers it.

[number 2]

oh no gina!! i'm sorry to hear that! and for you too emski. it's infuriating. it's the whole thing that you have ABSOLUTELY no idea of what is going on in these lists and you often get 2 different stories from 2 different people. i hope it resolves itself soon.....

[GinaG3]

Emski, Crikey! I feel bad, I know others have it worse.. Where do they get these figures? I honestly think they are plucking numbers out of thin air. Is there actually lists?! I'm inclined never to ask for my wait list positions again, I was in two minds about emailing in the first place. Completely fed up now.

[rachel83]

We went through something similar to this a couple of years. Our position went up and down on the waiting list and I spent several months completely on edge. We only got the school place (at our first choice) one or two weeks before term started. I gave up asking about the waiting list as I would get my hopes up and then have them dashed by finding out I had dropped to 20th place from 1st on the waiting list.

[Emski]

Always good to hear a reassuring story from someone who did get a place via waiting lists - thanks Rachel. I also think you're right about not checking your positions too often - I'm going to restrict myself to once a month! There's just no knowing though, is there?!

[Mattsoper]

It won't help with September 2013 admissions but it seems plans are under way for Ivydale School to expand, as revealed by Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, on Twitter yesterday:

"Delighted that Ivydale School will be expanding onto the Bredinghurst site to provide more primary school places for Peckham Rye & Nunhead."

What that means for the Victorian buildings on that site remains to be seen as they seem far from ideal to be converted for primary school use.

[Renata Hamvas]

Hi Matt, I have posted about this is the main section. Council Officers are hoping to save some of the buildings. We will need to make sure that the plans are well thought through.

Waiting lists: yes the rollercoasters you are seeing Emski and Gina are real. We have entered the time of year when people are moving. Mainland Europe, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eire are already on holiday. Families are also moving within the UK. This means people are taking up places for older children in primaries and siblings going in high on waiting lists and also just moving close to schools. Also people tend to apply quickly for school places when they move into the area and may not notify the LA quite so quickly when they move away. Unfortunately this means that from what I have seen over the last couple of years, on the whole people tend to slide lower on waiting lists in July and August and then some places become available from September to December. (eg if children don't turn up in September). When I last checked a couple of weeks ago, all local schools are full, the two with the shortest waiting lists are Hollydale, near Nunhead Station and St Francesca Cabrini on Forest Hill Rd. Both have been rated good by Ofsted, St Francesca Cabrini's most recent Ofsted came out about a week ago and I posted about that here

Renata

[Mattsoper]

Thanks for the update, Renata. I'll keep an eye out for updates on the plans.

[FionaC]

Some further information about the proposed Ivydale expansion - here's the letter that's gone to parents.

Fiona

Cllr Fiona Colley

Nunhead Ward

Dear Parents and Carers,

At last night?s governing body meeting, the local authority invited the school to consider its proposal to expand to become a four form entry school split over two sites ? the current school and the former Bredinghurst School site on Inverton Road. The local authority has initially proposed that this expansion would take place in September 2016.

The governing body agreed in principle to enter discussions with the local authority. Expanding the school offers many exciting opportunities for all pupils, staff, parents and the local community. There is the potential to improve the learning environment as well as to offer the Ivydale experience to more local children. As you know, there has been a significant increase in the number of reception-aged pupils in the area, and this proposal would enable us to better serve their needs. The capital investment and greater amount of space would also enable us to create a truly inspirational school.

The proposals are at very early stages, and there is much work to do over the next academic year to develop and agree what the new expanded school could look like. I would like to assure you that no formal commitments are being entered into at this stage ? I, with the governing body, have committed only to working with the local authority to develop proposals. These discussions will begin next term and will, in time involve parents, carers and the local community. I will of course keep you informed as they progress.

Many thanks for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Helen Ingham

Headteacher

[louloulabelle]

Hi

If any of you are attending tomorrows Meet and Greet for Reception entry children in September at Langbourne then you are more than welcome to join an informal lunch get together a few mums have suggested at The Paxton pub.

Will give us a chance to meet other new parents, especially for those of us who were allocated the school rather than it being a choice! and for the kids to meet so it's a little less daunting in September.

So anyone that fancies meeting up just make your way to the Paxton pub (apparently good outdoor space for kids) on the roundabout at Paxton green nr the health centre not far from Langbourne after the event has concluded around 12 noon.

Look forward to meeting some other New parents and Children!!!!