Is Alleyn's School a cuckoo?

[TillieTrotter]

They certainly did, my daughter beat Pixie in the Interschools talent show 2 years on the trot. And no I'm not boasting, just stating a fact ;-)

[Townleygreen]

Tillie, please re-read my post.

I said ONLY Pixie attended Alleyn's.

[TillieTrotter]

I was already typing when you posted TG.

[Townleygreen]

OK Tillie our posts crossed!!

[Moos]

Yes Tillie, but your daughter is beautiful and talented, whereas the Geldof girls are... well, they have famous parents.

[brummie]

It does add one thing to our lovely area- traffic. Coach after Coach lining the area, parents double parking to tip their kids into the streets. Why dont they dig up some of that green land they have and put the buses and coaches there and let us locals move around the area without being inconvenienced.

[Zebedee Tring]

And not only that - the coach drivers leave their engines running, as if it is still the 1950s and ignition systems are antiquated. Not only are they wasting fuel (and presumably hitting the profits of their paymasters) but they are further polluting the atmosphere.

[James Barber]

Hi brummie,

The green open spaces you see around such schools in Dulwich area are classified as Metropolitan Open Land and would need planning permission to build over and building car parks would be against stated Southwark policies. The coach service moves lots of kids to these schools without a seperate car for each kid. They avoid a lot of cars on our roads.

As a member of Southwark Cyclists/Dulwich Safer Routes to School several years ago I helped analyse where kids come from for one of the large schools and the CO2 of getting them to/from school. That school had 2/3rd of its kids living in Southwark/Lambeth. I suspect extrapolating that to this school would show predominantly local kids.

Hi Zebedee Tring,

The coaches are not supposed to leave engines running. If you (or anyone else) witnesses this please note the time, date and vehicle regiration and tell me. I've been assured by the school in the past they don't want this to happen and with this information can and will act.

[edhistory]

Does Alleyn's allow local schools to use the Michael Croft theatre?

[Earl Aelfheah]

There is a lot of private school bashing on the forum today.

[Townleygreen]

They certainly allow outside bookings, so I would imagine so

[Townleygreen]

If you look at this page on their website they mention local schools using the theatre

http://www.alleyns.org.uk/page.aspx?id=110

[Earl Aelfheah]

There is no doubt that they contribute something to the community ? I mean it would be a pretty sad state of affairs if they didn?t right? Even the local estate agents sponsor community events, I mean that?s just basic civility right? It?s not too much to expect an organisation of their size to occasionally open up their facilities, or reach out to those in the local area in some way. The fact that people seem to consider that this amounts to significant acts of charity is actually pretty sad.

[HannahSE23]

I asked them if we could borrow their grounds for a local state primary school fun run. They didn't even have the courtesy to reply, despite several emails!

[vesti]

Local state schools PAY to use the theatre.

[miga]

.

[Green Goose]

>>>Does Alleyn's allow local schools to use the Michael Croft theatre?

Why don't you ask Alleyn's direct rather than get information from third parties?

GG

[Green Goose]

miga Wrote:

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

> They contribute an education to those that can

> afford it. Life's not fair sometimes.

Yes, it's not fair cos these parents who pay the fees (out of their after-tax incomes) don't get a tax credit in respect of their kids not being in State education and hence not be a cost burden on the State.

I guess anyone would pay for private education if they could afford it ( eg Clegg and Dionne Abbott et al) so I hazard a guess you are actually saying it's unfair because your income doesn't cover this on top of all the things you want including holidays, car, fashion, mobiles, meals out etc etc.

We skimped, skivvied and saved for 20 years to pay for our kids to go to Alleyns. When they get on the career ladder I will consider it money well spent.

GG

[*Bob*]

Green Goose Wrote:

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

> We skimped, skivvied and saved for 20 years to pay

> for our kids to go to Alleyns. When they get on

> the career ladder I will consider it money well

> spent.

So no pressure, then.

[Green Goose]

*Bob* Wrote:

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

> Green Goose Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

>

> > We skimped, skivvied and saved for 20 years to

> pay

> > for our kids to go to Alleyns. When they get on

> > the career ladder I will consider it money well

> > spent.

>

>

> So no pressure, then.

Plenty pressure but we look on it as an investment in our children for their benefit and all investments involve risk. Reward comes when the risk pays off.

GG

[vesti]

Green Goose Wrote:

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

> >>>Does Alleyn's allow local schools to use the

> Michael Croft theatre?

>

> Why don't you ask Alleyn's direct rather than get

> information from third parties?

>

> GG

They (charitably) allow use if you pay and it's not being otherwise used. First hand experience.

[Zebedee Tring]

Our son went to a good comprehensive school. When he left Dulwich Hamlet, he was on the same level as two of his friends who went to Alleyns. However, he did just as well, if not better, as them at "A" Level and is now on the academic ladder after getting a first, MSc and PhD. Several of his comprehensive school friends achieved good degrees.

The money spent on private education is just not worth it. In essence it's a case of the apple not falling far from the tree; family background (and I don't mean poshness) is just as important as dosh spent at securing privilege.

[*Bob*]

Green Goose Wrote:

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

> Plenty pressure but we look on it as an investment

> in our children for their benefit and all

> investments involve risk. Reward comes when the

> risk pays off.

It is your kid though, not stocks and shares. I find the analogy icky, tbh.

Don't think I'd lay that kind of sacrifice/expectation thing on mine, but each to their own ways.

[newboots]

"I guess anyone would pay for private education if they could afford it"

what an amazingly ignorant thing to say!

[jim_the_chin]

> I guess anyone would pay for private education if

> they could afford it

This is a common misconception. Granted my kids lives will be harder because I believe we should live in a meritocracy and more equal society, but it's probably not the worst thing I'll saddle them with.