Discussions about schools in ED - disturbing?

[DaveR]

I think there are relatively few people who actively subvert the system, but there is an unhealthy obsession amongst a sizeable minority with getting into "the best school", hence the endless discussions of Heber vs Goodrich vs St Johns, and the frankly insane level of competition for entry to JAGS and Alleyns at 4 y.o. However, most of the posters on the thread in the Family Room are only concerned about getting a place in an adequate i.e. non-failing school that is practical to get to. As has already been observed, both on this thread and others, the reason why so many ED parents have not ahcieved that relatively modest aspiration is Southwark's conscious decision to ignore demographic shifts within the borough.

[intexasatthe moment]

"I think there are relatively few people who actively subvert the system"

I have a fairly small circle of friends / acquaintences but when my son applied for The Charter school 7 years ago I could name from first hand experience half a dozen people who cheated/ lied/ manipulated the system to get a place.

In fact I think it's fair to say that if you didn't take such action you were deemed to be failing your child by your lack of effort.

At primary school level I knew fewer people taking such action but again could certainly point to 4 or 5.

What I think such people fail to realise is that they are not just " doing the best " for their child ,but pushing other people out. We were very high on the waiting list for the Charter ( single digits ) and would probably have been offered a place had it not been for the 6 people obtaining places by deceit.

[Ann]

So did you get The Charter for your son in the end? I am interested in what the Sixth form is like.

[intexasatthe moment]

No Ann we went to Pimlico .

I think Charter sixth form was rated outstanding by Ofsted recently.

[macroban]

First ever prosecution.

Will Southwark Council prosecute too?

[Jessie]

I expect they'd never be organised enough to.

[antijen]

There was that woman last year, i think, that was followed by private detectives employed through her local council. She actually did live in the area she was applying for, but put off moving until her child got a place in the local school.