East Dulwich and Peckham Rye Primary School Places Facebook page

[toast]

United we stand, divided..... we take the bus 4 times a day to north Southwark and our kids won't be part of their local community.

Be a friend of East Dulwich and Peckham Rye Primary School Places.

[inglesa68]

Hi toast!

Just found this link on FB. Wondering why you have created it as a normal page instead of a Group page. This means that if you join the group you are in effect giving perfect strangers access to your own page.

Would be happy to join a group page x

[Ko]

not a member of facebook unfortunately.

however re what the administrator said - its a wider community issue that future parents will be interested in (i.e. people who aren't already parents and therefore probably don't come into the family room to read about baby baths and night feeds!) think it was a bit harsh to move your thread.

[toast]

Thanks Inglesa

I'm an enthusiastic amature will re think

[toast]

Re thought now it is a group page called

East Dulwich and Peckham Rye Primary School Places

[toast]

If you live 300m from your school of choice you wont have to worry. If you are worried or planning a family or want to support other local families come and join the group. It really was born yesterday!

We need some assurances about places until a new primary can be built.

Local councils do monitor this type of thing so it is a chance to show the level of local concern. Over 1000 EDF users viewed the thread on primary school places just need all of them to join to show it's a hot issue and then invite councillors to join.

Thanks

[Fuschia]

I put in a Freedom of Information request on 7th August, but haven't even had an acknowledgement yet.

I'll follow it up.

I suggest we get along to this lib dem councullor meet up at the one o'c club (is it Tuesday)

and also organise a public meeting, inviting local councillors from P Rye, ED and College wards, plus the head of admissions.

Suggest we book a room, say at darrell rd community centre, invite the speakers and make some leaflets/little posters to distribute.

We need a snappy name with a good acronym..

[toast]

Now given a very un snappy name!

East Dulwich and Peckham Rye Primary school places face book page

[toast]

I know its tricky to find. Just search groups for east dulwich things and it is there somewhere.

[damzel]

You're right, it is hard to find! Here's a link http://www.facebook.com/search/?init=srp&sfxp=&o=&q=East+Dulwich+primary#/group.php?gid=120669739604

[toast]

Thanks Damzel

Any tips / suggestions from people greatly appreciated. Feel free to promote this site anywhichway. PS We have got two politicians so far and its only been a week!

[toast]

We have 4 politicians on the page and they have said that they will keep us informed and post the councils latest plans for next year. It will also be a useful group to join if you are going through the admissions process as we can support each other if admissions dont turn our as you hoped come April.

Decisions are being made by the council now and the next few weeks so it is a good time to have a show of strength. There has been suggestion that this has been a freek year but anyone who lives in the area knows that next year the demand for school places will be greater not less. Strenght in numbers so do join and invite anyone you think might be interested.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=120669739604&ref=nf

[toast]

Very pleased to report that this facebook group has had input from a range of local councillors. If you are interested in this issue please join and invite your friends to join. It is relevant to anyone who has been through the admissions drama this year, anyone applying for 2010 and anyone who will be applying from here on in, if you have a baby or are expecting! It is a group page so no one will have access to your own page. Come and have a look using the link above.

[toast]

We have had an interesting post from Nunheads Labour councillor, check out the other thread or the facebook page.

[everyman]

It is a great post by Fiona Colley because at last a politician is talking about action they will take - rather than just talking about how it is nobody's fault etc, etc. It would be great to see all the local councillors acting in concert in a non political way to get action on this issue.

It would also be nice to know where Peckham Rye's councillors have gone - a major local issue and not a peep from them!!

[sleepy bunny]

Hi Toast

I joined the facebook page today. We have to apply for Jan 2010 intake and I feel if we leave it up to the councillors things will not move quickly enough. Is there an actual action group of parents who are actively campaigning? We really need this to be a national story and 'go to the top'. I am a typical 'Londoner'- working class northerner who got a degree and moved to London to get a decent job and a better life- only to find that I am now failing my child by potentially sending her to a failing school (while the small rural school I went to has a glowing report). Sorry I digress but I feel very strongly about this situation. Please let me know if there is an active action group of parents and if so what I and other parents can do to help now. Thank you.

[huncamunca]

Interested to hear why you say the school is failing?

SATS results do not define this. Mixed ability intakes and a diversity in home support means that London schools are presented with a very different set of challenges and outcomes. The teaching and environment can still be good. And kids that are well supported at home usually do well at primary level. So is your problem the school or the intake of the school?

[toast]

The facebook page is just a forum to unite parents. If anyone wants to start something more, i'm in!

Have to comment on huncamunca's post. Its a bit rough to question wheather a parent is calling a school 'failing' because of the intake. Failing is failing (special measures), and sleepy bunny has every right to feel let down if the only school her child can go to is in special measures. Its not wrong to want your childs school well managed.

Edited to be less grumpy

[CT Wac]

huncamunca Wrote:

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

> Interested to hear why you say the school is

> failing?

> SATS results do not define this. Mixed ability

> intakes and a diversity in home support means that

> London schools are presented with a very different

> set of challenges and outcomes. The teaching and

> environment can still be good. And kids that are

> well supported at home usually do well at primary

> level. So is your problem the school or the

> intake of the school

Lets face facts, Southwark schools are not as well managed as others e.g. Lewisham. The local council are not good at managing schools! They are out of touch, examples of this include OFSTED reports, their total inability to provide school places and their inability to take the local schools crisis as anything other than moaning middle classes. When people take action about poor management they are supporting Southwark schools. Most parents i know would prefer an authentic mix in their childs classroom and their issue is with how kids/ teachers/ Schools ect are supported and managed!

I totally agree with TOAST. It's not wrong to want your kids school well managed!

[ratty]

Joined this group. My boy is 2 on Sunday so maybe I am being a bit premature but I will need some guidance and help when it comes to it!

[sleepy bunny]

huncamunca Wrote:

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

> Interested to hear why you say the school is

> failing?

> SATS results do not define this. Mixed ability

> intakes and a diversity in home support means that

> London schools are presented with a very different

> set of challenges and outcomes. The teaching and

> environment can still be good. And kids that are

> well supported at home usually do well at primary

> level. So is your problem the school or the

> intake of the school

Quite harsh huncamunca! One of my main concerns from the Ofsted report was the pastoral care within the school. It claimed many of the children there felt threatened or scared of other children, I spoke to a senior teacher there who reassured me that systems were in place to improve this, but likewise did not deny that this has been the case, if you had concerns regarding this wouldn't you be concerned about sending your child there?

[mrs.lotte]

sleepybunny, no one would want to send their child to a school where they thought that child may be frightened. However Ofsted is a snapshot of the few days that they visit (not saying they were wrong, I have no idea, just that it may not have been wholly representative of all the childen's experience). However you will note that subsequent ofsted reports have very firmly said that this is not an area of concern anymore. Things can and do change for the better very quickly.

I'm no fan of Southwark LEA, far from it, but don't underestimate the power of committed parents who can make a real difference to any school. It seems to me that the parents of pre-school children posting on this and similar threads will be an asset to whatever school their children join. However it's hard to do that if the school is miles away. Don't write off your local only on the ofsted report (not directed to you sleepybunny, obvious from your post that you have spoken to teachers too). Go and see for yourselves, talk to parents and the pta.

Good luck people

[Fuschia]

Heber was in special measures not long ago

[Coach Beth]

Exactly Fuschia - it wasn't that long ago and now look at Heber. The most oversubscribed school in the area now.

[Fuschia]

I do feel that you wouldn't need to be scared about sending your cild to a school in special measures, locally, if there was a convincing action plan.. often a new head... and a good class teacher.