Goodrich and Heber - from what distance have they accepted kids?

[josiebee]

I have heard that last year Goodrich and Heber didn't accept children beyond about 600 metres. Was that just an exception last year or has this been the case for a few years? At a walking distance of 1079 Goodrich is my nearest school (apart from St Anthonys and I'm not Roman Catholic), then Heber and I want to know if my daughter has any chance of getting of getting into either of them. She has no siblings at the school.

[BeccaL]

Hi Josiebee

We got a place only when they opened the bulge class this year and by their reckoning we were 935m from Goodrich (we think we were about 650m but that's another discussion...). Where are you - our friends got their daughter in on the first round of applications and she is about 600m from the school. Happy to discuss on PM if that helps (or sympathise as well)

[Mellors]

Thsi is what Fushia found our earlier this year re Heber:

For Heber Primary School, the breakdown of children allocated under each criterion is:

1st. Looked after children - 0

2nd. Siblings - 23

3rd. Social/Medical - 0

4th. Distance under the 4th criterion - 37

5th. Distance under the 5th criterion - 0

Children with full statements of special educational needs - 0

The furthest child offered under the distance criteria lives 611 metres from the school.

[legalbeagle]

I'm sorry if this sounds like a really silly question but how do you know how far you are from the school? Southwark council website mentions that it measures in a straight line - anyone know what that means?

[Mellors]

Its now "as the crow flies" I believe.

If you use this website:

http://www.freemaptools.com/distance-between-uk-postcodes.htm

Yuo can type in your postcode, and that of the school (Google), make sure you change the distance to metres not miles, and it will tell you.

[legalbeagle]

Thanks!

[Fuschia]

The 4th criteria is "for whom the school is their closest Southwark school"

Noone gets in on plain distance ... so you do need to plan on going to your closest school, and even then you may not get in.

The nursery at heber took only siblings this year.

[Mellors]

You can also email the admissions people at Southwark Council (their details are on the council website) and they will tell you which is your nearest "Community School" (i.e. the one you would get into under Criteria 4, rather than 5). At least that way you get confirmation if you are unsure (there's only a few metres between mine, so I wanted to check).

Then you have to hold your breath and pray the boundaries don't contract even further.....

[candj]

We are literally one street away from Heber and got in. The people across the street from us, but down closer to the school end did not get in. It's as if they drew a circle around the school and made their decisions based on that.

[Mellors]

I don't understand that candj - is it maybe because it wasn't their nearest school (i.e. was Goodrich closer for them?), or did they just fall outside the 611 metres?

[Fuschia]

Mellors Wrote:

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

> I don't understand that candj - is it maybe

> because it wasn't their nearest school (i.e. was

> Goodrich closer for them?), or did they just fall

> outside the 611 metres?

Or did they apply late?

[Gubodge]

For Goodrich it may be worth noting that the distance is taken from their main gate on Dunstans Road rather than the Goodrich or Upland gates. But basically, you stand your best chance of not ending up with a school the other side of the borough by applying to your closest community school (presuming you're not a regular churchgoer). But until the results come out there's no way of knowing what the 'catchment area' will be next year.

[pebbles]

Does anyone know the postcode of the Dunstans Road gate entrance as I was measuring the distance as the crow flies from their postcode SE22 0EP but if not from Goodrich Road then i'm assuming this postcode is incorrect.

Thanks

[candj]

Mellors Wrote:

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

> I don't understand that candj - is it maybe

> because it wasn't their nearest school (i.e. was

> Goodrich closer for them?), or did they just fall

> outside the 611 metres?

No, they are further from Goodrich (we are on the other side of Heber). We are about 200 metres from Heber, if even. I just don't understand what criteria they were using because it implies that there are 60 four year olds living within 1 1/2 blocks of Heber, which is terrifying! Perhaps as Fuschia mentions that they applied late. It's all so bonkers really.

[candj]

I should also mention that there are children on my street attending Dulwich Hamlets in the village so there is no rhyme or reason to anything.

[intexasatthe moment]

Re the straight line /crow flies criteria - Southwark's website refers to it as The straight line walking distance.

So it can't be as the crow flies ...can it ?

[BeccaL]

During our appeal hearing, Southwark told us that the criteria were changing for 2010 admissions to "as the crow flies", whereas previously it was "by the safest walking route" which was equally non-specific. I guess that's their way of writing "as the crow flies" but agree, it's not very well phrased.

[jam]

I live right next to Heber but my daughter got goodrich school. I applied two months ago as well. As just moved back to dulwich. So i just think the council make it up as they go along.I think you have a good chance as i thought my daughter would not get a school in dulwich.

[intexasatthe moment]

Was your daughter higher up the school,ie not reception ? I think sometimes there's more movement in the older age groups ?

[katgod]

re using postcodes to work this out - I haven't used the app referred to above, but postcode areas can be quite big, and the critical distances being measured in these cases are small. I live about a 5-6 minute walk from Heber (and my child goes there) but my postcode is exactly the same as the school's. So maybe an old fashioned tape measure/straight edge on the A_Z would be better.

Lots of the Goodrich appeals this year were siblings whose parents had not realised/had forgotten the need to apply for subsequent children.

[BeccaL]

You can use this website (http://www.walkjogrun.net/routes/route_list.cfm?c=England&lg=-1.47216796875&lat=53.3833283676&zmLevel=13) and actually calculate the route to whichever point of the school you need to from your front door - gives you accurate numbers!

[Gubodge]

Jam, as a late applicant, your daughter would have been one of those children to have benefited from the Goodrich bulge class. If it hadn't been for that you would almost certainly have ended up with a place in the north of the borough, or perhaps no place at all.

[phillyboy]

104m - I hope my nipper gets in!

[josiebee]

Hello legalbeagle there is a website directgov - here is the link

http://schoolsfinder.direct.gov.uk/

and you type in your post code and it tells you. But I think that does it as the crow flies cause it's a lot shorter. I also emailed southwark council - a contact from their website - they told me they do it by walking distance and they don't used shortcuts (so for example I live on a council estate and they would measure me walking along the road rather than through the estate ) and I seriously think they also take into consideration how high up you are! Anyway they gave me the much longer distance

I just noticed all the other replies about whether it is as the crow flies or walking - I just don't know what's true...

[Fuschia]

For 2010 Southwark are changing to as the crow flies.

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/Uploads/FILE_43290.pdf

Over-subscription Criteria (for all years except nursery):

In the event of there being more applications than places available, places will be allocated in the

following order of priority:

(i) Children in public care (Looked After Children);

(ii) Children who will have brothers or sisters attending the school at their time of entry;

(iii) Where professional evidence indicates that there are particular psychological, medical or

social needs which the LA and Headteacher agree can best be addressed at the school;

(iv) Children for whom it is their nearest Southwark community school measured by straight line

route from home to main school gate

(v) Children living nearest the school measured by straight line route from home to main school

gate

Notes

(a) A child in public care (looked after child) means a person under the age of 18 years who is

provided by social services with accommodation by agreement with their parents/carers (Section

20 of the Children Act 1989) or who is the subject of a care order under Part IV of the Act.

Children who are looked after under an agreed series of short-term placements (such as respite)

are excluded.

(b) Brothers and sisters include half brothers and sisters and step brothers and sisters who share the

same home. It also includes adopted and foster brothers and sisters who share the same home.

© The straight line walking distance is measured from the main entrance of the child?s home to the

main entrance of the school. The system used to measure distance takes account of high-rise

accommodation and measures from the main entrance. When dealing with multiple applications from

a block of flats to the same community school, we will measure from the school's main entrance to the

ground floor entrance of the flat. Lower door numbers will take priority.