Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Hello everyone,


Am new to this!

Thought I wanted to get feedback from any of you who are either currently looking at choosing a primary school for 2010 or made the choice recently and know your views on it.


Right now, I am considering a serious leap of faith into Bessemer Grange School as I like the fact the classes are smaller (for now), they will have a brand new building for reception over another school, Lyndhurst with a better ofsted and closer to me but which might suffer from its popularity in the future: am I mad to even think about it?

is going to a school in your neighbourhood better?


Thanks for your replies!

Link to comment
https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/8900-bessemer-primary-school/
Share on other sites

Hi


We live in East Dulwich and didn't get any of our schools choices for our daughter who started reception this September. Instead we were "given" Bessemer Grange. Initially we were quite worried about this as we didn't know anything about it. However we visited the school a few times before the term started and came away pretty happy - the head of early years is excellent. We are now extremely happy with the school. There are currently 2 reception classes with 9 children in each class (but there will be a second intake in January). Both classes have a teacher and a classroom assitant. The school is very pro-active and the communication to parents is good. Our daughter is learning very quickly and most importantly absolutely loves it.


No, I don't think you are made to even think about it. Send me a PM if you want any further info.

Hi there


Am really curious why you think Lyndhurst might suffer due to "its popularity in the future". How / why do you think it might go down hill? Intrigued - not to be critical of your thoughts - but purely because we too are applying, live locally and Lyndhurst is a likely bet (re: distance). Have not thought about Bessemer - and now you have me scratching my head....


x

Hello cloudnine,


Well I am sure Lyndhurst is good and lots of friends are telling me so. However, I am a bit concerned with the big classes, the fact that at lunchtime all years are mixed up together and the fact that they are planning lots of building work for the upcoming 6 years. I also think, although I am in no way an educational expert, that maybe all the schools which are very popular and have to extend their classes can only do so for a certain time without the existing children in it suffering a bit. Don't think it will really go downhill though.


Again, many acquaintances have made the choice of Lyndhurst recently and are really happy with it. So don't change your mind because of me!

If you are interested in Bessemer Grange school, do go and have a look at it. It might seem a bit out of the way, but it is easy to walk to it from near Sainsbury's (there is a footpath through) and from Townley Road/East Dulwich Grove (down Green Dale and there is a footpath through). It is in a lovely quiet location, and the new Children's Centre is going to be fab - and should be finished for the next academic year. It really is an improving school, with a great head and some really inspirational teachers.


Unlike some schools, they don't have a formal open day, but instead you just phone and make an appointment to be shown around. At the moment they are trying to show most people round on a Friday, but if that does not suit then I am sure you could arrange another time.


Do PM me if you want to know more.

Shame about the new Children's Centre at Bessemer. It looks like a bomb site at the moment!


I went to see the plans/models at the beginning of 2007 and building work was meant to start then but as usual I suppose Southwark lost its way with funding like it does with other areas.


I can't see it being finished for next September.


Hopefully the staff/kids can work around it.

If it ends up being as fab as the new Ivydale Children's Centre it will be wonderful...have to say ours took a lot longer than it was supposed to...even after it was finished it seemed to be another couple of months at least...more I think before we finally got in. But well worth the wait!


Molly

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • But all those examples sell a wide variety of things,  and mostly they are well spread out along Lordship Lane. These two shops both sell one very specific thing, albeit in different flavours, and are just across the road from each other. I don't think you can compare the distribution of shops in Roman times to the distribution of shops in Lordship Lane in the twenty first century. Well, you can, but it doesn't feel very appropriate. Haa anybody asked the first shop how they feel? Are they happy about the "healthy competition" ?
    • ED is included in the 17 August closure set (or just possibly 15 August, depending on which part of the page you trust more) listed at https://metro.co.uk/2025/07/25/full-list-25-poundland-stores-confirmed-close-august-23753048/. Here incidentally are some snippets from their annual reports, at https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/02495645/filing-history. 2022: " during the period we opened 41 stores and closed 43 loss-making/under-performing stores.  At the period-end we were trading from 821 stores in the UK, IoM and ROI. ... "We renogotiated 82 leases in the year, saving on average 45% versus the prior lease agreement..." 2023: "We also continued to improve our market footprint through sourcing better store locations, opening 53 and closing 51 stores during the year." 2024:  "The ex-Wilco stores acquired in the prior year have formed a core part of this strategy to expand our store network.  We favour quality over quantity and during the period we opened 84 stores and closed 71 loss-making/under-performing ones."
    • Ha! After I posted this, I thought of lots more examples. Screwfix and the hardware store? Mrs Robinson and Jumping Bean? Chemists, plant shops, hairdressers...  the list goes on... it's good to have healthy competition  Ooooh! Two cheese shops
    • You've got a point.  Thinking Leyland and Screwfix too but this felt different.
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...