Shuggy

Bornagain--So you DON'T think think that this area needs to increase its secondary place provision? Despite what the demographics clearly show? I agree that we should think and plan on a regional level, but that is not something we can control. What we can do, and did, was seek and get cross-party political backing. I don't understand why you think we are taking this "lightly". Yes, we are amateurs but we have no intention of setting up or running the school. The provider will do that, one which we will have an exceptional track record of running schools already. I don't know why you think we want a school "to be built just for your children!" If you look at these criteria these all have wide-spread support. That's why we decided on them. These were all very basic requirements that parents said that they would prefer. Co-Ed: Not one person has said they want a single sex school. Harris boys and girls already provide that locally. Non-Faith: Not one person has said they want a religious school. I'm sure there are plenty about but I don't think there is any need to look it up. Walking distance: Not one person has said they would prefer their kids to commute to school. We want a fair admissions policy that is somehow based on distance. Otherwise what is the point? The demographic problem that has been identified is here, so what is the point building a selective school busing in children from far and wide? I don't think that is being 'particular'. It is hardly some exclusive 'wish-list'. These are very simple criteria for a local state school .

No problem bornagain, I understand that. The hospital site is really the only space big enough to accommodate the school in the area. Hopefully we should get some news in the next couple of weeks regarding a Right to Contest application. We imagine it would be a shared site with a new medical facility occupying roughly a third of the 27,000 m2 site and school would take the rest.

Yes there is a shortage of places. Bornagain - schools need to be planned in areas where the demographics show there is a need. There are more children in this area than there used to be, which is why new primary school places were created through bulge classes. Now those kids are at secondary age and we need provision for them. The labour council recognise and agree that we need a new secondary school IN THIS AREA. You seem to have decided who we are and that we are motivated by snobbery. Or as you put it: "ED parents would prefer a lovely brand spanking new school in leafy ED compared to a school on a council estate in gritty Walworth (shudder - spare the thought!)" I can't only speak for myself but you assumption is wrong, and I think adds nothing to the debate. We want our kids to be able to walk /bike to school with their friends and build their lives within their local community. If you have to travel to school you also have to travel to see any new friends you make and take part in any social activity if your school is in different area from the one you live in. This is a black hole for secondary places, which is why we want a school here. I't's great that you are looking out for the interests of the community as a whole, but the labour council believes that a new school here IS in the interests of the community as a whole.

There is really no conspiracy here?although, I guess I would say that as someone who is on the steering committee! The steering committee is made up of 20 parents from the 400 we have signed up in support of a new school. By canvasing opinions on here and in the playgrounds of the local primary schools we believe that the consensus is for a co-ed, non-faith, non-selective school with a fair admissions policy for local children --that is also excellent. There is little enthusiasm for Harris which is already very well represented in the local area and remains a choice for ED parents to send their children too. So we decided that the best way to meet the criteria was to approach well-respected school federations with existing track record. We communicated this strategy to supporters on here, on Twitter, on the Facebook feed and in leaflets in the book bags of parents with children in years 3 and 4 in local primary schools. At this point the support went up significantly. We could have gone down an open tender route with commercial academy chains, but as a parent-led free school application we are not restricted by this and so we are able to sound out and approach educational institutions who would be committed to building a school that meets the criteria, and open in 2016. Which we have done. Those that we have spoken to have requested that we do not make public their involvement yet, simply because discussions are at an early stage. That?s it. We think it right to respect that rather than jeopardise their involvement but continue to communicate every bit of information as and when we can. I guess some parents will object to a new local school-- although it's hard to imagine why -even if you don't intend to send your children there, surely 150-180 children each year going to a new school will free up places at the other local schools? All we can do is try to deliver what the consensus asked for, and 400 people have signed up for: an excellent co-ed, non-faith, non-selective school with a fair admissions policy for local children.

TE44 - sorry but I'm not quite clear what your objections are with this specific school project. If your concerns are with the general outsourcing of public services, then I share them. I'd like the LA to run all schools in the borough -- but the reality is that they run none. There are children currently in year 4 and below in ED primaries who will not be given places at local secondary schools when they reach year 7. So we as parents of those children, are faced with the prospect of bussing our kids to Walworth or Catford or leaving our community altogether. I for one don't want to do either of those things. So there is an obvious need for a new secondary in the area and we are trying to demonstrate this to the LA and hopefully receive their backing in opening a Free school. As I understand it the prospective parents led by the steering committee (also parents) will choose a third party provider to run the school (as is the case with all Southwark schools). I also understand that this process will be as transparent as possible. But the steering committee has not even met yet-- this is simply at the gauging support stage. This is not about a school that has been taken from the LA and handed over to creationists or a project of ideologically-driven parents or politicians forcing in a provider no one wants. Of course we have to be vigilant to all these things, but this is about need and then choosing the best provider to meet the need for a brilliant, non-faith, COED secondary school with admission based on catchment.

Dear Marguerita, I expect that we will have many public meetings but at this stage I think this is a fine place to get a sample at least of some of the issues people may have. As you are a local parent I'm glad you decided to join the forum last night to make your points. I share many of the concerns that both you and Cubanbreeze raise, but I am flummoxed as to why you both seem to think this is about James Barber being "a man on a mission" to stitch us up with a school from a provider we don't want in an area that we don't want. Does he really have that much power? There is a shortage of state, co-ed school places in our community and we need to do something about it. Calling for a show of support for a new school seems to me like the correct first step in addressing this.

This is a great move and I fully back a new COED secondary in the area. The community has suffered I think as families have moved in with babies only to leave when their kids hit double figures in search of secondary schools. I'd say the needs are straight-forward really: a non-faith, COED with admission based on catchment.

ED is Southwark. You might want to try the West Dulwich forum, looks like there is a thread on Rosendale here: http://www.westdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?4,4327,7067

http://www.channel4.com/news/questions-over-london-school-cheating-inquiry

The council want to throw a party for the South of Southwark (that's us, right?). They need ideas by tomorrow: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/news/article/681/we_want_your_ideas_for_a_council_backed_event_in_the_south_of_the_borough "Residents and local groups are being asked what kind of Council backed community event they would like to see in the south of the borough to celebrate the best of the area and bring people together. The north has the Bermondsey Carnival, the middle has The Elephant and Nun, but council chiefs want to know what they should be planning for those in the south. Residents are invited to fill in a simple on line form on the council's website by 20 March to pass on their ideas."

Sorry to hear about your loss Pugwash and I hope the funeral goes well. There does seem to be an issue with boundaries?-sometimes to a ridiculous extent as Emerson's post shows. Luckily we're looking to have a cremation which doesn't seem to be a problem.

Thanks for all the replies and advice--some really useful stuff here that I hope other forumites can benefit from in the future. Some very interesting ideas about taking on the tasks yourself and I really like the idea that you can make it so personalised if you do. I'm going to check some local funeral directors and get a price comparison. I understand that Dignity, a national chain of local directors, tends to be more pricey than Co-op, and there are lots of independent directors too. I obviously don't want to compromise on the service for the sake of few pounds if I do use one, but it's worth checking if there is a big difference in quotes and I'll post what I find on here as a guide for others. I know it seems a bit callous to be talking money at such a time, but unfortunately it seems there are a LOT of practicalities to deal with. I imagine the best way to be sure you're loved one is geting the best care from a funeral director is to go by recommendations from others that have used their service. Again, funeral directors is not something you see a lot of recommendations for, but it would be really helpful if people felt inclined to do so.

Apologies for the gloomy subject matter, but I'm in the unfortunate position of organising a funeral for my terminally ill uncle, and --apologies again if this appears insensitive but--it seems very expensive to me. The cost will be paid from his estate, but in the interest of saving as much as I can for his widow, I'd really like to get some thoughts from those who may have been in this position before. Is it worth shopping around between funeral directors? The fact that this subject is so taboo is probably what leads to high costs because people are either too grief-stricken or just embarrassed to question them. I imagine at the time of losing a loved one people are just grateful to have someone take care of things and pay the price. I hope this is not too sensitive a topic, but any help/thoughts most welcome. Many thanks.

I saw the arrest as xone262 described at the corner of Rodwell and Landcroft. But after about 20 minutes the suspect--who had been cuffed and held faced down with a gun pointed to his head all this time--was released. Obviously the wrong man. As you could imagine he wasn't too happy.

At least four packages have failed to arrive in the last 2-3 weeks at our house (Landcroft Rd) including an expensive item for my wife's birthday. Sorting office say there is nothing they can do and I just need to wait. I doubt I'll ever get these items now and feel like I have been robbed. I've completely lost all faith in the postal service in the area and online shopping is just not an option this Xmas unless another courier is available. Think I was getting a bit paranoid about it, so i'm glad to see this thread at least.