kindaha

Hi sorry I am tagging along, also interested in these - could you let me know where the goose green one takes place? many thanks k

ok many thanks for that. We will apply to both so good to know about Goodrich too. I did a tour of both and thought at least they looked like friendly environments where the kids are happy. great to hear from people whose kids go there. it's all such a confusing business!

This discussion is really getting out of hand! Zeban had the good grace to apologize, I am very apreciative of that. As I said I clearly didn't explain myself properly in the first place. misunderstanding is not a crime. Please can we now stop this thread. I regret ever posting the question in the first place.

no need to apologise I am probably rambling incoherently ;-)

I will keep this short because i really don't want to get into this nonsensical debate- i just want to make some corrections to your perception of what i have said: -i didn't once say that working class parents don't care about where their kids go - i said precisely the opposite. Oilworker was claiming that only the middle classes are obsessed with their kids education and i disagree strongly - we are all human beings who care about their kids whatever class we come from - please re read my posts. I also was/am not in the least outraged that the kids from the estates can get into the school in clahpam - again exactly the opposite - of course i am very happy that they go there given they live two seconds away. i was again merely saying that the story is not so one sided and the middle classes dont have all the power. we can't always afford to be where all the good schools are. it is not a question of the middle classes monopolising the school - we all middle class, working class whatever class want to do the best for our children. the middle classes have more options you are absolutely right about that - what needs to change is to give those who don't have options more options but you can't just blame people willy nilly for wanting the best for their kids. just as your mother wanted the best for you and i am sure used all that was within her power to provide you with the best, I use all that is in my power (which is actually rather pathetic) to help my daugher. -I only said oil worker was middle class by now because she said that whoever find themselves in this post is by definition middle class. -my husband is feeding me nothing i have a mind of my own.

oops sorry civilservant I meant oilworker - trying to write and deal with 2 small children is never a good idea!

and by the way I am very happy that we have moved from clapham. East dulwich was a wonderful discovery, it is an amazing place.

yes exactly this is why i have been seeking the opinion of those who have experience of the schools, so many thanks to the responses. :-)

civilservant - don't worry hijack away!. we have had to move from clapham where there is an excellent - school a 'beacon of excellence' so in theory at least better than any of the ones here because we 'the middle classes' can't afford to live in its catchment. it is slap bang in the middle of a council estate so all the kids from there get priority. still these discussions can go on for ever - i think it is sad when we reduce ourselves and others to a class. perhaps this could be said to be the privilege of the middle classes (not to have to think of what class they belong to) but if so it is a privilege I will hang onto. we are all humans and we all want the best for our children. oilworker I didn't mean to say I don't know what class I belong to - what I meant is that I don't care to classify myself. I am middle Class if you insist as you surely must be by now. That however doesn't define either you or I.

Hi Redjam many thanks for this. I have had a look at some schools in the spring but I saw so many that I actually couldn't see the wood from the trees and didn't feel that I could tell from a short tour. So I really appreciate comments from people who have direct expenirence of the place. And yes I hadn't meant to provoke a big discussion about class, middle or otherwise!

ok many thanks, I appreciate junior civilservant's input given he is an 'inmate' of the school. did he/she go to the nursery too? if so how did junior find it?

Thank you all for messages, I really didn't realise it was going to start a big discussion about the middle classes!! I am not British and as such not quite up to scratch on the who's who in the classes. However I do care, as I think most parents of all classes, about my daughter going to a good school. we are very close to Heber and I have heard vague comments about it being good, I did do a tour and thought it looked ok but it's hard to judge what a place is like from a short tour so just wanted to know from people who have kids there or who have lived in the area long enough to know. Anyway many thanks again

-- moved topic --

we have just moved into the area and our daughter is due to go to reception next september and would like to know people's opinions about local schools. we are closest to Heber, does anyone have kids there or know about it? many thanks

thank you all for advice - it's great to have an idea of what you think about the various places. we came from clapham where we had some great and some awful gps - it makes such a difference to know who to go with.

we've just moved to ED quite near to the police station and i am wondering if anyone can recommend a good GP in the area - especially one good with children. many thanks