Dorothy

How amazing. I have only seen one owl in my whole life, and that was at night, in the heart of the countryside. So glad it was ok.

No, I understand.

James, is there anything that can be done to get Kingsdale and Harris boys to re-think their admissions policies in the light of these shortages within the borough? I have read somewhere (was it even on this forum) that Kingsdale have offered 63 places to Lewisham children.

Yes, and I am ready to start lobbying for this prickle.

Would be very interested if, in due course, someone could post the truth of the matter on this thread. Meanwhile, I am engaged on another forum with people from Wandsworth, who want to know how they can enhance their chances of getting their children in to Kingsdale. Maybe I am truly at odds with the majority of the population (I don't think so) in wanting and expecting my children to go to a co-ed state school in the neighbourhood where they actually live.

The very personable and I am quite sure genuine woman from MacMillan knocked for me tonight. Unfortunately, I am not terribly impressed with them as a charity at the moment (personal circumstances) and, whilst I wasn't rude, just said that MacMillan weren't high on my list of priorities for donations. She didn't push it and was polite and went away. Not much of a job, I can't imagine.

Amazing! Did you actually search Ocado for something that cost ?2.67? Ha ha ha haaaaaa >:D

I'd hate to see Val's go. The ?2.67 Ocado/?4.25 locally item was a very small and commonly used stationery item in a shop that sells a lot of stationery! Tiny amount of shelf space and a long shelf life.

People are not bashing Kingsdale. They are saying, I think, that they would like their children to go there. They would like it to be an option but for far too many local children it won't be. I don't know the absolute facts but I have been told that only one girl from Goodrich has been offered a place this year. Well the catchment for Goodrich is pretty small and for the vast majority of Goodrich pupils who live within that catchment, Kingsdale will be their closest co-ed secondary school. Because Charter is out of the question. There is no point in congratulating ourselves on living in a lovely SE London suburb, with two great secondary schools, if such a huge number of local children are not able to attend them.

Is that really true about Val's? That will be such a shame.

It was ?2.67 Ocado, ?4.25 locally. Not a food item.

We bought something in a local shop the other day that was 60% more expensive than the same item from Ocado. I don't take much notice of prices usually but when I was handing over the cash I thought to myself "hang on, that seems a bit much" (which is why, out of curiosity, I looked it up on Ocado when I got home). Of course I realise things are going to be more expensive in local shops and I buy a lot of things locally, use them or lose them and all that - but 60% seems a bit like a ripoff. Is it?

If the whole process was abundantly clear - why would there be so many questions? Are we all a little bit dense?

"After looked after children ,siblings ,and I presume children with statements ,priority is given according to how close you live to the school" Which school are you referring to intexas?

Ann - I do agree completely that if a child is motivated and has supportive parents then that counts for more than anything. But if you live in East Dulwich, equidistant between The Charter School and Kingsdale but outside of The Charters miniscule catchment area and with a child with no particular aptitude for music, maths or sport, then you find yourself in the teeth-grindingly frustrating position of having two excellent secondary schools on your doorstep and only the remotest of outside chances of gaining a place at either. Its the stuff of sleepless nights.

Alright then Debi, I'll put it another way, this area is not properly served by non-selective state secondary schools. The scholarships at Kingsdale are ... for what purpose? It is no comfort to many parents, who just want their children to go to a reasonable local school, that Kingsdale is a Foundation school and can therefore set its own admissions criteria. I would like my daughter to go to Kingsdale as it is our nearest secondary school. She has a younger brother so I'd like them both to go, actually. Its not looking likely, though.

This is what is so difficult to get one's head round with Kingsdale. How can it get away with being a selective school? It is a *state* non-grammar, school. So how come it is able to select a part of its intake like this?

"There are much worse things than drug addled megalomania. Like piles and cabbage." and domestic violence

Given the pressure on state secondary school places in ED, it seems a terrible shame that Kingsdale does *not* apply an admissions by distance policy. Like the private schools, it is now a local school which is not available to many local children who would like to go. I am having a deal of difficulty in explaining the logic of this to my 10 year old daughter.

If you could see the sort of rubbish some people will "give away" in the name of charity it would really shock you. Why should charity shop volunteers have to be thankful for having to sift through detritus that people cannot fit into their wheelie bin or put in the recycling bins at the park?

Can you say why the thread entitled East Dulwich Schools was deleted - in very broad terms, if necessary?

Well, that went well then. Hope you got whatever you were looking for on this thread Tony.

We had a brilliant Eurocamps holiday in NE Italy near Venice last year. The weather was hot! and it was easy to get to Venice for a day trip on a local ferry (about one hour journey). It was slightly odd being without the car but we got a coach from the airport and then used local buses and hired bikes very cheaply. The countryside is very flat in the area with excellent provision for safe cycling alongside the roads. The campsite had a pool, restaurant and shop and it was also next to a huge sandy beach. I think the area is called the Cavallino coast (or something like that) and there are several campsites to choose from.

Reneet - I sincerely hope you are not discouraged from applying to Goodrich school. If it is your closest community school, I would encourage you to apply. If Heber or Fairlawn or Goose Green or wherever else is your closest, I would encourage you to apply to those. I really believe people should get behind their local school in their local community. And actually put some hours in at the school on a voluntary basis if at all possible.

FGS! I said I would pm Ann to put her in the picture. She was talking about a poster (as in someone who posts messages on a thread) you were talking about a poster (as in a piece of paper with a picture on it). You two were talking at cross purposes. I didn't ask anyone to pm me! I thought it was patently obvious I was a Goodrich parent. This is ridiculous.