DenmotherSmith

> Hi what I have gleaned is that at the time of the > campaign for a new school in SE22 there was a > demand by local parents for a co-ed. Waverley > Girls School was resistant to a change to co-ed so > Harris was set up as a boys only. Subsequently > Harris has taken over the girls school. Therefore > there is no reason why a co-ed can't now happen > and families get a decent choice. The answer to > SE22's school issues are on its doorstep. Any one > else interested in a campaign? When the governing body of Waverly girls asked the parents to vote on the issue of becoming a mixed school, they chose overwhelmingly to remain single sexed. It should also be remembered that many of the current parents chose Harris girls because they wanted a single gender school for their daughters. I think that it is unlikey that Harris will support the idea of a co ed school ( if only on the grounds of costs) A workable option might be an expansion of the relationship that Forrest Hill boys and Sydenham girls have. To build upon their shared six form, with shared after school clubs, shared parents forum, combined performance arts productions, shared DEAS etc. I'd also like to see a common admissions policy giving sibling priority at the boys school to brothers of girls at the girls school and vice a versa.

This evening I attended a music recital at my sons primary school, I spotted an older boy from Harris Boys AED the older sibling of a child performing and grilled him as to his experiences of the school especially discipline etc.. He was a charming well spoken, polite boy, said he loved the school, was in the choir, choral choir, and jazz band and that there is also a reggae band and soon to be steel pans, he loves music and is really happy with the music teachers and their enthusiasm. Art is also a favourite lesson, with a great room and new photography lab. There is lots of sports, not his favourite but enjoying it. And no, he has never had any discipline metered out to him, he said if you misbehave then you suffer the consequences. I asked if he had been the victim of any bullying and he said no, and that anyone caught bullying suffered the severest of discipline. My conversation with him did much to calm my worries about the school (especially music as my son loves to sing) and soothe my disappointment of my son getting his fifth choice. Thought I'd share this, hopefully it might be helpful to others in the same boat.

I have three sons at Ivydale,two in the juniors. I think the behaviour, homework and support for bright kids is very good. My eldest son has excelled within their gifted and talented program, I have spent time in his class and with his peers in general and never found their behaviour anything other then excellent. His year six teacher is extremely supportive and last week, after school hours, called me after marking a piece of his work to let me know the how happy she was with the progress he had made. Like many parents I was disappointed with the result of their recent ofsted inspection, mainly because it did not seem to represent the school as I have experienced it. But I must admit since visiting many secondary schools last year and often not at all convinced the ofsted inspectors and I were visiting the same school, I have become rather sceptical of their reports!

We had Amigo for our six year olds birthday party last week, twenty five kids, 2-11 years in age,all were entertained, he was fantastic, top quality,

Brilliant I will give them a call tomorrow. Denmothersmith

My eight year old son has been doing street dance classes for a year and is keen to do ballet as well but adamant he wants a class for boys only. Does anyone know of one locally? Thanks

skyblue Wrote Just wish it was co-ed. Me too! That was the long ago starry eyed ideal of Harris Boys and Girls being a federated wonderland of co-ed bliss......... But hey-ho my son is off to a boys school and thats the way it is. On the upside my mother lives in Norfolk where only public schools are single sex, so she thinks Harris Boys sounds terribly fancy and is announcing her grandsons place there to anyone who'll listen...........

My sons primary school (Ivydale) usually has six to eight pupils yearly who get places at kingsdale, often with music scholarships, this year only one child with a music scholarship and one with a sibling place!! I would be curious to learn if this has been the same for other local schools. I have a friend who lives practically next door to Dunraven but decided to put kingsdale first on their sons LCAF, with Dunraven second and were lucky enough to get a place with the random system. A very much win win situation if you have a great school on your door step but also like the look of Kingdale!! Surely random allocation within a catchment area would be a fairer option for all schools. ( God I can see the estate agents crying now......)

Yes, he was very happy with it. There was no waiting before the appointment and aftercare was minimal but fine. Ie here is your sample bottles, here are the dates when to send them back , call us if you have any problems. PS top post vasectomy tip, antibacterial talc powder, keeps it all fresh and dry!! TMI I know but partner swore by it!

Oh where to start..... I've read all the posts here re. Malicious accusations against kingsdale pupils and have decided with trepidation to clarify my position. The meeting I attended was on Wensday the 9th of March at HArris Boys parents forum. The second item othe agenda was security, presented by PC Marcus Kudliskis, it discussed how several boys from Harris boys had been the victim of street robbery, he said that the perpetrators of some of these robberies were older boys from Kingsdale. When questioned by a parent as to what the reaction had been from KIngsdale school and it's Police Officer he replied that they had been fully compliant in supplying information on the perpetrators but could not comment on any sanctions taken by the school. The meeting was minuted and open to any parent or carer to attend. I think that the school nor the police officer should have issue with me repeating what was said here. I was simply posting information I had been surprised to hear, no malicious intent to discredit Kingsdale school at all. I think it's a great school and would have been delighted to have my son go there. Every school has rogue elements, it would not put me off a school to learn that one or two pupils had behaved criminally. I attended the meeting with another another parent with a child in year eight at HBAED and I know I did not miss hear what was said as we discussed the subject on our way home. If the officer spoke out of term or misinformed those at the the meeting I believe Kingsdale have every reason to kick up a fuss. I not an east dulwich local and have only recently joined the forum as wishing to join a discourse about Harris Boys School as my son has been offered a place there. I also posted about Marie stopes clinic in the vecectomey thread and no I do not have an undisclosed desire to promote the chop for the men of east! Nad

After four children my partner said "enough is enough" and booked himself into the Marie Stoppes in Brixton, it cost about ?500, was done under local anathestic and was all over in about 45 minutes from arrival to me picking him up! Takes about 3-5 months to get the all clear. He has had absolutely no problems. I personally find it a real show of dedication to us and our children. More of a commitment then any gold band or marriage certificate. Taking charge of the family planning, and not seeing it as "a womans chore" is one of the most manly things any man can do. Does it show how bloodly relieved I was to be rid of the responsibility!!!!

westof Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > BB100 Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Dunamis2011 Wrote: > > > -------------------------------------------------- > > > ----- > > > Was just reading some posts re Harris boys > > school. > > > What is this about older Kingsdale boys > mugging > > > them? > > > > > > You have to remember that the older boys at > > Kingsdale are the old cohort, the last of the > > problem kids the school was at one time heavily > > populated with. > > Also, wasn't Harris Boys temporary site in an old > primary school near Kingsdale before they moved to > the new building by Peckham Rye? - any incidents > I'd guess might relate back to that time period > i.e. not necessarily current. These are recent events, taking place in the last six weeks, some of the perpetrators have been arrested and charged accordingly. According to the officer involved kingsdale have assisted in finding boys, supplying address details etc. He did not know what school sanctions have been deployed.

My son has also been offered a place at Harris boys, it was our fifth choice and although I was very disappointed he is rather excited as many of his friends from primary school are going. I am trying to embrace the idea! I decided to attend their parent forum meeting this week (for parents of current pupils) and was impressed with the open free discourse between parents and staff (the head and assistant principal were present) the non defensive attitude to criticisms and desire to action on parent concerns. Interestingly their resident Police Officer , whom I'd always noticed outside, and had lead me to assume they must be a wayward bunch, reported that the main security problem is the high level of muggings the boys have been victims of, mainly committed by older boys from Kingsdale! I think Harris boys has the potential to be a very good school,it needs more local boys to attend, to expand it's appeal to the middle classes of Dulwich with perhaps more focus on the performing arts/creativity etc. It is VERY strict, they have a zero tollerrence to 'cussing', boys heard cussing are subjected to a three hour saturday morning detention. I am rather wary of the discipline factor, but my rational is if he behaves as is requested of him he won't be subjected to it. Also no class has over 25 pupils, the average class size is 23 and they are in the process of securing athenlay fc ground as their sport ground Monday to Friday, with Harris financing an overhaul of the facilities there, so there are lots of positives and room for improvement.