dreamaholic

Take Charter North Dulwich as an example, The furthest distance we offered a place for our year 7 September 2023 was 921 meters. As of the 1st March 2024 the furthest distance we have offered a place for September 2024 intake is currently at 827m. If private schools become more unaffordable for parents who are not mega-rich, some kids will have to move from private to local, and it will only be even harder to get into schools that are already over-subscribed...

One of the headline Starmer kept talking about is charging VAT for private schools. This would make private school fees unaffordable for many who are not mega-rich, pushing more students back to the state education system. Would the state schools be able to take in the extra students? Many schools are already over-subscribed, are there enough schools, classrooms and teachers to take on the extra students? My fear is that the extra VAT they get is not going to be enough to provide education for more students under the state system, as well as the additional 6500 specialist teachers they claim they will provide.

I don’t have any personal recommendation, but I have heard friends having 1-to-1 sessions with native language speakers on italki.com. Have a look. Lots of native speakers and rates are reasonable.

I completely agree with you and have signed the petition. Introducing VAT to school fees will not impact the super wealthy, but those who work hard and try to save pennies here and there to afford the school fees. Imagine if 20% of current private school students can no longer afford to go to private schools and have to go to state schools, will the state schools be able to cope with the extra students? Say currently you need to live within 1km to be within catchment of your desired state school, that could be reduced to 600m. Just THINK about the potential consequences…

I could hear helicopter flying in the area (16 March around 8.30pm) - does anyone know what's going on?

James, we would really appreciate if you could speak to Southern on our behalf. Currently if one of the trains get cancelled, or if a 4 carriage train turn up instead of a 8 carriage train, the trains would be jam packed. Can't see how they can reduce our timetable to just one train an hour even during peak hour. How are we going to go in the work? I got a season ticket and to be honest I can't see how they can just reduce their service just like that. That's a 75% reduction (from 4 trains an hour to just one) Many thanks in advance

Fernando helped us with some gardening tasks - our garden looks so much better now. Thanks!

We went to this one in Majorca last year. http://www.thomson.co.uk/destinations/europe/spain/majorca/puerto-pollensa/apartments/aparthotel-playa-mar.html

We went to Thomson's family resort last year, there's a cr?che and the staff there have UK accreditation. There's also evening entertainment evening and my son who was around 20 months old loved it, especially Thomson the dog. We are going to another family resort this year! The resort we went to was in Majorca. With lots of water slides for kids. Would recommend!

We have asked Fernando to come and do some gardening for us and he turned our much neglected garden into a tidy garden with a new flowerbed. Would recommend and would personally ask him to come back for future gardening jobs.

Olay regenerist is great. I use their 3-point serum and day / night cream. They are often on offer too (like 3 for 2 at boots / superdrugs). I've used more expensive brands before and I prefer Olay. Much cheaper and you can feel the difference after just a week.

Please see map attached. Hope this helps!

We went last weekend there's a car park at imperial college that's approx 3 quid an hour but that was full when we got there at around 12. We parked our car near Gloucester Road, there are some spaces that's approx 3 quid an hour till 1.30pm then it's all free till Monday morning. It's a short walk but very good value. We prefer driving than taking a train then tube / bus too.

Another recommendation for Fernando. He came and helped us tidy our overgrown garden, he did a good job again, thanks!

Hi Fernando - I just emailed you to see if you're available to help with some gardening next week. Thanks for your good work last year.