dulwich Jon

Hello; We were unable to get into any of the 6 schools we requested for our 4 year old, to start in September, and were given one 2 miles away, which we have declined. We wee 30th on waiting list for our preferred school, 3 weeks ago. This has now dropped to 20th. Has anybody experience of this before?, and has anyone ever gotten into a school when starting of at such a high place in a list? I am unsure how this things shake down in these months. thanks DJ

Hi Reneta; We did not get offered any of the six schools we chose, and got offered a school 2 miles away from us. A friend of ours, who lives closer to this school, has not been offered a school at all (which does contradict your first sentance I am afraid). They were on time and live in southwark. Regarding our child, we will not be able to accept this school offer, since it is too far to walk and will take hours on public transport. Regarding waiting lists, we will ask to be placed on the waiting lists for the schools we chose. Can you tell me please the criteria for these waiting lists, I believe that it is based on the same criteria as the original decision. My partner though believes it is based on the priority the school was placed on our list. Also, what happens if we refuse? many thanks Jon

I believe that if none of the schools put down have space, then the borough you live in places you in the closest school with spaces, in their borough. We live in the south of southwark, in the pointy bit, so the closest school to us with space might be as far as peckham or camberwell, several miles away. DJ

Ok, so just wondering what happens if the closest school in the borough, which has spaces, is over 2 miles away. It's a particular scenario, I suppose I will find out soon. : ) DJ

Hello; Not long to go until we hear about whether our 4 year old has got into the schools we selected, we live in Southwark. I expect though that we will not get into any of the schools (we live in an area where there are very few state schools close by). In this situation, is there a maximum walking distance for a school, for an infant. I fear we may be asked to send our son to a school many miles away, but have heard there may be a rule against schools being too far away? thanks in advance DJ

So little tinker is 1 in a few weeks, which we would like to mark in some way in celebration. Has anyone ideas on what to do in the area for a 1 year old. His older brother (4) and friends will be there, and our friends of course, and some younger babies. Options curently are Get together at home Book a table for back room of the Dog. Having a lack of ideas, so thought would post here in a collective brainstorm. Ideally would love to find somewhere which serves food / drink, but has a largish space that can be sole use for us, for kids to crawl / tear about in. : ) many thanks DJ

Sorry, I meant the lewisham handbook.

Hello; I am wondering whether anyone knows the typical effect a bulge class has in furthest distance place offered. In the lambeth primary admissions handbook, it looks like a bulge class that doubles the intake, is likely to double the maximum distance offered. I know this is very much rule of thumb, but has anyone better insight into this? Also, does anyone know which schools in southwark are offering bulged classes this year?, I called southwark and the lady I spoke to couldnt tell me. many thanks DJ

Dear Forum; Parnter and I are in midst of decsions on schools, not a great experience since we live a~1 mile away from every school we wish to send our cherub too. We live in Southwark. We carry on regardless, and one question, does anyone know how the order of schools we list affects the decision. i.e. if we place school A at the top of the list, and school B second, but we do not make it into the catchment for A, but would do B, would placing school B second on our list affect the decision whether we make it into the school. Would placing it first have been better? I think this question makes sense?, apologies if not. DJ