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Hello - just wanted to put out a recommendation for painter and decorator Ray Murray. Ray has been my go to painter and decorator for around the last five years - after being highly recommended by several friends in the area who have also been using him for years. Firstly he's just a thoroughly nice man - ALWAYS on time, preps within an inch of his life before the actual painting begins (I've come to realise through bitter experience this is the most important bit), does a superb job (his attention to detail is second to none) and is SO clean and tidy. He's also really nice man, brings treats for my cats, I trust him with a key and has done numerous jobs for me whilst I've been away on holiday (same with my friends) He is very often booked up for months but currently has some availability - please don't hesitate to give him a call - Ray: 07927 239023

And another glowing recommendation for Ray! I recently had my kitchen extended/refurbed and Ray came to paint after it was finished (I wanted him back as he'd done a brilliant job for me before) The kitchen walls were in a pretty shocking state and building work had made a mess of a good few things but Ray took the time to prep everything so beautifully before painting commenced (as he says, prep is the most important part to get a good finish) that you'd never know. I genuinely could not be happier with the end result - Ray is a perfectionist and it shows in his work which is spot on. I have had a lot of admiring comments and people asking for his number. Aside from his brilliant work Ray is totally reliable, prompt (arrived on the dot of 8am every day!), a great communicator, and a general pleasure to have around. If you have cats Ray will be very happy as he loves them and will even bring them treats! He's about to do a job for my friend (on my recommendation) but I think does have some availability v soon. Honestly, you won't regret using Ray - He's on 07927 239023

MAK - will DM you - maybe the coach company can come up with a stop that they can both go from (not sure where you live) May be a good idea just for Yr 7

Hi MAK Same problem for us re school coaches but I contacted the coach company (feeling slightly ridiculous as JAGs is really not far from us) and they are looking into putting in an extra stop close to us so might be worth contacting them esp if your daughter has to get two buses? My daughter only has one bus to catch so it's pretty easy really. I think like Jules says above she will be totally fine after a couple of days (if she ends up doing the bus which I think she will) - most London kids have to take public transport to get to secondary school and they'll get used to it quickly. I think it's more nerves about getting to know people as only one other person going from her state primary.

Hello My daughter is starting Yr 7 Sept and is a bit worried about getting the bus there on her own (not sure why, it's not far but she will have only just turned 11 when she starts) so wondered if anyone's daughter will be bussing it (think it would be the 76) from Peckham Rye/Nunhead area that she could walk to bus stop/get on bus with? Thanks

Thanks all. I am very lucky that I do have an alternative as my daughter has been awarded a means tested bursary at a local independent school. It's not a route I would have considered going down a few years back but when I realised (around yr 4) that her choices were going to be limited because of where I live I decided to pursue this route and luckily I'm poor enough (and daughter clever enough!) that this has worked. But it was a bloody long shot. I just feel pretty annoyed that this area of Nunhead/Peckham has such poor options(in my opinion)and as someone else said the new charter was supposed to help with this problem with extending the catchment this way but it hasn't helped at all. Saying that I do think Harris Girls is looking good as a school, the results last year were great, the OFSTED is great and I've heard many reports that the pupils are lovely and hard working.

Hello, it seems, like everyone said, that there is no specific road. Perhaps an actual road was a bit of an urban myth

I'm a St A parent but I live top end of Nunhead, just off Peckham Rye so def further away from Syd school than you (it was my first choice) I got my sixth (but nearest) choice, Harris Girls. However I know of girls around Dunstan's Road, v near Goodrich like you who did get Sydenham girls. Only the middle of East D people seemed to get the new Charter and only those v close to old Charter got it. I know of one Kingsdale (non sibling) and a few Harris Boys (they live in East D) We are a Catholic school so a few religious allocations which assume don't apply to you. If you live near Goodrich I think you should be OK - it's the families over the other side of the Rye (around Colyton Road) who would traditionally hope to get Sydenham Girls that didn't this year due to its massive increase in popularity (it was the first choice on many girls lists at St A list)

Hello - we were offered our sixth choice school which I'll be declining. As my child is at a school in East D I don't know many Yr 6 parents where I live (Nunhead, just off Peckham Rye) so I just wondered what schools other parents were offered out of interest. Most of my daughter's friends (who live largely in SE22) seem to have been offered their first or second choices.

I know it's been happening for years - have heard about it since I moved to the area! It was a work related question. All done and dusted now. Thanks all

Hi all, it might be folklore or hearsay but I'm sure I've heard that there's a particular street around the catchment of Charter school (north Dulwich) where people traditionally rent for a period in order to get their child into The Charter School. So they keep their home elsewhere, get their child a place, then move back to their original home. If this is true, anyone know which street this could be? Many thanks

Hello - I need to drive from Peckham Rye to Orpington on Friday morning, arriving Orpington by approx 8am. Anyone do this journey regularly and know roughly what time I should leave or if traffic is really bad? Thanks v much

Don't worry 12th October is cut off for scholarship places, definitely

Hi Tasha - it seems that Haberdashers (I'm assuming you mean the Hatcham one on Pepys Road) have now done away with banding so it will now be all on distance which given where we live im assuming my daughter's chances of getting a place there are slim - is that right ? Have no idea how far I am nodal distance wise - how do I measure this? Also does it matter what preference you put the schools in in terms of the schools? I.e they won't know how you've ranked them ? And if a school is in a different borough (think habs is lewisham?) it all still goes on the one CAF doesn't it ? Thanks so much

Thanks all - very helpful. Like Kes I'd love to know what the furthest distance was this year for the Charter East Dulwich - personally I don't think I have a hope in hell of getting in as I'm SE15 and am sure we are just too far. Likewise Prendergast Hilly Fields - does anyone have personal experience (or know anyone) who has got into these schools from where I live? I just don't want a 'wasted vote' if there is realistically no chance of getting into either of these schools. Renata, you're right my daughter is currently at a faith school but is very adamant she does not want to continue down Catholic route for secondary. She has/will try for some Grammar schools (am not expecting her to pass as she's up against a bunch of kids who appear to have been preparing for this moment their whole lives but she likes doing exams so thought we'd give it a go!) and am applying for bursaries (as am single parent, low income) for a couple of privates. Again, unlikely she will get a bursary place but decided to try as she's pretty bright and seems very unphased about doing tests. I've been to see Sydenham School and loved it, Kingsdale was impressive too. Will definitely be looking at all the others mentioned. Thanks