Stateeducation

jimthebuilder Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Nothing sinister! I think you will find the new > head is behind why so many are leaving I would completely agree with this view. He is a joke. Completely ineffectual

Seems an odd decision to appoint Alex Crossman given he did not even hold QTS in 2012. He has never taught a normal timetable. To suggest he was on the senior team at Charter in 2012 is not being totally truthful. He was placed onto it in 2012 as part of his training after moving from banking. He held no responsibilities and was not accountable as part of that team So in fact he has 3 years experience in teaching full stop. All of which has been at the level of Vice Principal

Congratulations to your daughter. Charter has some amazing staff.

Is this thread for real? Seriously some people need to get a life, much more important things in the world than this nonsense

Mr Barber and the steering group deserve credit for raising the issue around the need for a new ED school. It seems strange then around this groups desire to publicly criticise Charter. It seems equally strange that some of the more vocal East Dulwich politicians do not seem to fully support their local schools, in more ways than one.

Otta ..... Hush now

The issue that this has developed into is a mistaken belief that James Barber and the steering group feel they have chosen the HA free school for the whole of East Dulwich and now we should just accept it. This is not true. The steering group are not representative. It is also true that Mr Barber is increasingly showing signs of anger and annoyance at a Charter bid. Surely if he is interested in the best school for ED then he should equally support both? Siding with one bid becomes political while at the same time publicly criticising Charter (an outstanding school) does not help anyone. Surely as an elected councillor he should not be publicly attacking the Charter bid?

James Barber...you sound very angry and aggressive in your last post. You also seem to be misleading people. Yes the steering group choose HA but why should Charter, or anyone else, accept that. The steering group have behaved like it is their sole decision to make, it is not. The new school will be chosen by the DfE and not you Mr Barber.

Thank you for calling me an embittered coward . I am sure moderators/admin will do little about that personal attack . The only personal info I have brought up is the school the champion of the new HA free state school has sent his own kids to. WhY? Because it is very relevant http://m.huffpost.com/uk/entry/1864138/

LondonMix Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > How have I attacked Charter? Why is inclusion a problem for Charter. Unfounded accusation which goes against last OFSTED report http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/09/07/lord-adonis-private-school-_n_1864138.html

London mix that is your opinion but not mine. You should also stop the unfounded attacks on charter. You have no evidence to back up your claims

In addition I was asked by James Barber for my views/vision for the area. Something like thus, http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mehdi-hasan/warren-buffett-is-right-ban-private-schools_b_1857287.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-politics

I would like to draw your attention to the following article, http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/09/07/lord-adonis-private-school-_n_1864138.html I fully agree with Lord Adonis, hence my scepticism of the steering group

I'm happy to get involved in the steering group and I do support the need for another school BUT I reject HA as the chosen provider and in arguments I will not rehash I believe it has not been a fair process In addition moderators or site admin you were quick on jump on me yesterday but happy for dad's army to make outrageous unfounded personal attacks on Charter. One rule for one.....

Mr Barber I find you quite politically/morally bankrupt. Politicians who send their children to private school should have NO say in state education policy. Why should you judge the system you did not deem good enough for your own children? What's important for a local councillor to make a difference? They should live and breathe the services that you expect the community to use. You do not and neither do others on your steering group. How can you know the feelings of normal state attending children and their families from the ivory towers at Alleyns? State schools are there for other peoples families but not your own. Stop playing with politics with our local schools, we deserve better

The decision to establish this free school is being promoted as a LD victory in their literature. If it is non political then why the partisan claims? The steering group is all white, all at least middle aged and not representative of the diverse community The steering group did not consider all bids fairly. No matter what they publicly say, the decision for HA was pre-made. Charter did not have a chance or treated seriously. At least 3 members of the steering group (including Mr Barber) have NO interest in state education. They are rich enough to access private education. There is strong suspicion LDs in government will bring pressure on the DfE. Mr Barber's statement above already indicates he believes it's a done deal.

> > I fully agree, the trouble is people, especially > James Barber are talking as if Haberdashers is a > done deal. Taken from a quote above....... > > ....."I'm in politics to make a difference. You're > right my kids are too old to attend the school > we're creating but I would send them if it was in > place. Haberdashers' Aske's will be a fantastic > school and add to the other great schools we > have" > > Is it a done deal or is something underhand going > on. Are the Lib Dem's able to put pressure on the > DfE, maybe they have people in place there that > can influence things. I don't know, just seems a > bit cut and dried to me. That is my worry. I think there is a almighty stitch up happening. That is why the charter bid was not listened to fully or seriously.....no matter what might be the official line. Therefore this is why the unrepresentative nature of the steering group and how they reached this judgement needs total independent scrutiny

Jessie Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > How do you know this, state education? I think if > you have a vested interest, you should say so - > being so very keen on transparency, as you are. Do > you work for charter? No not at all but my children do go there. The information was shared informally by friends of some governors there

Mr Barber, I understand you live in the catchment area for Charter? It has been outstanding with Ofsted since 2006....why choose private over it?

The process is so subjective and I really worry about the impartiality of the group doing the scoring. That's why I have called for more transparency, who exactly was in the group? What are their credentials to enable the community to fully get behind the campaign? What is their background with regards to personally supporting state education in Dulwich? My understanding is that charter's bid was never given due consideration or taken seriously. Yes there were meetings but unproductive and it was obvious the decision to go with HA was very obvious. Out of touch, unrepresentative and elitist. Stick to your public school Mr Barber, what exactly makes you the leading voice on state education locally?

There is no transparency in this steering group. It's politically motivated, Representing a very narrow section of our community. James Barber, who choose expensive private education, has no place trying to lead the campaign for a state school within the heart of our community. Out of touch, unrepresentative and elitist. Stick to your public school Mr Barber, who have no place leading the campaign for our local community school

There is nothing malicious about pointing out the totally unrepresentative nature of this group.

The issue I have with this steering group is around transparency, accountability and due democratic process. 1. Just who are this steering group? What are their backgrounds and what makes them best placed to dictate which is the best school provider? 2. Just how representative is this group? From the picture on James Barber's website I would suggest not very. All white, all middle aged and looking as if they enjoy a lovely glass of sherry on a Sunday afternoon. Their socio economic background and ethnic background would be at odds from the diverse community this new school would serve. 3. Why should the community follow such an unrepresentative group's advice? They would not even access this new state school whoever runs it. Mr Barber (and no doubt others in his steering group) have already chosen private education. This comes at a considerable cost. It would be my view that this is an out of touch, unrepresentative group who do not represent the community views.

I just don't buy Mr Barber as the champion for state schools in southwark when his own children go private. Double standards

There is a real misunderstanding about the role of the steering group. They may have a preferred provider BUT it is not a decision for them to make. This is with the DfE. The steering group will have to prove just how much voice and support they now have for an Aske's school. Charter will have to do the same. However I do believe that Mr Barber's politics and those of his steering group are relevant to this debate. I find it outrageous that he can send his children to private school. Lib Dems defending state education in Dulwich. Practice what you preach Mr Barber. I would not trust him to make a decision about state education in our community when he quite clearly does not value or trust state education for his own children