tomk

It is confidential until the draft report is made final (week or so usually - school has right of reply etc and initial grading v unlikely to change). The SLT will know the initial grading/details but I do not blame them for not passing this on to staff given the firestorm of publicity in the summer. Admittedly, often it is passed on with a 'remember to keep this confidential' remark.

Yes, I saw them moving the trailer at 7.30 on Sat morning. Drove it on to Gowlett Road, I presume to turn it around. The car was definitely working - though as it wasn't a 4x4 perhaps it doesn't count.

James Barber Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > I think it is very unfortunate that the embargoed > report has been quoted 14hours earlier than its > public release date. This risks making council > officers and information more closely guarded in > the future to ensure it is released to everyone at > the same time. Which of course it should have been.

A major indicator for some ED parents will be the 'Higher Level Pupils %' - ie what % of pupils achieved top-level (level 5) in Eng AND Maths. Very interesting bit of data. Click on it at the top of website to order list by it.

Father Gerry is a great guy. Is it possible he/the Diocese thinks the funds from this may be better spent on working amongst the poor in Southwark than on maintaining community groups (nice though that idea is)? Rather than casting aspersions on his character, why don't people just ask him after mass on Sunday? He is very approachable.

Well, I was referring to joining the church rather than joining the school! And I don't actually speak for the Catholic Church either... But to bring it back on topic, I welcome James Barber's reasoned response to and support for the issue facing the local school and our local children.

civilservant Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Tony Rabbit, thank you for clarifying. I think we > agree that the problem is the closed-shop that > operates at faith schools. > > I have no problem about non-secular education in > general, but the point here is that we are talking > about a primary school that does not serve its > local community. Any argument about how all > classes and communities rub along so well and > result in a super-diverse school will fail against > the single fact that even if a small child lives > next door to this school, he or she will not be > able to attend it because its admission policy > discriminates against non-Catholics. > > I note with astonishment the unblushing admission > somewhere on this thread that 'St Anthony?s > admissions criteria is as fair as, if not fairer > than, any other school?s in the area. After > SEN/looked-after etc, it is dependent on faith, > and anybody can be Catholic. It is not a closed > shop.' > > Eh? was the poster expecting to be taken > seriously? Ho ho! I like your deliberate misread, aimed at the old 'St Ants parents don't even believe' slur. No, it may surprise you to know that we (almost all) do, and also that you would genuinely be made very welcome were you to come over to St Thomas More to begin he RCIA process. No, it isn't a closed shop at all. Sorry if that doesn't play up to your prejudices about Catholic schools.

ClareC Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Is anyone able to answer my question as to why > this school excludes all non Catholics rather than > designating a certain number of places as faith > like other faith schools? It doesn't exclude non-catholics (it might be good if someone on this thread actually read the admissions criteria they are so happily attacking). Practicing Catholics are merely prioritised in the event of oversubscription (just as Heber,goodrich and all ED's 'community' schools prioritise those with the financial clout to buy houses next to them or in adjoining roads and 'exclude' all other Southwark tax-payeers, regardless of walking distance to the school). To answer why the Cof E takes non-Christians would take too long so I refer you to Google, but I believe it is something to do with being the official church in this country (hence Bishops in the House of Lords). There is something of a growing movement in the CofE against this (see recent Independent interview with Williams) as some believe it weakens the religious ethos of the school rather than strengthens it - for example all parents agree to support the CofE ethos but in reality some actually oppose it.

Most of these recent posts about 'exclusivity' are just empty rhetoric. All school catchments based on distance exclude. Heber catchment is now about 400metres - how does this school serve anyone in ED other than a select few? Should we stop all public funds heading its way until it opens its doors to 'all the ED community'. I live about 1/2 mile from Heber (easy walk) but was told by the receptionist that although I could apply for a place, there was not much point as my child wouldn't get in. DVI/DH provide for one of the most privileged catchments in Southwark and show no interest in addressing this (and I am referring to the Open places here, not the religious foundation ones). Live outside the North Dulwich triangle/Village/bottom of Lordship Lane and you may as well not bother. I am not attacking these schools, but the idea that St Ants is 'excluding' all others is, in this context, totally false. It is important to note that the admissions criteria for St Ants does not exclude non-catholics, they are just lower in the order of preference when oversubscribed. Equally all the oversubscribed community schools 'exclude' children who do not live on their doorstep - these are lower in the order of preference also. In response to some of the other points: A. St Ant's catchment for last year was geographically bigger than most other ED schools. - strange for such an 'exclusive' school - furthest was I believe Nunhead. B. Almost all students live in SE22, one or two SE15 or Forest Hill. The parking issue is being stirred up for some of the reasons alluded to above (anti-faith schools, anti-Catholic - search the thread titled something like 'St Anthony's Catholic school for idiots' if you don't believe me). But hey, if it says it on the EDF then it must be true, right? Clowns, anyone? C. The idea that St Ant's is not multicultural/representative of the local community? I personally know parents whose ethnicity may be described as(though at the school we don't really care about where you come from): African (Nigerian, Ghanaian); Caribbean; Spanish; Filipino; Portuguese;Lithuanian; Polish; Indian; Malaysian; Irish; English; Welsh; Italian; Puerto Rican. And this is just me personally. Again, it's a lazy stereotype about the school which people don't apply to DVI, St Johns and St Clement, Heber etc despite their clear parallels. D. As for the nonsense about 'it's the parents' religion, not the child's - how ironic!' I would question exactly which parents in ED allow their 4yr old children to choose their own school. In my book that would be negligent parenting, not irony. E. It's the best school in ED, due to its catholicity, excellent leadership and teachers, and very committed parents. (edited once as cross-posted)

The St Anthony?s admissions criteria is as fair as, if not fairer than, any other school?s in the area. After SEN/looked-after etc, it is dependent on faith, and anybody can be Catholic. It is not a closed shop. Contrast this with the other popular ED schools such as Heber, Goodrich etc which are all totally dependent on how close you live (not whether you are walking/cycling distance) which effectively selects children on how much money their parents have (average house price around either school - ?700k+? Rents higher also) or how lucky they have been with social housing placement. Village Infants even throws out your CofE application if you have a CofE school closer, regardless of that school?s oversubscription/performance. My children will never be able to go to Heber, DVI etc simply as I cannot afford an expensive enough house - but you wouldn?t find me complaining about one of them receiving public money for a much-needed/demanded expansion. I notice nobody is arguing for a lottery system based on reasonable walking distance (one mile?) which is arguably the ?fairest? system of all. ?

> Though it's not true teachers have had a pay > freeze > Sept 2011 is final instalment of a 3 year deal - > 2.3% increase No, teachers are now in a pay freeze. No cost of living increase until Sept 2013 at earliest. But the strike is about pension changes anyway.

Yawn.

Let the removal guys do it. That's what you're paying them for and they are used to doing it.

They frequent/regularly visit the house that is about halfway along Keston on the left ( as you walk towards Goose Green), black door I think. Have also seen a big guy in a Bentley visit a few times. Seems a popular house if you know what I mean.

I think those darnEd teachers failed you, didn't they Silverfox? You could have been so much more...

A really good sensible post.

It's good that two first-time posters are such supporters of Zippo's... and posting just nine minutes apart! (I have no knowledge of the Circus's treatment of animals good or bad btw, just an observation).

> I thought it might be a nice touch to give people > a bead or somthing similar and have three perspex > boxes so users can place bead in cold, hot, just > right boxes. that way most people will comment > publicly. > > I humbly request a 'bloody freezing' box. And one for the changing rooms as well. And a thermometer to check it.

Facilities are first class, though this morning the water and changing rooms were pretty cold (the former too cold for small kids, the latter too cold for even adults). Hopefully they will up the heating a notch and then it is really quite a (re)addition to the area.

Don't understand the need for so much 100% adult lane swim - particularly given the large number of young families in the area (as acknowledged by Southwark with the Primary School bulge classes). Disappointed that I cannot take my kids swimming on Saturday morning. Sunday a little better but still massively dominated by adults-only. Pool looks great otherwise

The cynic in me sees a veg curry house as the way for SMBS to get rid of any 'mature' stock, whilst making maximum mark-up. Completely unlike the 'vintage pretty' juice bar (even the name givs it away). Still, much better than an empty shop.

I wouldn't pay for a survey on my own property - this is your buyer's responsibility. I would either put it back on the market and await a serious buyer, or - if desperate - offer to reimburse buyer the cost of the second survey on exchange of contracts.

tarafitness Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Really?! Are there *any* 3+ bedroom houses in the > area for less than ?5,500.00?! The article in question was over a year old? Prices about right for summer 09, but not '10.

It is definitely September: Fusion website - download PDF 'Investing in Leisure Programme Dulwich Leisure Centre ? Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the programme schedule for Dulwich Leisure Centre? The construction work commenced (on time) on Tuesday 5 May 2009. The revised two work phases are: Phase 1 ? May 2009 to September 2010 ? Pool, roof, wet side changing rooms, new entrance building and studios Phase 2 ? September 2010 to March 2011 ? Gym, dry side changing rooms, staff area and renovated old entrance...' They are blaming snow and vandalism/burglary.

From the coalition document: 'we also agree to a longer term policy objective of further increasing the personal allowance to ?10k, making further real terms steps each year towards this objective. We agree that this should take priority over other taxcuts...' Good luck with getting this to ever actually materialise, especially when we enter the the LibTory 'Age of Austerity' with Osbourne claiming the figures are FAR worse than the Labour liars ever admitted - leaving nothing for tax cuts at all. And it's 'Labour's financial crisis' apparently - strange that I remember Obama and Bush being right in the middle of sorting it out. Good to see that the 'new politics' hasn't changed the old blame-game. Thanks Nick. PS. Any women in the cabinet? Anyone not privately-educated? Has it gone above 5 yet? Thanks Lib Dems.