citizenED

Yes, another recommendation here for the reliable and personable plumber, Aria. Booked to deal with an emergency he was flexible and communicative with time and appointments as the job became larger on assessment. Always courteous, he is our first choice.

Hi, we would like to add a recommendation for Aria and his team who sorted us out when we had a leak in the bathroom. Polite, honest, friendly and helpful and was flexible over timings. Lovely guy to work with. We will use his services again. Cliff and Verona

We have been given an alternative date to sit the test at Knights Academy - on that well-known non-working day, Wednesday!

Thanks for the advice monniemae, but I now have this sorted.

Thanks to all who have contributed. Much good advice. I have written to the Head at Haberdashers to ask for an alternative date, one that I can actually make and await a reply. In the meantime, I have sharpened my elbows, dashed my principles and opened a new thread asking if anyone is going over to New Cross on Friday. Citizen

Following on from my other thread on the banding tests, is there anyone going to the banding test at Haberdashers this Friday who would be happy to take my little boy and one other. They are both Goodrich. PM me please. Citizen

Thanks for all the responses. They generally tell me what I expected and I feel I am in a Josef K type excerise in futility, except that, in the DfE School Admission Code it clearly states that "Admission authorities must not refuse to admit a child solely because they are unable to sit the test on the allocated date. In this circumstance they could arrange for another test to be conducted, or seek other evidence of the child?s academic ability." Two of the schools have only offered one date. I'm loathe to take a day off work (even if I could) to take him to a test for a school that he almost certainly will not get into. I've written back to one school to tell them that we cannot take him. If anyone has taken the route of not attending the test - could they report back. Cheers, Citizen

Does anyone have experience of non-participation in secondary school's banding tests for admission to Yr7? We have been invited to take our Y6 son for three tests over the next couple of weeks. The implication in the letters is that if the kids don't sit the test they will have their aplication to the school withdrawn despite two of the schools offering only one date for the test. I suspect that this is not within the rules and that we would be within our rights to tell the schools that we won't be attending. We'd appreciate any advice. Citizen

Just back from Hamlets where we saw a fabulous victory in the FA Trophy; 2 - 1 against Margate. Crowd of 1400. 0 - 1 down at half time, they came alive in the second half and deserved their two goals.

I go past that site every day and it's been good to see the recent developments.

Just letting everyone know that the Imperial War Museum is closed for renovations until July 2013. Just to save any of you traipsing up there on the number 12 with four excited boys in tow, like I just did. Schoolboy error!

Anyone see the bunch of happy, groovy woman, shaking their "booties and "getting down" to some happening tunes on Goose Green Roundabout this lunchtime? Caused a smile on this Valentine's Day.

We got off the bus by the Station at about 2.45 only to find out about the postponement. Shame for the Hamlet club - was due to be one big crowd.

Horniman Gardens are brilliant for sledging. That's where we went yesterday morning. Should be great now.

Otto, change the title of the thread to "I just "did" Gambardos with a hangover...." and I'd understand why it was such hell. Without the hangover, it's only hell in the shellsuit sense. For kids, without the sociological snobbery, it's heaven.

James - any word on the former Early Years centre at Bessemer Grange School? Now notice that the building was severely damaged by fire sometime over the summer. CitizenED

To be honest I feel a little sorry for the Badminton disqualificationees. Playing tactically is part of many sports - it was always a problem in football when teams knew they had already qualified and were aiming to avoid the better teams in the next round. Isn't this a problem with the way the competition is organised rather than being down to the individual competitors? By playing for the lesser opposition were those players not actually playing for gold?

They were in Brockwell Park today! I saw them getting deflated later on. Can't tell you where they were heading off to. Sorry

Brilliant; second medal for Team GB with Lizzie's fantastic sliver in the cycling after Hamilton's amazing gold in the road race!

Best of luck to all runners and riders - and to the drinks team! Sorry I cannot be with you!

My back garden, 'cos I've not been able to get out there for ages and its all overgrown, what with all this rain.

Horniman Triangle.

I try to drive down that road at 5mph and it is bloody difficult! I have my two boys in the back of the car and we make a game of it, seeing how slowly daddy can go. Don't spend money on speed humps. Just increase the limit to 10mph, put in a couple of proper speed limit signs and fine people for speeding.

Dear James, did you manage to find out anything about the former Early Years Centre at Bessemer Grange? CitizenED