scarlettbanks

Thanks for this update. It sounds like Alleyns maybe just did make a mistake (which can happen to any business), and it sounds like they are now putting things right. Great to hear that Tigersharks will continue until the end of the year, and it sounds like beyond too

Yes, for me this isn't an argument about contractual agreements (I would guess that Alleyn's will be within their contractual rights to do this, otherwise they wouldn't be doing this). It's more an argument about courtesy, ethics, and commitment to community. Krys and his colleagues have built up TigerSharks over decades (and paid Alleyn's for use of the pool over these decades), and have worked so hard to build an amazing community-based club. It just seems wrong to call him up, 2 weeks before the end of term, and to say "that's it" with no explanation or offer of alternative ideas/workarounds. To make things worse, Alleyn's have contacted all of those who attend TigerSharks, asking us to fill out a survey on a new proposed swimming club (to be run by Alleyn's) which sounds much like TigerSharks but without Krys and his staff - it basically feels like Alleyn's are stealing TigerSharks' mailing list/business, and are now looking to run it themselves. Again, this might be legally ok, but it feels wrong. And they're only doing this to Krys, not to the other swimming clubs. To those who are saying "only Alleyn's and Krys know what has really happened" - the members of TigerSharks have been asking Krys about this, and he really hasn't been given any further warning or information - Krys is as honest as they come, so I think Alleyn's haven't communicated well with him. That said, I have heard that the school has agreed with meet with Krys and others - so credit to them for this - I really hope they can find some solution that allows Krys to keep his students and his livelihood. I've heard that Alleyn's have done good things for the community in the past - maybe they just made a mistake with this one (e.g. maybe the person in charge of the pool did all this without consulting Alleyn's management) and maybe they will now put things right.

we like JB's Soulfood on Peckham high street for jerk (go on the days they do jerk pork - I think Wednesday and Friday??). Also Cool Caribbean on Bellenden Rd for soups and stews

I like his reviews too. Food is really good at Montpelier at the moment - that cheeseburger is amazing

I'm bumping this thread with the May 2024 Charter East Dulwich Ofsted inspection which makes for very pleasant reading: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/23/142178 . It's an ungraded inspection, which means the official grade ('Good') cannot yet change, but the text basically says that it would be considered 'Outstanding' if graded now. It should have a graded inspection within the next 1-2 years, to hopefully confirm the 'Outstanding' grade. Of course Ofsted inspections have their limitations - but let's not have a discussion of that here!!

Does anyone know the opening hours? Can't find anything on Google or Google Maps...

Does anyone know the furthest distance offered on 1st March 2024, for Charter East Dulwich - i.e. 1st round offers for the September 2024 intake?

Just to offer a different perspective - we've been very impressed with Charter ED so far. Teachers good or excellent (some better than others, of course), and kids are very happy there. We don't get much feedback from the school - comms could be better (I think this is true of most secondary schools, in comparison to primary schools) and so most feedback is from the kids. They seem to be doing v well academically, and being pushed - they have to look for opportunities a bit, to make this happen, but I think that's good practice for the real world. Looking forward to the building being finished, will make the environment even better.

Hi Bob - maybe 6 or 7 tables? The tablets are quite small though, and tightly spaced - we liked that (was informal/fun) but others may not

Another big recommendation for Janda Diner. It's really really good food - different from anything I've had before (I've had a few Malaysian meals in the past, but this place has really interesting cooking and flavours). It is small (like Bob says) but I'm assuming it's eat-in only, for now at least. Quite a cramped informal setting - we liked the vibe, feels like a real family place, but others might want more space - but the food is really top-notch in my view

We've been to Malabar Feast - it's a very good takeaway - definitely a cut above the rest. We still miss Ganapati though - used to love it

Ooh thanks both - good tips. Kids are 6yo and 8yo - they would be up for a bit of a party I think, so maybe Dawson Hill would be fine - sounds fun with a big crowd

Hi there - we are 4 adults, 4 kids, looking for somewhere outdoors to be at midnight on NYE. Bonus points for good view of fireworks, and if it’s fairly popular - would be more fun if we’re not the only ones! Ruskin Park? One Tree Hill? Somewhere else? Thanks!

We love our area, near the Belham Primary school. Our kids go to the Belham and love it. You need to live quite close to the school to get a place - the exact distance changes each year - might be best to contact the school if hoping for in-year admission - they do get spots available as kids move away etc. It's Peckham rather than East Dulwich - so the local high streets are Bellenden Rd and Rye Lane, rather than Lordship Lane - personally we slightly prefer this area (exciting, buzzy, rougher round the edges in parts especially bits of Rye Lane, but lots of nice shops, fun restaurants and bars etcs) although that's a personal preference, and others prefer Lordship Lane. From the Belham it's a 7-minute walk to Peckham Rye station, which is well-connected to various parts of central London, especially once you learn the train timetable! There are lots of good state primary schools in East Dulwich too. Our kids hoping to go to the state secondary school Charter East Dulwich - looks like we do live close enough based on latest admission distances - the majority of Belham kids seems to go there. There's also Charter Herne Hill (you need to live close), Kingsdale (lottery to get in), some single-sex state schools, and then some private schools. I'm less in-the-know about nurseries - in our area have heard good things about The Villa, Little Jungle, Mother Goose Greendale (a bit further away) but I don't really know - and you probably need to sign up early. Lots of nice streets with community feel around the Belham - e.g. Avondale Rise and the parallel streets, Muschamp Rd and the parallel streets, Oglander, Ondine, etc - many others too I'm sure.

Also not nice for the school kids to have the noise of building work, and then to have flats overlooking their school

Feeling Food at the bottom of Rye Lane is v good (Italian most the time, with a different equally good team doing Greek food on Monday/Tuesday). Mondo Sando are amazing for quite indulgent sandwiches - they deliver too (go to their Instagram for links).

Does anyone know the opening hours please?

Peckham: Artusi, Mr Bao, Made of Dough (half price, long queues), Camberwell: Silk Road, Forza Win, FM Mangal

Peckham Arches has really good, new, BBQ-based food. Went on a Friday night - brought the kids along - outdoor eating with lively vibe - 2for1 cocktails before 7pm (I think, don't quote me on that) - good food with big portions - really enjoyed it! https://peckhamarches.com/

White Water Rafting in Lee Valley (the artificial Olympic course) is fun for visitors. Tate Modern? Escape Room? Borrow a bicycle and cycle around the canals in Hackney? Movie at iMax? Some events might be on - e.g. at Ally Pally, or Southbank. Thorpe Park? War of the Worlds VR experience?

I don’t know, sorry. Someone else might know…

Updating this thread in 2023...For interested parents, the 'longest distance' offered on 1st March 2023 offers day (for the Sept 2023 admissions) was 1396 metres!! Good news! And presumably this will increase further as we get closer to Sept 2023, as some of these places will not be accepted (as we've seen in previous years). Sounds like good news for ED parents worried about their chances of getting into Charter ED in the future. Here's a map of 1396 metres radius.

Oops - and hot of the press - the further distance offered on 1st March 2023 (for the Sept 2023 intake) was 1396 metres! So it's gone up substantially. And will presumably go up even more before Sept 2023. So Barry Road (top or bottom) is almost certainly a safe bet for the future, as I imagine the longest distance will continue to increase. Good news for people of the area :) . Here is 1396 metres on a map:

For the Sept 2022 intake, the 'longest distance' for Charter ED was 964m when offers were first made in March 2022. But of course, not all these kids accept the offer, and some instead go to private school etc. So by school start in September 2022 (i.e. when the kids actually started), it had gone from 964m to 1267m. See attachment for how these two circles look. This was for September 2022, and the circles will change for subsequent years of course. But if anything, the 'longest distance' should increase in upcoming years, as the intake increases (it was 210 in Sept 2022, but will be 240 in future), and since the demographics of East Dulwich are changing (there are projected to be fewer kids starting secondary school in coming years, compared with Sept 2022 when there were several primary school bulge classes etc). So I think the top half of Barry Rd should be very comfortable. And the bottom half of Barry Rd should be fine too, but may have to wait until post-March to be offered a place. And if you're applying in the distance future (i.e. not for Sept 2024) then it will hopefully get even more comfortable.

Our kids love it (we love it too). We go only occasionally. Very informal, and all ages / abilities / speeds welcome. And the kids get a good sense of achievement from it. We usually do the Peckham Rye one