Southwark Primary School Admissions for Sept 2013

[GinaG3]

Congrats loulou, we and a few other have also just received a place at Bessemer in the last week or so, after not being allocated any of our top 6 and subsequently being offered Langbourne. It is happening, slowly. Happy to have waited it out, along with the others.

I hope everyone else is getting somewhere closer to where they want, PLEASE don't give up hope. Wait lists are definitely shifting in the right direction now, just maybe not so with the 'central' Dulwich schools such as Goodrich and Heber, I'm aware we were also still 70-80 on their lists before receiving our offer last week.

[Abney]

That's great Loulou and Gina, good to hear things are moving. Sadly not for me. Haven't moved hardly at all since May. I've given up hope of getting anything until after September, and even then I don't know.

I did hear however that Fairlawn have announced a bulge class? Not sure if this is old news or very recent news? If it's true it may help ease up a few places closer to me. Who knows?

At least my daughter can continue to stay at her nursery until January. Although she will be 5 at the start of October, and not sure how she will take to being with 90 three year olds and all her friends gone....

[Renata Hamvas]

That's fantastic news Loulou and Gina. Yes Abney, Fairlawn has had a late bulge, so it may be worth checking where you are now on their list.

I want to investigate further those of you who initially didn't get any of your 6 choices (even if you have one now). Please could you email or pm me with:

your child's name and dob

your address

the schools you put down in order of preference.

Thanks

Renata

[GinaG3]

I am certainly happy to pass on details to you Renata, especially if it could help in any way sort out a solution for the coming years. I know I have felt hugely stressed and let down in this situation not least because I have have had very stressful things going on alongside which needed more of my focus.

If you don't mind why/how are you going to be investigating further? Will PM you details a bit later on, have to root out emails for preference order.

[Renata Hamvas]

Hi Gina, yes it is for next year and subsequently, I want to check if there are particular spots where people did apply to their 6 closest schools and didn't get any of them. I will be liaising with council officers over this.

Renata

[James Barber]

Hi FionaC and buggie,

Well yes and no.

Since Lord Adonis local councils havent been able to build new schools themselves. Daft situation.

The government has changed this to presume local councils will seek someone to provide an academy/free school.If they don't find someone they get to build one. Ministers have talked about council opening new schools.

Expanding Ivydale means using some of this year ?12.5M given by the government to Southwark Council to expand basic needs i.e. school places.

IF however Southwark were to find a great school provider, as they are doing with working with Village outstanding school to open a new school on the Old Belleden School site, then the government pays all the capital nsd revneue set-up costs.

That difference in approach is circa ?5m capital loss to the local area.

It means that other school changes will be funded with ?5m less money.

[Fuschia]

Thing is most local parents are cautious of free schools, where qualified teachers aren't required

[oimissus]

sorry, James, to clarify - there's going to be a new primary school on the old Bellenden school site? Do you (or Renata) have any further details of this? Thanks.

[Renata Hamvas]

Hi Oimissus, this is provisionally scheduled for Sept 2015. It is being set by Dulwich Hamlet Juniors in partnership with Southwark.

Renata

[oimissus]

damn. Would/will be one of our nearest schools, but a year too late!

[gebbjane]

Will that be a whole primary or just juniors like hamlet?

[KatsuQueen]

A new primary school on the old Bellenden school site, wow that's interesting to know. Too late for my kids, but good news for our little area I think. I have always thought it was a shame that that big building seemed a little under-used.

[Renata Hamvas]

It will be a primary rather than juniors.

Renata

[James Barber]

Hi oimissus,

New Dulwich Village school in Bellenden road is good news. Email from them they're unsure whether they'd be able to make it happen for Sept'15 or 16. An awful lot of hoops to jump through including applying to the government for funding. Normally the application should go in this September to maximise time to make it happen for Sept'15 or latest January 2014.

Good to hear that some of the many people who didnt get one of their choices is finally getting a school they can be happy with. Congratulaitons. And you've had this good news with sufficient time for your children to get nicely excited.

[Renata Hamvas]

Hi all, just to say, contrary to what James has stated above, the 12.5million allocated to Southwark to address our current need for additional primary places will not be used for the Ivydale expansion. These funds are for the bulges and expansions that are currently happening eg expansions of Bessemer Grange and Langbourned. Additional funds will be sought for Ivydale.

Thank you to all of you who have sent me a pm detailing your primary application. If you didn't get one of your original choices and were allocated a school, please pm me with the details of where you live and where you have applied. I am putting together this information for next year.

thanks

Renata

[James Barber]

Hi Renata,

so where is the money for thE Ivydale expansion coming from then?

It sounds like things are in the air and unconfirmed.

For the information you're asking people to PM.

Why don't you ask council officials for this - they have all this information in a database..

[Renata Hamvas]

Hi James, as you know the funding is allocated annually. The Ivydale expansion is not happening this year. The bulge was funded from this pot of money. Like you I know the ward breakdown of where people who were allocated places live. I am looking more specifically and not necessarily in my own ward, hence why I am asking residents to contact me.

It is currently school holidays, further discussions over Ivydale expansions will be occurring in the Autumn, once school holidays are over. I will post updates on here for interested residents.

The Bellenden submission is likely to occur in January.

Renata

[number 2]

Another happy story people! We were called today with the offer of a place at St John's and St Clement's. it's not our first choice but we are really, really happy with it. We would have put it higher up our list had we thought we could have got in and we've jumped from about 15th to being offered a place. Our boy is thrilled - when we went to look around he saw some children playing with Star Wars lego!

Good luck to all of you who are still in limbo.

[GinaG3]

Thats great news number 2! Hope everyone else is getting on okay too xxx

[number 2]

Thanks gina! I've been walking around as though a weight has been lifted. Silly I know but I just was so worried about the lack of space at Hollydale.

[buggie]

Really glad to hear things have turned out well number 2 :)

[number 2]

Thank you!

[Ryekids]

We have finally and thankfully been given a place at Goodrich. Does anyone know when term starts for reception kids and how pre-start administration process takes place as the school is officially on holiday?

[BB100]

That must be a huge relief. Most Reception classes have a staggered start with a few children starting a few days at a time so your child will probably not start right at the beginning of the term. Hopefully someone from Goodrich will see this and know more specifics.

[Belle]

My son is starting on mon 9th sept, and I'm pretty sure that's the earliest for Reception but that the rest of the school is back the week before - so if nothing else, would have thought you could call the w/c 2nd to check specific details. The teacher visits are happening that week too. Goodrich has a Twitter feed so could also be worth Tweeting them?!