Southwark Primary School Admissions for Sept 2013

[Saffron]

Indeed, very disappointing, as the two issues (ie, free schools and expansion of school places) are not mutually exclusive hypothetically, but the government seems to be doing a fairly decent job of bungling both! The thought of applying for reception places in autumn (for 2014-15) actually makes me feel a bit ill. And it's definitely driving me to look for alternatives (not that we can nec afford them!).

[stellakis]

Hi, I'm in Southwark. How do I get on the waiting lists in lewisham?

Thanks

[Indiana]

GinaG - I hope you get a place somewhere within reasonable distance. It all sounds very stressful. I guess Heber was always going to be a non-starter given that the catchment last year was under 200m and you live probably over 1000m away. However in previous years you would have just about made it into Goodrich.

Good luck.

[LizzieF]

I'm in Southwark and have just called Lewisham. You can appeal to a Lewisham school through their website. You are automatically put on the schools waiting lists for the high choices you didn't get ...assume this means those schools that are higher than the school you were given.

Lewisham aren't giving out waiting list position until 14 May. I think this date is also the deadline for appeals.

Trying to stay calm! Either way I'm not sending my son to Langbourne! Has anyone actually turned down their offer of Langbourne?

[Kes]

Renata - thanks very much for the information, I've emailed southwark admissions about waiting lists and got a response in a matter of minutes, very impressive.

Can I now ask you another question though? We were offered our 4th choice school, but it seems we are 3rd on the waiting list for our second choice. Will we be informed if we get a place there or do I need to keep asking? and if we do get a place could we reject it and stick with the initial offer (if the offer takes a long time we might have to do this for complicated childcare /work reasons)?

A minor concern compared to those who got none of their choices I know.

BTW you mention Ivydale as a good choice to apply to for those not offered a place. It was our first choice and we didn't get it, we are also quite a long way down the waiting list although last year we would have got in, so it seems unlikely there will end up being lots of spare spaces there for unfortunately.

[Abney]

Another question re: waiting lists. I've been told my position on one waiting list and have no idea what it means. I'm 14th. Is this unlikely? Do you need to be in top 10 to stand a realistic chance of a place? Of course it will vary from place to place, just trying to get a gauge on things.

[GinaG3]

Lizzie, I haven't rejected my offer for Langbourne but I also DO NOT intend to take my place there. I will reject, just trying to see my whole hand of cards before I do so. I'm a stay at home mum so in the eventuality my daughter doesn't get a place, even come September I will try my best to to educate her myself until we can get a space somewhere at least within walking distance to us.

Luckily everyone in my family and in laws too are fully accepting of what I choose. My mum home schooled us from primary age for my brother and from secondary for me and my sister so is definitely supportive in that aspect. My in laws are strongly for education in a school environment but my mother in law had problems getting her children into the same schools so deferred entry for one until a place became available for them to attend the same schools but is also supportive of my choice regarding distance being excessive.

I want to see where I would sit on the wait list at Horniman, this is within Lewisham borders, I am just on the verge of southwark but its my closest school. Do I need to contact lewisham then as I wont automatically be on the waiting list cross borough?

This is all very confusing! Where I come from you apply for 1 school and you get in.. Ho hum!

[GinaG3]

How are people getting waiting list places so quickly please, emailing? I called Southwark, I've been advised I will be called in a few days times..

[Abney]

It is confusing as I am on the waiting list for a school in Southwark, but I live in Lewisham. It happened automatically.

[GinaG3]

Abney, is this school your 1st preference? 3 of my top 6 are Lewisham, my top 2 are both Lewisham. Wonder if 1st preference automatically go on waiting list no matter if its your borough or not..

[LizzieF]

Gina, sounds like we're in exact same position. We're in Highwood Close between Sydenham Hill and Dulwich Common so Horniman our closest too. I want to turn down our Langbourne place but slightly nervous even though I know I don't want him to go there. My retired teacher mother has said she'll home school him if worst comes to worse. She lives in Devon though!

When I spoke to Lewisham I told them we live in Southwark and they said we would be on the waiting list for our higher schools. They can't give waiting list position until mid-May which actually I'm pleased about otherwise I would only feel even more anxious about the whole thing if I was told I was 20th or worst for Horniman! We're 47th for Goodrich!

I've just done appeals for Horniman and Eliot Bank via the Lewisham website - lewisham.com - education - schools admission - appeals button at bottom of page.

It'd be good to know when waiting list places start to be allocated but guess that all depends on who accepts/declines what. I do see from the letter that if we don't accept by 2 May then it's assumed we don't want the place so perhaps that's when we'll start hearing.

[GinaG3]

Your 47th for Goodrich were probably 46th. I highly doubt I will get Horniman, only taking 30 kids this year I heard and catchment is sooo small. I put Eliot Bank as my 4th choice (?) but do not want that either really. Just want to know where I am on lists for top 3, should be able to view that information online I think, shame you cant. Especially people who have been offered places outside of their chosen 6. Will definitely reject place at Langbourne before the 2nd May, saw that when I checked admissions for number earlier. Must put a memo somewhere, don't want to accidentally accept it!!!!

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Slightly off topic but is there a tool to measure the distance to the schools? And how do you know the catchment areas ? Preparing myself for when its my turn next year .

[Chillaxed]

This thread is scaring the bejesus out of me (2 year old and do not live particulalrly close to any schools).

[Cora]

I always found email much more effective....phoning you go via a call centre I think.

Kes, in advance of Renata's reply, you should be told if you are offered a place at your second choice, shouldn't have to keep checking but reassuring to check every now and again - you can reject it and stick with where you are (and feel good that you've made someone else's day!)....

[Pickle]

This thread happens every year, and while I completely understand how stressful it is at the time, generally things get resolved and the majority of people will end up with a school place they are happy with. It's early days, lots will happen between now and September.

Good luck everyone x

[clux]

Hello

My eldest daughter is now in year 3 but when we applied for a reception place she didn,t get offered any of the schools on our list. Its an awful feeling and I completely empathise with you all. She was 7th on the waiting list for our first choice and got offered a place there 2 weeks after term started so just wanted to show that its not all a lost cause and that there is a lot of movement.

[mrs.lotte]

Has anyone seen the Evening Standard tonight? East Dulwich mum so "disappointed" to be offered ofsted good local school that she may be "forced" to go private!

All because the school, was in special measures before her child was even born! Yet ideally would like to go to Heber which itself was in special measures not long before that.

The mind boggles

[Kes]

Is it the same one who thought the government were picking on her for not paying for childcare for wealthy stay at home mums? Well at least that's one more place for someone else!

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Which school was that ?!

[LondonMix]

http://www.freemaptools.com/distance-between-uk-postcodes.htm this will tell as your distance as the crow flies

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/downloads/download/2483/primary_school_admissions brochure will give you last years furthest place offered on the distance criteria for most schools in Southwark.

DulwichBorn&Bred Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Slightly off topic but is there a tool to measure

> the distance to the schools? And how do you know

> the catchment areas ? Preparing myself for when

> its my turn next year .

[mrs.lotte]

Well the only one I can think of is Goose Green which has recently been given national support school status (ie so good that it has been chosen to mentor failing schools) whose Headteacher is a national leader of learning, whose senior leadership - governers and teaching staff are ofsted outstanding. But surely no one could be "disappointed" with that so it must be a different one, can't think which though.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

Thank you both ladies ! X

[Jessie]

Yes my first thoughts were goose green too, mrs l. More fool her, is all I can say if it is.

Edited as the iPad autocorrect incorrectly!!

[lightweight]

We have received a provisional offer from the new free school, the Judith Kerr primary school. From the letter, the location of the school cannot be divulged but it is somewhere in Herne Hill. Is it likely that this school will be up and running in time for September 2013? I would be reluctant to accept this school and then lose our offer made through the usual Easmissions system.