So it looks like Charter got the Free School approval ..

[bawdy-nan]

If I'm reading this document right, Charter got the approval from the Dept of Ed....

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/410074/List_of_open_free_schools_and_free_schools_opening_in_2015.xlsx

I know that will be disappointing for many people beyond the proposed catchment but it is great news that a new, mixed, local school will be opening.

[Cora]

Is it me? I can't see Charter on here? Or Haberdashers?....

[bawdy-nan]

It is on the tab relating to sept 2015 and beyond

[redjam]

Wow, congratulations Charter! How exciting. Though I'm sad for all the people who put in so much work for the Habs bid - thanks for all you did; your efforts are hugely appreciated.

I was one of those people who were happily on the fence with either bid - just absolutely thrilled it's happening (drums fingers impatiently waiting for them to lay the first brick).

I see Harris Nunhead has also got the green light though...

[Cora]

Thanks Bawdy-Nan.

And thanks to James Barber for working hard to get a new secondary school for East Dulwich a priority on the political agenda.

[littlek1cker]

I can confirm that The Charter School East Dulwich has been approved.

We are absolutely thrilled with the news. I want to thank the nearly 1,500 local parents who signed up to support our bid and all local parents who supported the idea of opening a new school in East Dulwich. Many local people gave up a great deal of their time to get us to this point, and whether it was actively supporting our bid, making the case for a new school, campaigning for the use of the Dulwich Hospital site or signing the petition to only have one school on the hospital site; it has all helped and been appreciated. This is really good news for local parents. Several of the parents with children at the same primary school as my children received the bad news that their children did not get into any of the six schools they applied to. Now we can get on and build the extra capacity we need to stop this happening for 2016 and beyond.

There is still a long way to go of course. The announcement today is just for in principle approval of the school and is entirely separate from agreement about the site. There will also be further consultation locally as our plans progress.

The Charter School Education Trust will be issuing a press release this morning and I'll post a link when it's up.

Simon Tucker

The Charter School East Dulwich Working Group

[mrs.lotte]

Congratulations Charter. Although I supported the Habs bid I am genuinely delighted that a great secondary school will be opening locally at a time of great need.

I would like some reassurance from Charter that they will resist as far as they are able to do so - sharing the site with an uneccesary primary school - are you able to state that publicly Simon - I think that a lot of parents would welcome that.

[littlek1cker]

Hi mrs.lotte,

We are concerned about the challenges that would be faced by two schools having to operate in a very constrained way from the same site and we have been clear about this with the DfE, EFA etc. Personally, I have been encouraging people to sign the change.org petition to stop this happening.

[simonethebeaver]

Yes, big congratulations, Charter. It is fantastic news that ED will get its new secondary school.

Is there any chance at all that you will be revisiting your proposed admissions policy? We received a huge amount of feedback from parents that were concerned at the 'crow flies' proposal.

[mrs.lotte]

Thank you for your prompt response Simon. Have Charter done a formal response to the Harris "consultation" and would they be willing to publish it? Lots of parents resist the idea but a steer as to how to respond from an experienced education provider would be useful for all.

Also there is a consultation event at Harris Girls tomorrow at 4.30 and 7pm I presume reps from Charter will be attending, if not already done can you advertise this to your 1500 supporters and ask them to attend (perhaps with a link to the Charter response?)

[kristymac1]

simonethebeaver Wrote:

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

>

> Is there any chance at all that you will be

> revisiting your proposed admissions policy? We

> received a huge amount of feedback from parents

> that were concerned at the 'crow flies' proposal.

this definitely!

Its difficult to get excited about a school who's proposed admissions policy will do little to fill the many black holes which exist in this area. I know this year's last place offered at Charter (in the first round) meant there was lots of disappointed people and it would be easy to say 'Yah, a new Charter school will push the catchment out a few more streets' but there are lots of us who will remain outside of the catchment completely when others will have a proper choice of two closely situated schools....... HABSED were proactive in responding to parents needs and were open to nodal point admissions - I hope Charter will be just as proactive and smart going forward.

Many many thanks to all those involved in the HABSED bid, you really did a fantastic job x

[littlek1cker]

Hi simonethebeaver,

We'll continue to listen to local parents as we progress our plans and as you know there will be a formal public consultation including on the admissions policy.

It would be really helpful if you could share all the feedback you received from local parents so we can take it into account. In all the consultation events we have held to date we have picked up very strong support for an 'as the crow flies' admissions policy.

[savage]

I'm happy that a new secondary has been approved but I also don't believe the admission criteria "as the crow flies" will target where the need is most. Unless charter change this I fear the will still be a huge number of disappointed families, with no secondary options.

Come on charter, please listen to us!

[clux]

I supported Haberdashers bid as they were at least willing to consider measuring from a point in the middle of the black hole of catchment areas. Charter do not seem willing to do the same. Therefore their school will be of no use to me, and many others.

[simonethebeaver]

I think there's been feedback on here about the admissions criteria, Simon. We also had many concerned parents at the open evenings who were completely against a 'crow flies' policy. I'm sure we'll share whatever we can, but it does surprise me that you didn't hear similar things!

[littlek1cker]

Kristymac1, savage, clux,

We are listening and will continue to do so. The currently proposed admissions policy does address some but not all of the current black holes. No admissions policy can fill every gap and there will always be some disappointed families of course. I really sympathise with families who do not feel they have a good choice of secondary schools for their children - that is exactly what motivated me to get involved in this in the first place. Please continue to give us your views so we can get this right for the local community.

[Dulwich Born And Bred]

I voted Charter so naturally I'm thrilled that they have been won the bid!

[James Barber]

Distance based admissions from the SE corner of the site - where the entrance to the hospital currently is - would help. But the admissions will be consulted upon lTER.

Today we need to celebrate that East dulwich has a new secondary school coming.

Both bids were great, involved huge time and effort from many people.

Congratulations to the winning team and commiserations with the losing team. You both have been fantastic trying to avoid a secondary school place crisis.

I can't pretend I haven't had a softer spot for the Habs team so feel gutted and elated at the same time.

When Cllr Rosie Shimell, then Cllr Jonathan Mitchell and I launched our campaign for a new secondary school 5 December 2013 we never imagined it would inspire two great bids from two outstanding organisations. At the time the Labour led council were crystal clear they would oppose any new secondary school. A year ago they were forced to change their minds. Last month my Right to Contest spare Dulwich Hospital land resulted in it being released for other public use i.e. our new school. And today we have a new free school coming to our area. What a journey.

[hpsaucey]

clux Wrote:

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

> I supported Haberdashers bid as they were at least

> willing to consider measuring from a point in the

> middle of the black hole of catchment areas.

> Charter do not seem willing to do the same.

> Therefore their school will be of no use to me,

> and many others.

Ditto!

Just wanted a local co-ed non-faith school I stood a chance of getting my kids into. That has in effect been taken away UNLESS Charter reconsider as the crow flies only. Bearing in mind their rhetoric about what 'local' means that is currently highly unlikely.. Indeed I would be delighted if Charter could post a map of where their 1500 local parents come from and perhaps open a discussion of this in the light of where the local black holes are.

HP

[littlek1cker]

mrs.lotte,

I can't answer your questions about the Habs consultation without talking to other working group members so I will reply, but there may be short delay. I'm not ignoring you though!

[Otta]

Wonder exactly how far "as the crow flies" the new site will be from DKH Estate... Doesn't look too far.

[mrs.lotte]

Simon, thank you but it's the Harris consultation I am concerned about - not Habs!

[littlek1cker]

Sorry, slip of the keyboard!

mrs.lotte Wrote:

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

> Simon, thank you but it's the Harris consultation

> I am concerned about - not Habs!

[parentsteeringgroup]

Dear All

Let me congratulate The Charter School Educational Trust on their approval this morning to open a new secondary school for East Dulwich. Today belongs to them and they now have the privilege of working with a wonderful community of parents from SE22 and SE15. I can't think of a better example of a school campaign than here and now. We have both the overwhelming need for more school places and the local desire of primary school parents to shape a secondary school. I wish to I encourage all parents to engage with Charter and help them do this for Sept 2016.

I have attached a letter from the CEO of Haberdashers' Aske's Federation, who wrote to me this morning and I wanted to add my heartfelt thanks to everyone on the steering group and the hundreds of other parents that turned up to meetings, filled out forms and wrote letters of support. You all made a difference.

Catherine.

[BeccaL]

Another vote for considering nodal admissions - while another secondary school is necessary, to have two within hundreds of yards of each other both only doing "as the crow flies" admissions doesn't help those of us (and there are lots of us - children at Goodrich and Horniman schools - that's approx 150 who will be looking for secondary school admissions in Sept 2016) at the Forest Hill end of Lordship Lane who haven't got a hope of being within that distance. The nodal admissions for Haberdashers looked like a very sensible proposal to me and I'd urge Charter to consider that very strongly in their admissions policy for the new school.