Consultation for the Charter School East Dulwich

[intexasatthe moment]

Well put .

[landsberger]

LondonMix Wrote:

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> Its clear to me that Harris was relying on the

> shortage of places in the south of Southwark to

> increase the popularity of Harris Peckham.

I think that's a fairly accurate reflection of the reality !

> Once middle class parents were forced to attend through

> lack of alternative places, the snobbery element

> that leads that school to be undersubscribed would

> dissipate making it a more popular choice going

> forward.

I think that's what Harris had hoped. They also are blind to the fact that, amongst some parents at least, Harris is something of a tainted brand.

> I'm not saying snobbery is the only

> reason its undersubscribed but given its actually

> quite a good school academically now without any

> alarming behaviour problems, snobbery plays its

> part.

A major part. One wonders what kind of rebranding would benefit the school - Harris Central Southwark ?

> If the Charter School opens in 2016, this will in

> part scupper the demographic dividend the shortage

> of places was naturally going to provide to Harris

> Peckham from next year.

That's certainly one scenario, but perhaps ignores vacancies in other schools (some beyond Southwark's borders) where people want to send their kids.

> Please note that Harris

> ED Boys and Girls are oversubscribed.

At the last school census (available on line), all the Harrises had spare places.

> Peckham might remain undersubscribed until 2018

> depending on choices parents north east and west

> of the school make. Undersubscribed schools are

> financially insecure as they have virtually the

> same running costs as full schools but less

> revenue as revenue is funded per pupil.

A point I wish parents wanting a tiny low population school would understand.

> So while I don't disagree that a zoned lottery is

> a good admissions policy, Harris are demanding it

> out of their own self-interest which can't trump

> what the community wants in this instance.

> Distance admissions is allowed under the code of

> admissions and is a legitimate option. Parents

> have selected it and Harris shouldn't throw its

> weight around to intimidate MPs or civil servants.

> Their attitude is despicable.

Well, it's certainly no more or no less than I would expect of Harris, to be honest.

> Similarly, I am worried about Charter's attitude

> to SEN. I actually thought Charter behaved pretty

> badly vis-a-vis Habs. Some of the posts on the

> forum and allegations of stories leaked to the

> press were abhorrent.

I think this fits in well with the "dog eat dog" atmosphere the Conservatives want for education.

> Its all just so sad that something like education

> provision could bring out some of the worst traits

> in human nature.

'Twas ever thus.

[LondonMix]

Landberger-- I am basing the my statement that Harris Girls ED is oversubscribed based on statements made by Renata during that schools recent consultation on changes to its admission policy andalso on the secondary school thread.

This year, there were only 4 schools with available places following first round offers in Southwark and the only one near here was Harris Peckham. Perhaps, after all of the movement on waiting lists the situation changed but at that time neither Harris Boys or Girls ED had any places.

[intexasatthe moment]

FWIW Jane Fletcher Harris ED Girls gives the same message as that from Academy @Peckham

"we are not oversubscribed for 2015 and demand is not forecast to increase significantly in 2016 or 2017 "

http://www.charter.southwark.sch.uk/_files/users/50/EB784C4411EE6173F6C0BDB154953046.pdf

[LondonMix]

I'm sure the school is telling the truth on this as it would be a very serious point to mislead the authorities on in the context of the consultation.

Here is the thread where Renata says otherwise. I'll try to clarify with her why she says they are not under-subscribed. She is usually very accurate so I'm surprised there is some inconsistency and am sure there is an easy explanation.

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,1454442,page=1

[intexasatthe moment]

I tend to think that " not oversubscribed " in this context probably means " just enough " .So neither under nor over .

[LondonMix]

That's somewhat misleading though when you put it in a consultation as grounds for delaying opening a school. If what you say is correct , I would strongly urge our local councillor(s) and MP to write to the relevant decision mariners clarifying the position on behalf of the community.

[tomskip]

How horrible that this politicking and posturing is going on when all the children of SE22/SE15 just need another secondary school. Imo the loss of Local Authority involvement has been a terrible mistake. A teacher from Waltham Forest makes a strong argument against the major changes in our education system that have been made under our noses http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/wfnews/10881721.Speaking_Out__Kiri_Tunks_on_free_schools_and_academies/ here

[bawdy-nan]

quite right and quite why this dishonourable behaviour on the part of the already apparently unattractive Harris brand is supposed to help make them more attractive is beyond me. I'm sad and disquieted by charter 2's apparent stance on SEN and would really welcome clarification and a statement of intent but the Harris thing ... sheesh, I didn't like the "approach"

when I looked round: obsession with enterprise,vigorous policing of classrooms, "selling" artwork at auction to give a sense of the "real world" etc etc (despite recognising, of course, that they manage to achieve some good results, and reckoning that my child could do ok) but after this, would I want these people in charge of my child's moral education? No thanks.

tomskip Wrote:

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> How horrible that this politicking and posturing

> is going on when all the children of SE22/SE15

> just need another secondary school. Imo the loss

> of Local Authority involvement has been a terrible

> mistake. A teacher from Waltham Forest makes a

> strong argument against the major changes in our

> education system that have been made under our

> noses

> http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/wfnews/10881

> 721.Speaking_Out__Kiri_Tunks_on_free_schools_and_a

> cademies/ here

[landsberger]

LondonMix Wrote:

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

> Landberger-- I am basing the my statement that

> Harris Girls ED is oversubscribed based on

> statements made by Renata during that schools

> recent consultation on changes to its admission

> policy andalso on the secondary school thread.

The school has a vested interest in saying it's oversubscribed but it isn't. There are still vacancies there for September 2015, if people feel so inclined to apply.

> This year, there were only 4 schools with

> available places following first round offers in

> Southwark and the only one near here was Harris

> Peckham. Perhaps, after all of the movement on

> waiting lists the situation changed but at that

> time neither Harris Boys or Girls ED had any

> places.

We shall see whether this is still the case in September. STAC ALWAYS has spaces, for instance.

[landsberger]

LondonMix Wrote:

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

> I'm sure the school is telling the truth on this

> as it would be a very serious point to mislead the

> authorities on in the context of the

> consultation.

I think Harris are happy to editorialise and use the facts to suit their purposes.

> Here is the thread where Renata says otherwise.

> I'll try to clarify with her why she says they are

> not under-subscribed. She is usually very

> accurate so I'm surprised there is some

> inconsistency and am sure there is an easy

> explanation.

Part of the confusion is that I am looking at 1st place preferences - schools often use all preferences and then claim they are "oversubcribed" - well, they are if you include preference 6.

[littlek1cker]

I just wanted to respond, on behalf of the working party, to the disquiet some people on this thread have expressed regarding our provision for students with special educational needs.

Our admissions policy provides for the admission of children with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP - previously called a statement of special educational need) before any of our oversubscription criteria are applied.

The Charter School East Dulwich is committed to providing tailored support to allow all students to flourish; this will include dedicated specialist support for students with special educational needs (including those without an EHCP).

The Charter School Educational Trust has always been committed to running inclusive schools. Our ethos statement makes clear: ?We believe that all young people have the potential to achieve in school and succeed in life, whatever their starting point or personal circumstances.

We will be working up the detail of how we will bring that ethos to life as we develop our full curriculum and pastoral support plans. Support for students with special needs will be integrated into these plans and covered in a specific SEND policy.

Simon Tucker

The Charter School East Dulwich Working Party

[bawdy-nan]

Thank you for responding Simon.

[landsberger]

It's still at variance with the admissions policies of almost every other secondary in Southwark

I quote

"The Trust decided that the priority order for the oversubscription criteria should remain as originally proposed by the Trust. The Trust noted the inconsistency between the proposed admissions policy for The Charter School East Dulwich and the

admissions policy for The Charter School."

[tomskip]

It seems a bit retro to put the sibling link higher than other admissions criteria when so many other schools, even primaries, have acknowledged that the sibling priority is not the best way of ensuring that school places go to local children.

[landsberger]

tomskip Wrote:

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> It seems a bit retro to put the sibling link

> higher than other admissions criteria when so many

> other schools, even primaries, have acknowledged

> that the sibling priority is not the best way of

> ensuring that school places go to local children.

Well quite. It's been put to me that "it doesn't matter" that siblings have a higher priority, as there are never normally more siblings than places available. If this is the case, why put them above medical and socials ? It sends completely the wrong message - and the quote above shows that Charter Trust are simply not listening and indignant at being questioned and/or held to account.

[HannahSE23]

Does anyone actually know if we'll be able to apply to Charter ED in October for admission in 2016/17? Or is it all on hold? Will there be any 'open days' as such?

Thanks

[James Barber]

Hi hoonaloona,

My understanding is the school is still planned to open Sept 2016 so you will be able to apply. BUT as the school isn't open Southwark usually doesn't include the school in the normal admissions process. So you'd apply direct to the school and effectively get another application in.

Harris. I can understand their concern that they may end up having undersubscribed schools. All rival schools challenge new free schools. It part of the warning the New School Networks gives to people considering applying for free schools. Head and governors like the status quo. Hardly surprising when they're leading such complex school operations. But I doubt the DfE/EFA will delay this new free school.

for the last 2-3 years I've had casework with families with no local secondary school offered to them. That was one key factor in why we initiated this new free school campaign. The other being the 2009 bulge class children needing secondary school palces in 2016.

Some comments have been made at how disjointed the system is without local council control. Local council control would have seen this free school killed at birth. Southwark Council were always adamant this school would never be needed and it was only 3 months before the 2014 local elections with 550 families signed up that it performed a complete U-turn agreeing to produce a report completely changing pupil forecasts to support the need.

Additionally not all local councils run education competently and it was Labour government that removed Southwark education from the council and handed it to Atkins contractors and then Cambridge associates due to Southwark Council's then incompetence. It took several years to persuade the govt the council had been turned around before they handed control back.

[HannahSE23]

Thanks James. Is there any info on how to apply directly to the school yet? An email address or phone number? It all seems very up in the air!

[landsberger]

hoonaloona Wrote:

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

> Does anyone actually know if we'll be able to

> apply to Charter ED in October for admission in

> 2016/17? Or is it all on hold? Will there be any

> 'open days' as such?

> Thanks

You will need to apply directly to the school for September 2016 entry. I presume details will be on their website in early September. (It's not Southwark's choice whether to include the school, James, as you really should know (the same has happened with every single Free School that's opened so far, and every school that's opened in other London boroughs - Lib, Lab, Tory or other). It won't be Southwark or the DfE who will delay opening the school, but the school themselves.

I'd just like to put to death Councillor Barber's ridiculous assertion that this school would not have opened if the Council had had anything to do with it, which is completely fallacious. The reality is that schools were being opened by Councils to meet identified needs up and down the country until the coalition government decided in 2010, in their wisdom that every new school needed to be an academy and that free schools could open, whenever, wherever, meaning Councils had to fit their provision around whiohever schemes the DfE approved, irrespective of need.

As regards applications - the school website says

If you would like to register your support and receive regular updates please contact us at: [email protected]

[littlek1cker]

hoonaloona Wrote:

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

> Does anyone actually know if we'll be able to

> apply to Charter ED in October for admission in

> 2016/17? Or is it all on hold? Will there be any

> 'open days' as such?

> Thanks

Hi hoonaloona,

We are still planning to opening in September 2016. Our new website will be up in early September with all the details about how to apply and when our open days will be. You will need to apply directly to the school for entry in 2016. This is the standard procedure in the first year of all new free schools. We have designed our admissions process to closely mirror the Southwark one so it should not involve too much extra hassle and it has the advantage for parents that they will still be able to apply for up to six schools through Southwark and then hold one offer through Southwark and, if their child meets the admissions criteria, an offer from Charter School East Dulwich as well.

The school website will be chartereastdulwich.org.uk and our e-mail address is [email protected].

I hope this is helpful.

Simon Tucker

Charter School East Dulwich Working Group

[savage]

Hi Simon,

Has charter exchanged on the land in question yet, or any idea on how much land you've been granted? Also, can you let us know if you've found a temporary site & where it will be?

Thanks

[littlek1cker]

Hi savage,

We have not yet exchanged on the land. We are being reassured that this will happen imminently, but it is very frustrating that NHS Property Services are moving so slowly and we are doing everything we can to accelerate things. (Thanks to Helen Hayes MP for her support with this.)

We know exactly how much land we are getting and the boundaries to that land and have done for several months. If you attended any of our consultation events, the land we are getting is as we showed on the map at those events - the whole site except for roughly the southern most two thirds of the cleared land to the east of the hospital buildings.

We are not yet able to announce the temporary site but we have finished our initial feasibility study on temporary site options and are in discussions to get agreement to use our preferred external site as well as looking at the possibility of using the hospital site itself. I'm hoping we'll be able to announce in the near future.

Simon

[savage]

Simon,

I just read that you will only be taking 120 pupils in the first years intake, rather than 240 proposed. I guess this is because the temporary site is not large enough to accommodate more? Can you tell me if this is the final figure, or whether this might increase?

Also, do you expect a reduced number of pupils in the second year also?

Kate

[redjam]

Wow, that is a big reduction for the first year. Guess Harris got what they wanted.

From the new website it looks like the school will be opening in temporary accommodation at the hospital site itself, so I suppose they couldn't find anywhere else with more space. Simon, can you confirm that's correct and there's no chance of different accommodation still being found?

Gosh, that reduced intake is going to make the shakedown process even more stressful this year for us Year 6 parents?