1st March offer day - anyone else nervous?

[NynaevesSister]

I am really sure we will get one of our six. But I just don't know which one. And I am now really worried I put them down in the wrong order. Our first choice had a stabbing incident after applications closed.

[Ladymuck]

SGB, if the head has been suspended then it is because the allegation relates to potential gross misconduct, ie an act which can result in dismissal without notice. The allegation may not be true, but it has to fall within the immediate dismissal category to warrant a HT suspension.

That said, the school concerned is an academy, so should get some support from the Trust. And you will probably know the outcome well before September.

[maz99]

That school was also our first choice & I had the same concern when that incident happened. We got our 3rd choice, but DD did achieve a sports scholarship so is is on the scholarship over subscription list.

Although, I'm in 2 minds thinking it may be a blessing in disguise as I've seen that this year they plan on taking in 360 students for tear 7...! I think that's a bit too much, considering AFAIK they haven't done any building work to increase the school's size.

[Galdos]

Probably not helpful, but when my twins both got their (separate) first choices last year I got completely blotto, and added to their life experiences by passing out in front of the computer and then waking with a start at 3am, and waking them up thinking it was 7am. Please don't tell Social Services! They are fine upstanding kids, with a naval command of language. God knows what they'd have witnessed if I'd had to appeal!

[clux73]

Is the headteacher you're talking about at a school in Dulwich which admits pupils using a random lottery??

[BoboEK]

I so want to know this as well please (It was our 1st choice) the school sounds similar to the opposite of a queen.

[clux73]

Yes BoboEK! Did you get offered a place?

[minifingerz]

If it's Kingsdale you're talking about - no, the head hasn't been suspended.

And no, the stabbing incident last year was not a reflection of general violence at the school - it's a safe place and this was a sad one off. :-(

[BoboEK]

Yes clux73 am pretty stressed now if we are on the same webpage as I will certainly have to think hard now especially after the last incident in Nov last year (if this is the same place mind).

[BoboEK]

thank you mimifingerz, i was not sure if we could name schools. As we were !

[clux73]

Very good to know!

Although I am now totally puzzled about what school is being referred to as no other local schools seem to fit the bill!

[maz99]

minifingerz, do you have a child at Kingsdale?

If so, do you think they will cope well with having a year 7 of 360 children?

I know they normally take in 210 and last year increased it to 240, but I'm curious to know if they can still maintain small (24-26) class sizes with 360 children.

[SolidGoldBrass]

The school I am referring to is Edenham High (the HT's suspension has been reported in the local paper so I am not breaking any regulations or laws by naming it).

Obviously I am aware that gross misconduct can include some really terrible things - but it can also include some less terrible stuff such as giving your friends or family members jobs that should have been put out to tender, or shagging the Chair of Governors or some such. And whatever the allegations are, they may well be false/malicious.

I met the HT briefly when I went to the open day, and he seemed like a nice bloke. I'm aware that bad people can indeed seem like nice people when you meet them on a brief, superficial level, but my arsehole radar is generally pretty good...

[Asaha50]

I got 1st choice in Kendrick, Reading ...wow

[TooMuchOfEverything]

SGB, sounds stressful. For your sake hope he's 'just a shagger'.

[NynaevesSister]

Maz I missed that Kingsdale had expanded its intake. An extra 120 children - so another three classes?! How on earth will it fit them all in as the years go up?

[JustAnotherMumAndDad]

This year has been a "bumper year". Our primary, which has two classes per year normally, had three classes as a one-off for children born in 2004. This was to accommodate the large number of extra children when a number of Eastern European countries joined the EU in 2004; it seems that the proportion of young couples who moved to the UK (and specifically to our part of NW London) in that year and became pregnant was high (although I can't seem to find the chart now that showed that; it was used as the argument for adding a third class).

The extra class was agreed based on a promise from the local borough to provide funding for new buildings and extra facilities, to expand the school to always have three classes. The funding did not materialise, so the governors refused to do it for the next year and they went back down to two classes. The "extra" class was somehow shoehorned into existing facilities, and has made its way through the school; I bet the school will be breathing a sigh of relief that they are leaving this year!

[JustAnotherMumAndDad]

Sorry, I mean for children born in 2004/2005 -- that is, the kids that are now moving on to secondary this year!

[maz99]

NynaevesSister, I only saw that the PAN had increased when I went on to their website to check for details regarding waiting lists. I can't see how they will cope with that increase - plus it may be something they end up doing every year onwards.

[NynaevesSister]

I am 100% sure that wasn't on the website before the application deadline. As it was our first choice I researched it thoroughly. Or so I thought! It's just such a big jump. From 8 to 12 classes. All the schools around here expanded or got bulge classes starting from the 2004/2005 year group too. So not surprising. Still astonished at how huge that intake is.

The website says the new pupils will be accommodated in existing buildings so that must mean it is a one off. Otherwise they would have to build. I just can't see where those classes will be housed. There were no empty classrooms on our tour last year.

[NynaevesSister]

Oh but there is an old disused classroom block in front of the new gym. They must be doing that up or re building?

[BoboEK]

NynaevesSister I am unsure how a extra 120 will be handled as well as although the site did look big during the open day I can't imagine how another 4 extra on top will work..........and Yes it was not mentioned at all during the speech by the head.

[NynaevesSister]

Whew! Was wondering if I had just managed to be oblivious to it all.

Did you put it down as one of your preferences?

[sydenhamhiller]

NYNaevesSister and BoboEK: must be a near neighbour of yours! I am on the Upper Syd rather than Dulwich side of Kingsdale.

I am also surprised at the news of the 'bulge' class, as I went round 2x in September and October Open Days for my DC2 in Y5, and there was no mention of the extra intake. It was also a surprise to my friend who has it as 1st choice for her Y6 DD (they got 2nd place Sydenham Girls).

Re the stabbing: of course it is shocking, but the reality of London is that some teenagers carry knives (one child brought one into my Y6 child's class at their SE primary last year). I know lots of students at the school and they are very happy with their experience there, and it's a shame if one excluded child tarnishes the whole.

I'm also interested in how KD are going to manage the bulge in terms of class sizes/ space...

[NynaevesSister]

Sydenham Girls is an excellent school. Yes we are close to you.

Are you thinking of KD? I absolutely loved Forest Hill School too which must be close to you.

No the stabBing didn't put us off. At the end of the day it is something that could happen to any secondary in London.

[BoboEK]

We have been offered KD NynaevesSister which we have accepted for now I must add (We do have another option) but I also liked FH (we are close to you also sydenhamhiller !)