Primary School places

Early last week the deadline for reception class applications passed. A difficult set of choices that always stresses out parents – it certainly stressed me.

The pressure is even higher at the moment with so many extra, until recently, unforecast extra children chasing the available places. Southwark Council has arranged extra bulge places:

  • Albion, Bellenden, Bessemer Grange and Ivydale will all take an additional 30 reception pupils
  • Charles Dickens, Grange, and Robert Browning will each take an additional 15 reception pupils

These extra 195 places will help. They have made it even more complicated for parents trying to choose a school.

Past forecasts predicted that the bulge in pupil numbers would start to diminish around 2014/2015. The latest forecast I obtained in a response to a council assembly question I wrote (submitted via the Dulwich Community Council) is that in the Dulwich area we permanently need another 60-75 school places from 2014/2015. A new primary school.

We think a new school on the vacant part of the Dulwich Hospital site is the best option. Do you agree?

If you do or don’t agree with us please complete  our survey.

Harris Boys – outstanding

Some time ago my ward colleagues Councillors Rosie Shimell, Jonathan Mitchell and I spent a morning at the East Dulwich Harris Boys’ Academy.

We felt vindicated for making it one of our 2006 manifesto pledges to make it happen. To reiterate how good a decision that has been Ofsted have awarded it an “outstanding” grade after its inspection. The inspectors also added that it is “an inspirational place for learning”. Well done to all the children, parents, teachers, staff, Harris federation and governors.

The building felt like a tardis with a massive sports hall, great cafeteria  – the children kindly made tea and biscuits for us. The school is gradually filling out as another year is added every year.

On our visit we felt the school was going somewhere. So it’s good to see that our instincts were right with this first fabulous Ofsted inspection.

I wish I’d had such a great educational start at the comp I attended!

Dulwich Hospital – the future

Liberal Democrat Vision for Dulwich Hospital site

Local Liberal Democrat councillors deeply regret the running down and the loss of services at our hospital in East Dulwich. We want to keep our Hospital not lose it.

We congratulate local residents who have fought a long running campaign to protect health services being delivered from this site. Given the current position of the site we believe it is important for the community and local elected representatives to be clear about the long term aspirations for the area taking into account the new economic realities.

We have, therefore, set out below our initial views following our many conversations with local residents. We are keen to hear more from local people about what they think and what they would like to see on the site and will be specifically asking residents about these proposals. We appreciate the need for any plans to be financially viable, but also recognise that the site is of such local importance that community uses must also be valued most highly.

Taking into account Southwark’s policy for 35% social housing and Section 106 SPD and the expected developer contributions we propose the following:

Western section

We appreciate that the site will need residential units for it to be financially viable for a developer and, therefore, suggest the western part of the site for this purpose. Developers would, of course, have to go through the planning process which would ensure that development is appropriate in terms of design and density. We want a development of the highest possible green credentials to enhance and inspire East Dulwich. We would want to see a high quality development which also provided affordable homes and a financial contribution to the community (to be used in the eastern section).

Eastern and northern sections

As well as a financial contribution from the western side we would also need to find uses which were as economically sustainable as possible while still bringing positive benefits to the community. In this area we would therefore like to see:

– Housing for retired people

We want Southwark to show leadership in providing a high quality ‘retirement village’ development. These would be for a mix of income levels and have different levels of adaptation for varying needs as people become older. They would provide income in ground rent, which would help the rest of the eastern area with developing other community uses. As with the housing development on the western side, the development should have the highest green credentials. A vibrant place for older people in this area would also help to free up larger council properties on nearby estates for families.

  – Primary School

We strongly believe that a primary school should be considered. Local parents tell us that a new primary school will be needed in future and building around 200 new homes will only increase such a need. Although this is not needed right now, pupil projections are clear that we need to be thinking about this possibility over the next few years. We would, therefore, take this opportunity to plan ahead and to consider building a new community primary school here (at the other end of the eastern section from the retirement village.). We would look at a number of sources for the funding of a new primary school.

– A new Medical Centre.

Our vision for a medical centre would for a clinic which offers a GP surgery plus. It could also include blood tests, potentially a pharmacy (although a local one on Melbourne Grove exists) and other medical services. This would be in keeping with the history of the hospital and could be flexible according to local needs and whether local GPs wanted to move in. It would also tie in perfectly with the retirement village and could specialise in services for pensioners.

– Sports, gardening facilities and indoor community space.

The potential opportunities for sharing space with new residents, existing residents and a potential school are vast. This has been done in other parts of the borough and would mean that there could be provision for sports facilities (indoor and/or outdoor), a shared community hall (for use by residents when the school does not need it), and some form of allotments or walled garden.

The Chateau

This building should be kept for community uses into perpetuity as a standalone charity unless the school is able to provide all the necessary shared facilities. It could also have some rented office space and possibly a nursery to bring in revenue. A similar project at Cambridge House is proving to be very successful. The council could even rent office space from here if it needed to. And SELDOC could be based in this building.

The Chateau should also provide space for the Dulwich Helpline and this should be confirmed with them as soon as possible so that they know they have a secure home. If there are other local voluntary sector organisations who need a base then this would also be a good location for them.

Environment

This whole development could and should be carbon neutral. We would create an East Dulwich Zero Emissions Development along the lines of Liberal Democrat London Borough of Sutton’s Beddington Zero Emission Development BedZED (http://www.bioregional.com/what-we-do/our-work/bedzed).

Following the Zero Emissions principles for development would maximise the space used for new homes and retirement homes while minimising the impacts on the local area from cars, energy and water use. This site is less than 5 mins walk from a local station and 5 busy bus routes and there are fantastic opportunities to lead the way in radical environmentally friendly ideas as part of this process.

Conclusion

We are realistic that there will have to be private housing developed on the site to make our other suggestions viable. However, with council commitment and funding as well as the private sources of income we have a fantastic chance to pursue a vision which provides homes, education, leisure and health in a sustainable and exciting way. If you have any comments, suggestions or ideas that you would like to share with us, please send them to info@southwark-libdems.org.uk or complete our survey.

Evolution teaching guaranteed

Personally I’m immensely relieved that Lib Dems in the coalition Government have ensured rules for ‘free schools’ have been changed to prevent “the teaching, as an evidence-based view or theory, of any view or theory that is contrary to established scientific and/or historical evidence and explanations.”

Effectively this bans creationism and so-called ‘intelligent design’ ‘theories’ from being taught in Free Schools, and prevents creationist groups from opening free schools. This follows a campaign from Lib Dems, the British Humanist Association and leading scientists and science educators including Sir David Attenborough, Professor Richard Dawkins and Professor Michael Reiss.
Phew. A good step back from the nuttier tea-party perspective.

Cameron kills?

PM David Cameron effectively announced a war on the “great big health and Safety monster” . He said he’d “cut back rules and how their inspected” and that no health & safety rules would apply for the self employed.

I think he’s been hanging around with to many company board directors in private clubs and not spending time with people actually doing work in the field.  Has he met someone injured from work or families of employees killed at work – I very much doubt it.

The Health and Safety Executive shows that in 2010/11  171 people lost their lives through work. They got up in the morning and didn’t come home from the simple expectation of earning an honest living. In 2009/10 147 lost their lives at work and 2008/09 179.

But dreadful though these deaths are the scale of illness caused through work is epic. In 2010/11  1.15 MILLION working days were lost through illness caused from work, 2009/10 1.23 MILLION and 2008/09 1.18MILLION. The cost to society alone in 2010/11 was £14billion excluding cancers caused to employees from their work.

My day job is to ensure supplier performance. Part of that is ensuring suppliers work safely. It is not onerous. It’s good business to avoid killing or injuring employees or members of the general public.

BUT I could see a different emphasis where more trust was placed with people to do their job safely and well. That’s how Germany works. Employing German contractors in Germany is easier from my experience. But there they have 342 registered trades. Near everyone there undertakes a proper apprenticeship. In Germany you make a career from being a registered trades person and knowing deeply how to do a job well makes you safer.

So Mr.Cameron by all means reduce health and safety requirements AFTER you’ve ensured the whole British workforce and management have become skilled safer workers but please not before – or you’ll be killing people through your actions.

…and who will want to use self employed tradespeople in the UK where they don’t have to be formally registered giving assurance of training and under Cameron they wont in the future have to work safely – a future Dell boy economy?

Dulwich lollipops

Great Dulwich Lollipop delegation at council assembly Tuesday night trying to ensure lollipop patrols are kept in Dulwich. Three patrols are under threat  in Dulwich and others across Southwark. The picture is of the three East Dulwich councillors wearing our lollipop badges with pride.

What I find particularly shocking is 34 children died on Southwark roads 2004-2008 the last reported period. So it’s clear we still have a serious road safety problem in Southwark, despite many years efforts, that removing these lollipops from such busy junctions will make worse.

One idea I had which I’ve suggested to the Southwark Labour is that the South of the borough event didn’t take place this year. Less than half of its budgeted £78,000 was spent. If that underspend was committed to funding these lollipop patrols in Dulwich, the South of the borough,  it would cover the next 3 years funding.

If they didn’t want to use that underspend in this way I proposed that they reduce the South of the borough event budget from £78,000 to £63,000 pa using the saved £15,000 to fund the Dulwich lollipop patrols.

Fingers crossed a sensible solution is found helping kids from across Southwark.

Youth contract

Last week Nick Clegg launched the Youth Contract, a £1bn programme to get every unemployed young person earning or learning again before long-term damage is done.

As je said we can’t afford to lose the skills and talent of our young people – right when we need them most. We need the next generation to help us build a new economy.

Across the UK, youth unemployment has risen to 21.9% and in Southwark, there are currently 2690 young people claiming Job Seekers Allowance. We all owe it to them to make sure that even in tough economic times, we will do everything we can to find them a job, training or education.

So i am chuffed to hear Nick commit the Coalition to investing £1bn to tackle youth unemployment with this contracts including:
– A work experience place for every unemployed 18 to 24 year old who wants one.
– 410,000 new work places over the next three years.
– 20,000 more incentive payments to encourage employers to take on young apprentices.
– 250,000 new work experience placements.

And because businesses are struggling to take young people on the Lib Dem coalition government will pay half their basic wage for six months?

Young people have been hit particularly hard in the recession, but even in the boom years, Labour failed to tackle the issue. During Labour’s 13 years, youth unemployment rose by 40%. With Liberal Democrats in Government, we won’t allow the children brought up in the boom to bear the brunt of the bust. The next generation must not pay the price for my generation’s mistakes. So the Coalition Government won’t sit on our hands and let a generation fall behind.

But what else do you think should be done to help young people?

Lollipop demonstration

Tuesday 29 November 6-8pm Dulwich parents and kids will be demonstrating outside full Council Assembly at The Charter School.

Councillors tend to arrive for council assembly pre meetings which start at 6pm and 7pm the full council session kicks off. For the life of me I can’t see why Dulwich or Southwark kids are being put at risk by the proposals to remove School Crossing Patrols – Lollipop people – from dangerous junctions even if they’re signalled. This is especially bad when the budget that pays for them is the Parking Review Account partly funded by parking permits which have recently been increased from £99.30 to £125 pa. We need to make parents feel happy about their kids walking to school and we need kids to have the freedom to do this safely from the earliest possible age. Ending the proposed SCP’s is contrary to both – and from a council that proclaims its fighting childhood obesity!

Two year olds

I’m delighted to tell you that last week Lib Dem Minister Sarah Teather announced that 900 two year olds in Southwark will get free early years education, targeted on children from deprived families who need it most.

Improving social mobility is a key Liberal Democrat priority in Government and early year’s education is crucial to achieve this. Targeting early education at those who stand to benefit most, it is important to achieve this goal. It will be an integral part to disadvantaged children’s healthy development. This means they’re not falling behind before they have even started primary school.

As a dad I know how much difference early years learning makes. We were fortunate we could afford to pay for nursery schools, etc. So I’m delighted that this help will go to those who need it most.

What else do you think should be done to help ensure the best possible start for all our children?

Belated well done

Southwark secondary schools are now all academies and not directly reporting to Southwark Council but well done on the recently announced GCSE results.

Overall they’ve achieved 57.3% of pupils obtaining 5+ A*-C GCSE’s with English and Maths. Another solid year of improvement. This places Southwark 23rd out of London’s 32 boroughs. This is still some way behind the best London borough Sutton with 74.4% but not so far behind the mean average for London of 61.0%.

What’s especially clever about these results is it comes at a time when 69.9% of Southwark secondary school kids come from ethnic minorities. Many minorities tend historically to get worse results so its an even bigger challenge to break these trends.

How does this compare with neighbouring boroughs – Lambeth achieved 60.1% and Lewisham 55.0%.

Talking to local secondary head they’re clear they can do even better and with primary school results having improved so much over the last 8 years this bods well for the future.

But what happens to all those kids failed by Southwark Council and its schools in the past. I think they need to be given a second chance via free adult education.

What do you think?