....to be unsurprised the BBC called the London Oratory a "prestigious private school" when it isn't?

[doorkeeper]

The London Oratory school is in the news because there's been a minor blaze there (nobody hurt) and a pupil has been taken in for questioning.

I was idly listening to PM on Radio 4, and they described the school as a "prestigious private school". Except it isn't, of course. It's a state-funded school. Except, again, it's functionally a free private school for posh and/or famous people that most ordinary mortals couldn't hope to get their kids into. I found this burst of accidental honesty from the BBC quite refreshing.

I'm sick of the posh London schools that are state-funded but that are effectively free private schools because of the way they massage their admissions. The now-disgraced former head of Holland Park School was taking HPS firmly in that direction, I know that a few other West London schools operate in the same way. I would love to see Ofsted - who were useless re the HPS scandal until it was too late - address this in some way. All children, even the ones whose parents aren't rich or famous, should have equal access to local schools, regardless of income, religion or parental connections.

AIBU to enjoy this bit of accidental honesty from the BBC?

The Blair's wanted Lady Margaret's for their daughter.. but the school said not as the security would be to invasive...

All types of schools perform better when you compare the one standing in a affluent area (likely to be oversubscribed) with the one in an area with high proxy markers of deprivation

What you could look at instead is schools which are demographically matched

And IIRC (it's a while since I looked at this) when demographically matched there was little difference between schools. But RC ones were noticeable because they tended to be more ethnically diverse (both other white and BAME) and tend to have lower rates of exclusion. Pretty sure the former remains true, but the second point could have changed (depending on whether it was fluke, but less likely if it's connected to the ethos - it's unlikely to be churchgoing stamina as that applies to other denominations)

@Mumofthreedogsandaboy i have personal experience of the headmaster 😉

Yes - that's what the LSE study I shared above shows.

The thread is an interesting study in how tenaciously people will argue that black is white if accepting that it's black would challenge their personal worldview, that's for sure...

Bump

My friend came to me in tears about how that school admin woman shouting at her on phone and hang up on her .
totally shocking .
she said it’s like Berlin Wall movie the attitude

Huh?

What is amazing about it ?
no mums there I personally know of dare to call or email school they will be told off harshly . Minimal communication and no volunteering allowed almost

when they applied , EHCP or no EHCP . All almost auto rejection . Lots got in via appeal .

You seem to have some agenda, @Ewrika ? Did your child not get a place?

What is amazing about it?

Well you surely must be aware that it’s a very high performing school. Beyond that, have no real idea why you’re waffling on about quite frankly.

It’s a school renowned for keeping parents at arms length, even by secondary school standards. They don’t really care what parents think and don’t make allowances for anything, and this is very very clear from the open day heads talk. Works very well for some families, others don’t like the ethos so don’t apply. So not sure why you are surprised at the lack of parental involvement.

Thanks we had not been to the open day . As it’s rare . Once a year I think . Unlike other school more flexible more often more accommodating.so we have not heard that famous speech .

yes my friends both full time workers and kids taking tube to school . So they r very happy about it . Year 7 kids taking tube for 6 years . She treating this as a norm and accept it happily .

we r opposite , we been so involved since nursery & church … and community.
Every schools so far ethos : communication is key .
Even if we don’t get involved we will be called in very often by current “state catholic “to discuss nice things ( not detention ) ….who make initiatives to make effort to contact mums . Or at pick up drop off teachers make initiative to say a few quick words . Even they have same standard strict security system . But they r warm hearted with courtesy and manners .

so guess los is not for us .

but great for those who love this whatever LOS etho

Good luck to my mate who wana go to los , she has a send kid who has seizure .
needs:
lots nhs dr emails to schools to train them .
lots mum involvement .

I can't see the problem with a policy saying that children should be baptised by the age of 6 months.

In the small town where I live, the Catholic secondary school has always had a much better reputation than the main secondary school.

Because of this, there have always been parents who suddenly start attending church when their children are in year 5 or 6.

I should imagine that an admissions policy prioritising children who were baptised as infants would be an attempt to weed out fake Catholics.

Secondary schools aren’t like primary schools. You don’t have a quick word on the gate, and they aren’t cosy communities. And most of the secondary schools near me only have one open day a year. I’m no cheerleader for the Oratory and we chose not to apply, but you have completely unrealistic expectations

What is your problem exactly? Are you just bitter at not getting a place for your child?

Agreed.

The "I work weekends so can't go to church" argument is a little on the weak side too.

Plenty of schools have only one open day. They’ve got better things to do than show people round all the time.

I looked at this school for sixth form for my DC. I didn’t take it further because it was clear that the ethos of the school wasn’t what I was looking for. I don’t understand the attitude of moaning about a school because you don’t like its (very obvious) ethos. There are other schools available.

That’s bit abusive . R u current Los mum ?
wow . All alike this ? Too?

How is that “ obvious “ if one has never been to a September open day ?

is it like everyone in London Catholic Church knowing los is famous for this etho? They r famous for this reputation ? Unwritten understanding ?

well my friends are foreign catholic just landed . The news have not been spread to continental yet .
this is new news .

My 'perfectly ordinary' friend got her sons there. Only consideration was her Catholic faith