....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?

She is not sure about that . As senco refuse to answer her phone or talk or meet or write letter . saying senco only talking to senco or talking to council not to potential send mums .

thanks.
maybe we have been totally spoilt .. our school …. Alwyas parents run camping , coffee meeting … volunteer meeting …. pre loved sale …. Library book reading …. Yard sales on campus ….. Walking here there crossing road ……lollipop man ….. heavily involved …. Greek food day ….. staff appreciation cooking lunch for u day …. Come to do mass together day ……. Seesaw……

You may have room for self improve on comprehension skills

Wow... How bizarre.

yeah heard the waiting list is alike 500 .
Free meal is alike what ? 20% ?

I need to re manage my expectation .
so it’s famous for end result ?
all means to the end type ?

Your child isn't going there, @Ewrika
Get on with your life.

Famous for potilican kids went there ?
famous for all teaching staffs top notch?
famous for love care ?
Famous for leaver destination?

All current mums are alike u?
u r insider ?
This is definitely very helpful to portrait los insider picture .
thanks !
u r wonderful for mumsnet users to figure out what kind of mums r there .

40% free meal?

How defensive u r . How personally emotionally involved u r .
ummmmmm………..

interesting ….

🤣🤣🤣
The irony is totally lost on you, isn't it?

Look, I don’t know any secondary schools who do the Greek day/preloved sale/library volunteers/staff appreciation stuff. Although our primary school does ALL those things. It’s just not how secondary schools work in the UK - they are big machines.

LOS is known for its results, its discipline, its strictness, its fairly fierce brand of Catholicism. The most cursory research would show this. They don’t do nurturing and I’ve heard several stories about inflexibility when it comes to medical conditions. But still they have hundreds, literally, on the waiting list. So just because you (and I) don’t fancy it, there are lots and lots that do.

I've struggled to make sense of all of your posts.

I hadn't commented before as I thought that maybe English wasn't your first language or that you might have dyslexia or other difficulties.

As you've been so rude, I'll point out that your posts are barely literate. Poor spelling and grammar make incoherent arguments even harder to understand.

I’m an LOS parent and very happy with the school. Going from primary to secondary is a big change though - I don’t know what it is like in other countries but here in the UK you def lose the personal touch because of the size of the schools.

I’m sorry others have had bad experiences but I have to say I found the application and admissions process very well managed, it’s true there were some bits of information missing but I guess my expectations were in line with a large state secondary school rather than a primary or private school experience.

and FYI - my sons group of friends are very diverse in terms of background both in terms of race and privilege. The thing they do have in common is they are all practising catholics and that doesn’t depend on whether their parents are cleaners or bankers - if you believe you find the time for mass contrary to a suggestion further up that a cleaner doesn’t have time to go to mass.

R u racist ?
jesus won’t like u behave this way .

Thanks but I never mentioned cleaner .
I am foreign cleaner myself with what those above insiders racists saying? “ my poor English “ accent .

Omg thanks so much !

this is the most objective helpful post !

rather than insider bull dog barking and attacking !

Yeah she said she got in thanks to sibling policy . Rest friends all got in via appeal .

and her kids have 0 medical conditions.
she is super busy working.
so this school works out wonderfully for her case .

but everyone case is different .
the mum with seizure kid won’t go there now .

The Oratory sure dodged a bullet here...

The point abt catholic schools only being better when oversubscribed is so true - round us they are not good…

U see: my church does LGBTQ mass .
and HIV mass .
so this strictness of Los is shock for me again .