....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?

Yes to break bread and share wine with u at Los school gate ?
local village elite ?

This sort of bitterness is corrosive, it will eat you alive. If your child failed to get a place, it was not because you aren't English.

R u the marketing or sale ?

Sorry to correct ur English .
not bitterness .
but sarcasm .

What? . None of your posts make sense in even the vaguest way.

Why should I let it go ?
u own this post ?

You sound like an utter simpleton. None of what you say makes any sense. Ludicrous.

.

LOS is not for all children. The kids I know who go are lower socioeconomic always in trouble bad behaviour, not very academic. Some very rough kids there, the things I’m hearing are quite shocking. 10 years ago it had a very different cohort from what I have seen. From our school the nicer kids don’t put it as an option. They choose one of the other top catholic schools.

LOS actually has a higher percentage of pupils with EHCPs than the national average for state MS.

🤣

So what are the ‘other top Catholic schools’?

Just noticed @Ewrika ’s post upthread claiming I had private messaged her looking for personal details!!
MNHQ were happy to delete it, but be alert, guys, there are some very odd people about!

Can we ask Mumsnet to close this thread now? It’s become incredibly silly and doesn’t seem fair (not least on the school in question) to continue when all sensible points have already been made.

Not really. There is plenty of English people in my church on Sunday. I have not seen a single person from Philippines, few and far between from South America. The dominant foreigners are Irish, Polish, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, few French.