....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?

But how do they stop local poor children from getting in if they are in the catchment area?

Not only. If it is a new Catholic school then they had until recently a requirement of offering 50 percent to other kids as per this article https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/may/01/england-scraps-50-rule-on-faith-school-admissions

Also, Catholic schools accept Orthodox kids

The school does not have a catchment area. Distance from the school has no place in their over subscription criteria.

Not only. If it is a new Catholic school then they had until recently a requirement of offering 50 percent to other kids as per this article

Except it’s not a new Catholic school so never had to accept other kids!

Is this you, @Ewrika ? Sock puppeting is a banning offence, shall we see what MNHQ think?

You must be batshit insane to have revived this month's old thread just to schizo post all over it. Posters have given your shit grammar the benefit of the doubt because maybe English isn't your first language but YOU'RE STILL GOING. If you don't like catholic schools don't send your kid to one

Get a life, @Ewrika
This is insane.

Data about schools is on the government’s website. LOS is an academy.

Sock-puppeting is against MN’s rules.

Irish 'mother tongue' is Irish (Gaelic). For many Irish people in 2024 their first language is English (with many dialect words specfic to their region of Ireland). 'Celtic' is not a meaningful lingistic term.

The Bible was written in Hebrew and Greek and translated into Latin and other languages.

The rest of your posts are hard to follow, unfortunately. But you have a lovely day.

We get it @Ewrika. It’s a shit school.
Why else would you be so incensed at not getting your kid in 😆
Move on, woman.

I don’t know when you are getting your information from but academies are not like independent schools. For EHCP admission purposes they are treated like maintained schools.

Academy schools must have a complaints policy. They are still subject to the statutory admissions code, appeals code, and suspension and exclusion guidance and the SEN legislation (e.g. the best endeavours duty) maintained schools are.

More than half of the pupils in England attend an academy school. That figure rises to about 80% of secondary age pupils.