....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?

Many reasons. For example, increased control over term dates/school times, funding, increased control of budgets, increased control over curriculum, increased control over staffing, increased control of admissions criteria (which doesn’t make a difference to those with EHCPs)…

But none of them mean they treated as an independent school when discussing EHCPs. Nor do they change the law on EHCP admissions, normal admissions and appeals, suspensions/exclusions, or mean the school doesn’t have to have a complaints process.

@EHCpp St Augustine’s priory is a private girls school. As opposed to a state boys school 😬

Reported

Many Catholic schools went through conversion to " voluntary aided academy" as it allows them to accept voluntary " aid". This means that the parents can contribute to the school funding, CC can contribute, alumni etc

Why are you back with yet another name?

Academy schools are still inspected by Ofsted. DfE is still involved via the ESFA and can investigate some types of complaints about academy schools.

If you are going to criticise a school and a whole type of school you should make sure you actually have the correct information to start with.

I really don't understand some people on this thread. You guys behave as if you had some compulsion in responding:
a. In a thread that you don't like
b. To somebody that you dislike

What keeps you in here?

Or maybe it is one person on a few nicknames who is doing some personal vendetta?

I personally am interested in Catholic schools as my son is joining in. And I am very interesed in other parents' opinion whether is good or bad.

Thank God we have mumsnet where everything is not only in rose tinted glasses and people can raise their concerns.

I beg your pardon? Could you point me to my other names in this post as I don't recall them?
I see a lot of personal attack here against the OP. I would suggest first to practice what you preach.

@JustWingItLifeEyelinerEverything you should try reading the thread again. My post wasn’t directed at you unless you are also @Ewrika@EHCpp@Pekaboo. My post was in response to the pp quoting me asking me a question.

I have no idea what you mean re practicing what I preach. Nothing I have posted is incorrect.

Then please use the " at" sign putting the name of the person to whom you are trying to address the post. Otherwise, it looks like you are talking to the person who created a post above you

I don’t need to. I wasn’t responding to you and anyone who reads the thread would understand I was responding to the question asked of me. If others can’t follow a string of 5 posts that isn’t my fault they have poor comprehension skills. If that applies to anyone they should perhaps stick to short threads.

There is someone with a very obvious agenda on the thread.
I won’t name names (at least three of them are the same person).
Nobody is criticising the op. Op is long gone.

If others can’t follow a string of 5 posts that isn’t my fault they have poor comprehension skills

unbelievable. How rude

Just like your original post to me then!

In my post I responded to you because you stated it without using " at" and it sounded as if you were suggesting that I have few names in this thread. My suspicion is that you do because the amount of the attack on a nick that doesn't like Oratory is shocking to the extent that I wonder if Oratory marketing doesn't got involved 😆
I am always and everywhere against people who are removing negative opinions about schools as it distorts the truth and keeps parents very confused leading to wrong choices.

Again, my post wasn’t in response to you. It isn’t my fault you thought it was. Read the thread. Or at least the last few posts before replying to a post.

If you also read the thread. I haven’t posted for or against the school. My posts are purely correcting pp’s incorrect posts e.g. pupils with EHCPs are almost all refused and about academies more generally. I also haven’t tried to stop anyone posting negative experiences.

And the sock puppeting continues.
Four “personas” now…
So, so pissed off at not getting a place at this dreadful school.