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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

444 replies

doorkeeper · 27/12/2023 18:06

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?

OP posts:
annabelnw9 · 27/12/2023 21:19

It’s an Academy Trust and like other non private schools it receives funding from the Department for Education which covers its basic running costs. It also seeks to raise funds to cover its extra curricular offer and other activities, capital expenditure etc.

Perfectlystill · 27/12/2023 21:39

Alligator456 · 27/12/2023 19:26

The school is very short of money, as many other state funded schools are. It is on an over crowded central London site with no playing fields and many of the facilities are in poor shape. It has had issues with concrete causing closures in the autumn and this fire won't help at all.

Makes me laugh to hear it described as prestigious or a 'free' private school. Clearly said by someone who has never stepped inside one of London's independent schools.

100pc this.

The utter nonsense talked on this thread by people who have no idea.

edwinbear · 27/12/2023 21:57

It’s going to be a load more over subscribed in about 6 months time when VAT gets added to school fees and the private school parents decide The Oratory is pretty good value.

annabelnw9 · 27/12/2023 22:22

The London Oratory is not a ‘state funded private school’. It has a transparent admissions policy and many students from poorer families/low income families around London enjoy its benefits. It actively fundraises to improve its facilities and today’s news is a horrible set back for students and staff.

The big issue in my view is the abject failure of many private schools (that enjoy all the benefits of having charitable status), to actually engage in any meaningful charitable activity/ public good/ offer their facilities/expertise to less privileged children living nearby who could massively benefit from them. That is what needs to have a light shone on it and private schools named and shamed where they fail to live up to their charitable status (and its consequent financial benefits).

KnickerlessParsons · 27/12/2023 22:32

The Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair sent his children to the Oratory, so that he could say they were at a state school. Hypocrite.

Alligator456 · 27/12/2023 22:37

@annabelnw9 Some of the better independents do try really hard with partnership work. But I feel this isn't really the solution. All the state schools should be properly funded to do all the necessary work of providing a good education in a decent built environment.

Alligator456 · 27/12/2023 22:38

@KnickerlessParsons They were at a state school.

Alligator456 · 27/12/2023 22:43

Also state education was better funded when Tony Blair was prime minister. Almost as if there were a connection and its actually a good thing for politicians to send their children to state schools.

Ginmonkeyagain · 27/12/2023 22:48

Mr Monkey's best friend went to London Oratory and his dad was a cabbie.

bloatedbobby · 27/12/2023 22:54

Didn’t Nick Cleggs dc go there too?

hellesbells · 27/12/2023 23:00

Talapia · 27/12/2023 19:08

I know someone whose DC got into Oratory from Kent I assume there were no dedicated Catholics living nearer.

Or it could have been because they are filthy rich... And bounced up the list over less "worthy catholics.'

Both my friends boys got in and they live in Tooting

Original poster
doorkeeper · 28/12/2023 00:12

Alligator456 · 27/12/2023 22:37

@annabelnw9 Some of the better independents do try really hard with partnership work. But I feel this isn't really the solution. All the state schools should be properly funded to do all the necessary work of providing a good education in a decent built environment.

What I saw with one of the posher West London private schools was that their "partnerships" with state schools were largely just box-ticking exercises which were in practice pretty insulting and time-wasting for the state school kids who were supposed to benefit from them.

OP posts:
Penguin2024 · 28/12/2023 00:18

I used to know the Primary Oratory school well. There were children from every background there as long as the parents and children were Catholic and were referred by their priest.
It wasn't as exclusive as you think. But there were some great teachers and staff. Lovely community.

Evanesy · 28/12/2023 00:22

DojaPhat · 27/12/2023 19:00

And the girl went to Sacred Heart - Another similar set up r.e. state private school.

Show quote history

She then went on to the Oratory for sixth form, despite having no siblings in the school when she started.

43ontherocksporfavor · 28/12/2023 00:25

Isn’t it where Tony Blair’s kids went? It’s Catholic isn’t it?

Evanesy · 28/12/2023 00:25

hellesbells · 27/12/2023 23:00

Both my friends boys got in and they live in Tooting

Show quote history

Similarly, my neighbour when I was growing up in Hampstead went to the Oratory, whilst his sister was at Sacred Heart. Again, neither anywhere near the school.

Runnynoses · 28/12/2023 00:30

What a lot of ill informed nonsense on this thread.

So what if Tony Blair’s children went there? And his daughter would have got in under the sibling rule whether or not her brothers were current pupils.

Newsflash: David Cameron’s daughter went to Greycoats, another state school. And Tony Blair’s youngest son went to Cardinal Vaughan. So what?!

Anyone who has visited any of these schools or has children there will know that there is a huge gulf between these schools and fee-paying schools in London.

Runnynoses · 28/12/2023 00:34

As for all the kids at Oratory being posh or privileged… I remember hearing about a friend’s kid going there for a GCSE exam in pyjamas because they lived in Grenfell and it was the day after the fire.

urbanbuddha · 28/12/2023 00:40

With faith schools like The Oratory it’s children who have regularly attended the church attached to the school who get first dibs. So I suppose if you travelled from Kent every Sunday for five years …

aliceinanwonderland · 28/12/2023 00:40

KnickerlessParsons · 27/12/2023 22:32

The Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair sent his children to the Oratory, so that he could say they were at a state school. Hypocrite.

His wife Cherie is a devout Catholic as is Nick Clegg's wife. The school's catholic ethos would have been the key thing

StellaGibson2022 · 28/12/2023 00:49

Evanesy · 28/12/2023 00:25

Similarly, my neighbour when I was growing up in Hampstead went to the Oratory, whilst his sister was at Sacred Heart. Again, neither anywhere near the school.

Show quote history

The Oratory (like Sacred Heart) will have a list of feeder Catholic primary schools.

My DCs catholic primary in SW London is listed as one.

Grimpo · 28/12/2023 00:53

Runnynoses · 28/12/2023 00:30

What a lot of ill informed nonsense on this thread.

So what if Tony Blair’s children went there? And his daughter would have got in under the sibling rule whether or not her brothers were current pupils.

Newsflash: David Cameron’s daughter went to Greycoats, another state school. And Tony Blair’s youngest son went to Cardinal Vaughan. So what?!

Anyone who has visited any of these schools or has children there will know that there is a huge gulf between these schools and fee-paying schools in London.

It would have been quite talented for Blair's daughter to get into what was then an all boys school.

CinnamonJellyBeans · 28/12/2023 00:53

What percentage of Free School meals do they have at the London Oratory? That will settle the argument.

bloatedbobby · 28/12/2023 00:53

My DCs catholic primary in SW London is listed as one.

I don’t think it has feeders

bloatedbobby · 28/12/2023 00:55

Newsflash: David Cameron’s daughter went to Greycoats,

how did they manage that?