Do Jamie Oliver's children attend private schools?

[tryingtobemarypoppins2]

Just been watching his C4 series and wondering.....

It's all a big ego trip with him and he's not even original. There's a huge amount of publicity in the US atm around education following a documentary called "Waiting for Superman" and due to their system some well known figures have set up schools (see Agassi Academy www.agassiprep.org/ )

He has just spotted another bandwagon to jump on and try to get himself a bit more publicity and glory. God he is irritating

I hate him. I watched some programme where he went to the U.S to teach the unhealthiest town in America how to eat properly.
He treated the women who worked in the school-kitchen like dirt. "Lunch-ladies" he kept calling them to their face. He was patronizing, looking down on them, treating them as though they were thick. He kept going on and on at them about the crappy food. One of these poor women told him more than once that it wasn't the "lunch-ladies" who were in control of the food budget and the menu and that these decisions were all taking place over their heads [ as he well knew ] but we all like a scapegoat. He was strutting about the kitchen amongst these women, who were all older than him BTW, like LIttle Lord FAuntleroy

can't stand people making money and promoting themselves on the backs of other peoples' problems

He is right about the Polish and Litheranians

Jamie Oliver did not come up with this idea.
They came to him.
He considered it in detail, for all the reasons mentioned here, but ultimately felt it would be a worthwhile program to make.
Particularly considering he was unengagaed in education himself.

All the 'teachers' involved also jumped at the chance and thought it was worthwhile.

Believe it or not, a lot of people accept that many children are being failed by the education system in this country...

It's interesting that the only people who are on here who have voiced their feeling that 'where he sends his own DCs is irrelevant' all send their DCs private, isn't it?

Just an observation.

fwiw they interviewed two girls from the show on BBC Breakfast the other day and they seemed to say that it had actually helped them. hopefully it has helped some of the others too, so where's the harm?

i am no JO fan and haven't watched his shows in years but i do get the impression that this one was personal for him because he dropped out himself.

Ah, now, Wordfactory. You must work for him - so can you tell me if there's any truth in the rumour I've heard that his PR team regularly brainstorm ways to get him a knighthood?

I've heard it from two pretty good sources - I can't say any more or I'd out them. Surely you must agree that by JO's standards this programme isn't his best work? It reeks of grandstanding.

Have a word....

And FWIW, I did really like JO's earlier work. The turning point for me was that US programme too, sakura. I was just appalled at how he spoke to those women - no respect, no understanding of their lives. I watched it through my fingers tbh.

As BTP says, if he had left it at Fifteen, I'd be lauding his actions like everyone else but I really find this programme objectionable. And of course the 'teachers' were going to go for it - they'll raise their profiles by doing something 'worthy'. Win, win.

I completely agree - who wouldn't - that there is a real issue in engaging disaffected children in education. But I absolutely don't believe that this programme is making a serious contribution to that debate - we'll all tut at fame-hungry teens and Starkey's behaviour but will a single thing change in the schools down the road from us? I very much doubt it.

If on the other hand it made viewers get more involved in their local schools, become more active in their PTAs and rigorously question where current education policy fails these children - and by extension the rest of us, I will happily eat my laptop.

Go on, wordfactory, Jamie can have that suggestion as well

He had filming withdrawn from the LA school district where he wanted to make a program. The schools apparently were keen for him to make suggestions and help with the menus, but he was adamant that he wanted to do a TV program. Heard him interviewed and he was so arrogant about it all and impressed by his own self importance.

Shame is that he does have some great ideas, but really needs to relax and get with the Californian approach...

Totally agreeerebus. Posters like Quattro and Hula are happy to see programmes like this as it feeds their conceptions about state schools and reinforces their decisions to educate their children. Not that they would admit this but much smuggery is involved.

As for JO, his children attended very expensive London prep schools and now attend American equivalents. This programme was total rubbish and his ego is out of control, I look forward to next seeing him in an NHS operating threatre next advising on emergency sections as his wife gives birth in a private hospital.

ENOUGH JO. You are a very successful chef, leave it there.

I agree, his ego is out of control and he should stick to the cooking.

He attended a private school, so did his wife, and his children do too. Apparently this makes him and expert on state schools though. FWIW the vast majority of state schools are not the hell holes the media would like to portray. However, this propaganda must be very comforting to people spending £10k+ per year on their DC's schooling.

If he feels his education let him down (left with no qualifications?) then, perhaps, he should concentrate his efforts on the private sector?

To be honest, I don't really care where he went to school or where his children do (though it throws an interesting light on the issue to know that he attended a private school)- it's more about the use of children and their schooling as entertainment rather than provide a serious considered analysis of the problems inherent in engaging disaffected children.

I want to see a World in Action 7Up type programme.

Not Jamie's Dream Publicity Stunt.

Madam - can't say I agree with you - if you do good work you can be an example to others, and so if you are doing good work it can be beneficial to shout about it from the rooftops.

Yes this is a TV series but it has got people thinking.

And no he has not stopped a generation of children being fed crap but he did highlight the awful that children were being fed, and if it changed just a few families or just a few schools then that will have impact.

Think back and if you are fortunate to ever have the opportunity of being taught by an inspirational teacher then that can be a positive life changing event. I believe one person can make a difference.

Being a role model or a mentor is not the same as being a teacher.
Very very important for many young people to have inspiring role models and mentors, but the ebst role models and mentors may not be able to actually teach.
This is something the gvt and JO need to understand.

Bamboostalks commented (my italics)

"As for JO, his children attended very expensive London prep schools and now attend American equivalents. "

Something loaded about that very expensive comment - they went to a totally normal London private school, selective but mixed and pretty down to earth and no more expensive than any other one (though of course all London private schools are indeed very expensive). But there are some very chi chi, more expensive London prep schools and they didnt go to one of those, so they are a little more down to earth than that comment might imply.

And yes, my DCs go private.

Didn't he got Newport Free Grammar? It was a grant maintained comp last time I heard. Could be wrong though.

I take your point, popcrackle, I do.

It's just that JO seems to have an oompah band going round with him while he's doing it.

I'm not so cynical that I don't see that one person can make a diffference - and I do believe in being the change you want to see etc it's just that I think a genuine chance for change is being squandered in pursuit of self-glorification.

I suppose time will tell, eh?

wildstrawberryplace
Yes JO did go to Newport Free Grammar - with his mate Jimmy of Jimmy's Farm.
And the school is a comprehensive state school.

Well, we'll have to disagree about what a "down to earth" (my italics) private school is. His children's school is amongst the most expensive London schools, £20,000 a year for a primary education is fairly chi chi in my book. As for being "mixed", well not sure how you define it, but, ime, those able to find £80,000 (he has 4 children) spare every year tend to come from a fairly narrow band in society.

bamboostalks it's evident that Jamie doesn't come from a 'fairly narrow band' in society - he's an example of huge upward mobilty thanks to talent, motivation and hard graft. So it's good that his kids are mixing with kids with more middle class backgrounds, always good to mix class. Where he sends his kids is a total irrelevance to whether or not he has anything to add to the education debate and seven of my children are at state secondary and the youngest at state primary so I'm ok to say that? I also second coccyx about the Poles working harder.

JO is not an example of huge upward mobility. That is laughable, his parents run a hugely successful business and he has had a very comfortable up bringing by anyone's standards. The idea that his children are some sort of working class urchins mixing with their betters is beyond parody and, blatently, a load of tosh. You are misreading their socio economic status badly.

Not saying that the guy is not a hard worker, clearly he is and I do not dislike him or think he has anything but good intentions. Just stick to the kitchen.