Dear London Catholics ;-)

[duedec2]

Does anyone happen to know how much difference residential proximity makes to a child's chances of getting into the Oratory RC secondary school in west London? I know it selects from a wider area than most comps and now has some sort of catchment area - though not called that - but is it very much easier to get in if you live nearby and also if you are at the Oratory primary? I'm told there is no guarantee of getting in from the primary but you are more likely to get a place at the secondary if you are at the primary surely? Or is a big old ballot in which children living in Tooting have just as great a chance as Chelsea kids. Many thanks ...

The full list of admissions criteria is available on the Oratory School website. There does not appear to be a catchment area of any kind, so even living next door would not give you priority.

Regarding attending the Oratory Primary, one admissions criterion is:

Whether the candidate has attended the London Oratory Primary School or any other Catholic School for the whole of their primary education or the candidate's
parent(s) have fulfilled their obligation to ensure a Catholic education for their child.

Several children at my friends son's Catholic primary school have got places for September - we live a great distance from the school.

I think they go more on how committed a Catholic you and your DS are - if he wasn't baptised before 6months, forget it.

I know 2 boys from crouch end (north london) who go. It's all about how catholic you are and what you do (and have done) for the church over the years - not just in the few years that you've been worrying about secondary schools.

I live on the edge of Croydon and there is a group of 5 boys who go to the Oratory from my area (I see them getting off the bus near my house!)

London Oratory, Bishop Thomas Grant, Cardinal Vaughan, st thomas More Chelsea which order would You choose

the order of the garter

(smile)