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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

London Oratory or Cardinal Vaughan

46 replies

universalis · 01/08/2011 15:36

Our son loves his faith, good at sports, fairly musical and reasonably academic no behaviour probs, which do you think would suit him? Obviously we know its hard to get a place so how do bishop challoner or bishop thomas grant seem as back ups, anyone know?

OP posts:

DiaryOfASingleMum · 17/05/2012 20:00

Hi Busymum23, the wait must be simply excruciating I'm sure! No, she's had no news yet either. I would never had thought they'd have you all waiting to the 'actual' Friday. For her and her family, they're just desperate to put it to bed so they can get on with their lives. I'm sure you're the same. Couldn't stop laughing at your statement of having to move into a flat from a house in Fulham...too funny. At least you're still able to scape together a sense of humor. AND another child doing GCSE'S too. Oh geez. I only have one which causes me so much stress and worry especially with all this education lark, God knows, two and I would have keeled over:). Do love a glass of Prosecco though, so at least you have a good excuse:)

ps: The Journey may be horrible but know of kids both already at the Oratory and starting in September and it is just another brilliant school as you know. One has just qualified for the rowing team for entry into what I believe is a county level competition. I would also travel on the tube with them and they are really lovely boys:)

DiaryOfASingleMum · 18/05/2012 13:28

Hi Busymum23, friend had no luck. Apparently only 3 got accepted. Makes me feel a bit teary actually. He's such a great kid. Really really great kid. Things suck sometimes right.

She'll have to tell him when he gets home from school.

At least they can put it to bed now. Let me know how you get on.

DiaryOfASingleMum · 18/05/2012 16:21

Apparently zero cases were upheld at the Oratory. Literally out of 90 appeals no one got through. Usually around 10% of cases on average get through, so zero is pretty astonishing.

busymummy23 · 18/05/2012 18:02

Hi DiaryofaSingleMother - so sorry your friend didn't win! Needless to say we didn't win either. I'm totally fine...a little disappointed when I first opened the letter but I'm over it now. I feel v privileged to have the Oratory (cant be greedy eh). Oratory is probably the better school for DS and his little bro that will hopefully follow next year (yes I have to go through the whole bloody process again in October). I just need to get my head around the journey and all will be well. Can't believe no appeals whatsoever were upheld at Oratory! That is unbelievable! I'm beginning to realise how blessed we were!

So I can finally put a line under it all and put it to bed (well at least till the process resumes in Oct for DS no 2 lol). Thank you for your good wishes over the past few days - it all helped to get me through. All done now so onward and upward. In the meantime, let the Prosecco flow lol x

Isky - we haven't heard from you yet. Hope you are one of the 3 the are celebrating...would be nice if one of us Mumsnetters won! Best of luck whatever your outcome x

DiaryOfASingleMum · 18/05/2012 18:37

Ahhh you sound like such a lovely person busymummy23. Yes, zero for the oratory. I thought that would make you feel better just in case CV didn't come through. There are at least ninety people who would tear off your right arm to swap places with them:) Guess that's a good way to look at it:)

DS in October. My love, u couldn't pay me to go through this again! Honestly, I swear the whole process was going to put me in a nut house! I envisioned myself rocking backwards and forwards many a nights.

I'm out tonight and will think of you when I knock my first drink back, LOL. XXX

ps: Lets hope Isky is one of the luck ones:)

isky · 18/05/2012 19:28

No luck for us either , our DS is gutted as now he is left with Westmin City...

DiaryOfASingleMum · 18/05/2012 20:29

@Isky, so sorry to hear that, especially if you ds is gutted. That makes it all the harder still.

Kids are really resilient. My ds had a few knock backs in the year in another capacity and you'll be surprised how quickly they get over it. Moreover, as a kid, I remember not getting my first choice school either and being really upset at the start. It soon becomes a distant memory, honestly.

Putneym · 22/05/2012 10:20

Sorry you were not successful. :( Actually is not true about the 0% success rate for LOS. I know someone who just succeeded on appeal from our primary school. They just like to keep these things quiet...

isky · 22/05/2012 12:23

School has converted to an Academy so LGO cant look at it!

milkqueen · 16/01/2014 20:28

I have CVMS as my first choice, Orotory as my second choice. My son goes to very strict catholic school in Chelsea and wonder if he will thrive in these schools. He is very bright and has a little issue with his behaviour. He was an attention seeker but getting better. He is very good in class but lose control when in playground. Mainly meaning if told not to run, he will take the chance and run if he cannot see anyone watching him. He always seems to be the one that gets caught. I am worried if he does into one of these school and gets kicked out soon because of issues with his behaviour,

urbancupcake · 17/01/2014 01:20

I think it takes a lot more than running to get booted out of a school. Besides, no one else will be running so he'll probably ended up feeling more like a fart than funny.

I say all that to say don't let such a minor issue stop you from applying if you're eligible. They have means of getting even much naughtier children into check.

Good luck

milkqueen · 17/01/2014 10:15

Hes already been considered for music scholorship at Cardinal Vaughn and now waiting for results in March. That is the one he most wanty to go to because The Orotory does not do football and hes not keen on that school because of it.

SiliconeSally · 17/01/2014 16:31

I know this thread started a few years ago, but just in case anyone is resding the whole thread there is some seriously skewwhiff advice from Deadbeatdad earlier in the thread - and it was completely wrong eve when he wrote it.

You must put the schools in the order you genuinely prefer them. They do not fill schools with those who put them first, then those that put them second, etc. The schools make a list of all applicants that they can make an offer to and your LA then offers you the school which is highest up your preference list and which can offer you a place.
I hope no one took his advice - it would probably have cost them a place!

urbancupcake · 17/01/2014 17:22

@milkqueen, from my understanding they don't do that much footy; it's not like every day, not in the earlier years at least (someone no doubt will correct me if I'm wrong). It's a termly thing I believe so one term they do athletics, next rugby, followed by rowing or something like that. Please still put Oratory on your list, it's a top top top school and your DD can always do football outside of school all year round if it matters that much to him. I know of dc's who go there who are massively huge football players, they just do it after school and at weekends. Feel free to PM me if you want more insight.

@Silicone - I remember a council person giving me the same wrong daft information once. I ditto what you've posted - THE SCHOOL HAS NOT A BLINKIN CLUE WHERE YOU'VE PUT THEM ON THE LIST!!!

nennypops · 18/01/2014 11:19

From what I hear, you shouldn't touch Oratory with a bargepole if there is any sort of behavioural issue. They are pretty ruthless about getting rid of anyone who they perceive as endangering their league table standing.

urbancupcake · 18/01/2014 15:23

Hi nennypops, the person I know who goes there knows of one ds they cleverly got shot of this year (and I say cleverly because of the way it was orchestrated), however I believe that said child amongst other things had another pupil in a headlock position outside of the school.

The reason I felt it was still okay is because they like any other school would have to follow the rules (having said that I know also they're elitist arrogant and a law unto themselves) and they're are laws and quite lengthy rules in place before an institution can expel a pupil.

I suppose the question OP has to ask herself ism depending on how naughty her ds is, would her child be happy there as they are quite strict. That doesn't mean however, on a day to day basis the children there aren't happy it might just be the right environment for them.

urbancupcake · 18/01/2014 16:55

Oh heck I was talking about Cardinal Vaughan BTW. Could find out more re Oratory. Will be meeting with a mummy mate with a ds there next week to see if she echo's your thoughts nennypops.

Blooming great school though and not elitist, arrogant or a law unto themselves at all. Big boob on my part!!!!

milkqueen · 18/01/2014 18:45

urbancupcake, I said to my son he can always do football out of school and he may enjoy the other sports they have on offer. I hope he gets in one of my top three otherwise I do not know what I am going to do. A boy from his school 2 years ago parents put the top 4 catholic school on his list and he did not get one. The borough found the worst school in croydon for him. His parents sent him to an independent school to stay until 13 then he will try for 13 plus this year.

AngelEyes46 · 18/01/2014 20:07

Good luck to all - is 1 March the D-day? I remember the worry with my ds' and dd. With the primary RC schools, there is more flexibility with date of baptism but with the secondary RC schools, there is often a stipulation of 6 months/a year. We had a couple of 'casualty's' but from what I've heard, all are very happy. The problem is - if your DCs attend a RC primary, you generally want them to go to a RC secondary. Milkqueen - when you say the worst school in the borough - is it north of the borough?

urbancupcake · 18/01/2014 21:26

milkqueen, was that Lanfrac or a name something like that? I don't know it and am not sure if I've got the name right, but was told about one school in that borough which is every parent's worst nightmare. If it is the same school, I met a lady at a party once and her grandson was offered a place there after not getting any of their choices. They too were suddenly having to find private school money when their appeal to the school they wanted failed.

Was in the same situation as you a couple of years back. It made me ill. A complete wreck; was so jealous of those mums who just took it in their stride. On a positive note, for the majority, statistics show it all works out in the end:).

Oh and as for my own experience (another story for another day), be careful what you wish for.

urbancupcake · 18/01/2014 21:31

Milkqueen, pleased also you've tried selling to him the football out of school at the Oratory. I have family on my child's dad side who go there and friends with children there. All very very happy.

Good luck

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