Clegg jnr to go to state-funded comp

[LondonMother]

Just an ordinary state school, after all the talk - he's going to the London Oratory.

Are they still doing their dodgy interviewing, which Ruth Kelly waved through for them when she was Sec of State for Education?

[OhDearConfused]

There is no such thing as a catholic child ((c) Richard Dawkins), only a child with catholic parents.

[GrendelsMum]

As I understand it, Miriam Gonzales Durantez is a practicing Catholic, and as such is keen for her children to attend a Catholic secondary school, as well as a well-regarded school. Which doesn't sound too unreasonable to me.

She might even think that her children's education is more important than her husband's political role, or what strangers might have to say about her choices.

Having worked with teenagers from some other Catholic state secondary schools around London, I wouldn't worry too much about the kids being brainwashed

[merrymouse]

I don't have any problem with Nick Clegg doing what is necessary to ensure that his son receives a good education.

I do take his actions as an indication that he, as Deputy Prime Minister, has no faith that this kind of education will be available at a run of the mill Putney Comp (the only choice for the vast majority of Putney residents, assuming they don't have lots of spare cash), any time soon.

[KateShrub]

I think the run-of-the-mill Putney Comp is probably better than average tbh.

Wandsworth schools are generally very good.

[CloudsAndTrees]

Run of the mill comps will always be either negatively or positively affected by their intake, no matter how good they are.

[CecilyP]

No, travel for the under 16s is free.

[JakeBullet]

Yes am aware the State already pays for faith schools....it was more the land and buildings I was thinking of.

[JakeBullet]

merrymouse you have made a very good point there,

[GrendelsMum]

But why assume (particularly on the Mumsnet Education forums) that the boy's father got the deciding vote in his education rather than his mother?

How are we to know that Miriam Gozales Durantez didn't have the strong preference over the choice of school, and Nick Clegg accepted it?

[GrendelsMum]

Gosh, maybe the boy himself even had a preference for one school over another.

[CloudsAndTrees]

Exactly Grendels.

How many of the people criticising Clegg on here would be prepared to send their child to a particular school on the basis that it would make their husband look good to his friends for a couple of days before it all gets forgotten about anyway?

[merrymouse]

How lucky they are to have a choice.

[merrymouse]

Also, I'm not sure that it does more for nick clegg's credibility as a champion of Wandsworth state schools and leader of government if he would have been completely happy for his son to attend any local secondary, but his wife and child weren't quite convinced.

[LaVolcan]

We mentioned 'convenience catholicism'

Here is a funny cartoon from The Guardian about the same.