Does anyone's DS go to Cardinal Vaughan in London

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My son got into CVMS which i am so releived about - but tell me is it really as strict as it seemed on the Open Evening or were they trying to put people off . DS is really quite nervous about going there....

On the contrary there was no 'catchment' before (we live miles from the school) but the dismantling of the old admissions policy will benefit the geographically advantaged (ie residents of Holland Park, Kensington and Notting Hill) rather than those that place the practise of their faith at the centre of their and their children's lives.

.. or those who were cunning enough to check the admission criteria in time to start accruing maximum "catholicity" points. Many genuine Catholics, too busy bringing up young families to be able to do this, suffered under the old scheme.

I've also heard awful things about pastoral care at the Oratory. Neighbours withdrew their son because they felt the bullying atmosphere was so bad.

Coffee I'm not a resident of Kensington et al; as far as I can tell the new admissions will be fairer because it works not on a elaborate points system but on basic premise of Churchgoing and baptism. Nothing to do with geographical location. Am I wrong? The places are to be allocated at random after those criteria are fulfilled if too many applicants. So instead of being rejected because you didn't measure up, you are not "rejected", it is just the luck of the draw.

Do you not think that is a better system?
If I scrub the church steps a little, sing in the choir a little, and help in the local scout troup, why should I get more points than someone who spends their free time caring for an elderly relative? Why should I get points and not they?

Surely for devout Catholics, the concept of randomness is anathema - we believe in a constant and loving God, and are taught that the path to Him is through his Son. Can it be right for an institution that teaches its pupils in accordance with these truths that what happens to them with be a matter of random fate the stroke of a bureaucrats pen?

aargh typo - meant to say for an Institution that teaches in accordance with these truths to then also teach pupils that what happens to them will be according to random fate stroke of a bureaucrats pen.

Coffee there are plenty of devout Catholics who don't get into Cardinal Vaughan anyway. Surely there are worse things than not getting into a "goodish" school. There are other options, educationally, I mean...
I for one am not going to doubt the existence of God just because Cardinal Vaughan doesn't want/take my lovely ds.
I'm sure he'll survive perfectly well in lots of schools, it's just nice to know that if I are not perfect, I can still apply.

coffee, surely for devout Catholics the concept of accruing points to get your child in is anathema! Are you suggesting that people who do extra for the church are better and more devout Catholics than those who, for whatever reason, do not?!!

Oh for heavens sake, both my children went to CVMS and of course we were asked to contribute to the schools; finances in various ways. I worked out that over seven years I contributed about £2000. One year I had no money to spare so I gave nothing and no one ever mentioned it. It is a small school on a very small site, so those of you who don't like the thought of making the occasional contribution should look elsewhere. Sion Manning is quite near and usually undersubscribed.

It is but it is also an all girls school.

How were the school place allocations affected by the admission changes this year. The VPAG are saying that some siblings didn't get in and that applicants living at a distance from the school also didn't make it, unlike in previous years. Anyone affected?

Has anyone's son started this september? my son loved the school when we looked round, is it really as harsh as some have said? the teachers seemed lovely at the open evening. we are not rich but we are genuine believers and our boy is prayerful would he suit this school?