A Roman Catholic school attended by Nick Clegg’s eldest son and two of Tony Blair’s has been cleared of discriminating against the poor. The Office of the Schools Adjudicator criticised the Oratory School in London for engaging in ‘social selection’, saying it had broken the rules in 105 different ways. The state-funded school in Fulham, West London, was ordered to revise its admissions policy last year after the watchdog decided it was biased against working-class and non-Catholic children. The Oratory School in London was cleared of discriminating against the poor and non-Catholic children . The watchdog accused the school of cherry-picking privileged white children using its strict faith-based entry requirements. But yesterday, this was overturned by a High Court judge who said this decision was ‘flawed’ and ‘unreasonable’. Mr Justice Cobb said: ‘The adjudicator’s conclusion that the governing body of the school had operated an admissions system which was socially selective, discriminatory, and unfairly disadvantageous to children from less well-off families was flawed and was reached by a process which was procedurally unfair to the school.’ The original case followed a complaint by the British Humanist Association in the spring of 2013. The school, founded in 1863, has prioritised pupils based on whether they sing in the choir, arrange flowers in church, serve at the altar or assist in pastoral work. In its ruling, the watchdog said the school must not grant places ‘on the basis of any practical or financial support parents may give to the school’ - nor should children be favoured on the basis of their hobbies and activities. It said the ratio of children receiving free school meals - used as an indicator of poverty - was only 6-7 per cent compared with the local average of 25.1 per cent. Mr Clegg’s eldest son Antonio, 12, attends, while Mr Blair sent his two eldest sons, Nicky and Euan, to the school with daughter Kathryn believed to have joined in the sixth form. The boys’ school, which admits girls to the sixth form, also counts deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman among its alumni. A High Court Judge branded the decision by the watchdog 'flawed' It is one of the most popular in the country and is always oversubscribed. In a reserved judgment after a hearing last month Mr Justice Cobb ordered the adjudicator to think again after remitting the case to be heard by a fresh adjudicator. He said: ‘I am satisfied that the adjudicator reaches this conclusion by a mix of flawed reasoning and unfair process. In the circumstances I am satisfied that this finding must be quashed.’ He ordered the adjudicator to pay 80 per cent of the school’s £155,000 costs with £60,000 on account. Ane Vernon, solicitor for the school, said: ‘The allegation that the school was socially selective and discriminating against less well-off families has been hurtful to staff, pupils and parents. ‘This damaging allegation has been found by the judge to be wrong and unfair, and the finding vindicates the robust approach the school has had to take against the Office of the Schools Adjudicator.’ Headmaster David McFadden added: ‘The judge’s decision supports us in continuing to preserve the school’s ethos and serving Catholic families throughout the whole of London. ‘It is profoundly regrettable that the school - and other schools - have to expend precious resources, year after year, in standing up to the Office of the Schools Adjudicator. ‘These are key resources that should go to our children’s education and their future, not overturning ultimately flawed and unmeritorious decisions. Schools within the state sector have serious questions to ask about the adjudication process.’ The judge said he feared his conclusions would not bring an end to investigations into the school which had been going on for ‘far too long.’ London Oratory was rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted and has some of the best results in the country. The case comes after a group of secular vicars and laypeople wrote an open letter calling for all Church of England schools to stop admissions based on faith criteria. Church groups have complained that a ‘secular agenda’ is increasingly being imposed on faith schools which aim to uphold their traditional beliefs.
The Oratory School was ordered to revise its admissions policy last year . Came after watchdog found it was biased against poor and non-Catholics . High Court overturned decision of The Office of the Schools Adjudicator . Judge said the decision was 'flawed' and 'unreasonable'