This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7392744.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Leaders make state school choices | Leaders make state school choices |
(20 minutes later) | |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown's elder son John is to attend a state school near Downing Street, it has been revealed. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown's elder son John is to attend a state school near Downing Street, it has been revealed. |
Conservative leader David Cameron has also secured a place at a state school for his four-year-old daughter Nancy. | Conservative leader David Cameron has also secured a place at a state school for his four-year-old daughter Nancy. |
She will attend St Mary Abbots Church of England School, in Kensington, two miles from the Tory leader's home. | She will attend St Mary Abbots Church of England School, in Kensington, two miles from the Tory leader's home. |
Four-year-old John Brown has secured a place at Millbank Primary School, in Westminster, according to a spokesman for the prime minister. | Four-year-old John Brown has secured a place at Millbank Primary School, in Westminster, according to a spokesman for the prime minister. |
The Brown family decided to release a statement after receiving a series of press inquiries. | The Brown family decided to release a statement after receiving a series of press inquiries. |
"In common with other aspects of their children's lives, they regard John's schooling as a private matter, and they will not be making any further comment," a spokesman added. | "In common with other aspects of their children's lives, they regard John's schooling as a private matter, and they will not be making any further comment," a spokesman added. |
Above average | Above average |
Millbank Primary is believed to be the closest non-faith school to Number 10, and John already attends a nursery school nearby. | Millbank Primary is believed to be the closest non-faith school to Number 10, and John already attends a nursery school nearby. |
It has around 210 pupils, and 24 different languages are spoken there, according to its website. | It has around 210 pupils, and 24 different languages are spoken there, according to its website. |
They are delighted - this is the school that they wanted for their daughter Conservative spokeswoman | They are delighted - this is the school that they wanted for their daughter Conservative spokeswoman |
Its performance was well above the national average for Key Stages 1 and 2 last year. | Its performance was well above the national average for Key Stages 1 and 2 last year. |
The school is very close to Conservative Party headquarters, on the north bank of the Thames. | The school is very close to Conservative Party headquarters, on the north bank of the Thames. |
Camerons 'delighted' | Camerons 'delighted' |
Mr Brown's predecessor, Tony Blair, came under fire shortly after taking over as Labour leader in 1994 for rejecting local secondary schools in favour of the grant-maintained London Oratory school for his children. | Mr Brown's predecessor, Tony Blair, came under fire shortly after taking over as Labour leader in 1994 for rejecting local secondary schools in favour of the grant-maintained London Oratory school for his children. |
Labour policy at the time was to oppose grant-maintained schools. | Labour policy at the time was to oppose grant-maintained schools. |
David and Samantha Cameron may also face questions after rejecting a number of schools closer to their north Kensington home in favour of St Mary Abbots. | David and Samantha Cameron may also face questions after rejecting a number of schools closer to their north Kensington home in favour of St Mary Abbots. |
A Conservative spokesman said: "They are delighted. This is the school that they wanted for their daughter." | A Conservative spokesman said: "They are delighted. This is the school that they wanted for their daughter." |
The Camerons have attended St Mary Abbots Church for three years but Tory sources stresses they have been treated like any other family. | The Camerons have attended St Mary Abbots Church for three years but Tory sources stresses they have been treated like any other family. |
According to its website, more than a third of the pupils at the school are second, or third language learners, with between 20 and 25 languages represented. | |
'Doing well' | 'Doing well' |
The school has a reputation as a feeder for fee-paying schools, although Mr Cameron, who attended a Berkshire preparatory school and then Eton College, has said he wants his children to be educated in the state sector. | The school has a reputation as a feeder for fee-paying schools, although Mr Cameron, who attended a Berkshire preparatory school and then Eton College, has said he wants his children to be educated in the state sector. |
The Camerons' eldest child, Ivan, eight, is profoundly disabled and requires round-the-clock care. Their youngest, Arthur, turned two in February. | The Camerons' eldest child, Ivan, eight, is profoundly disabled and requires round-the-clock care. Their youngest, Arthur, turned two in February. |
Mr Brown's younger son, Fraser, has cystic fibrosis. | Mr Brown's younger son, Fraser, has cystic fibrosis. |
The prime minister told ITV1's This Morning on Thursday he was "doing well" and the family was "very hopeful" about the future. | The prime minister told ITV1's This Morning on Thursday he was "doing well" and the family was "very hopeful" about the future. |
Previous version
1
Next version