Patten's old school rejects opting out

Parents at John Patten's old school, the Jesuit-run Wimbledon College, have voted against opting out, writes Fran Abrams.

Governors of the college recommended parents to vote for opting out, saying that the move would ease the burden of repair work. As a voluntary-aided church school, the college must find 15 per cent of its own building costs at present, but the Government would pay them all if it opted out.

However, parents rejected the idea by 446 to 370 on a turnout of 63 per cent, preferring to remain under the control of the London Borough of Merton.