As a former Education Secretary, Michael Gove is well acquainted with the nation's best state schools.
And now I can reveal he has put that knowledge to good use – choosing a London academy dubbed the 'Eton of comprehensives' for his son.
He and his newspaper columnist wife Sarah Vine have accepted a place for 11-year-old William at the oversubscribed Holland Park School in Kensington.
Former Education Secretary, Michael Gove, pictured, has sent his son to the 'Eton of comprehensives'
In choosing the school, which is 1.5 miles from his West London home, Mr Gove – now Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor – has passed up at least seven closer state secondaries.
They include Burlington Danes Academy, less than half a mile away. As Education Secretary, Mr Gove singled out for praise Burlington Danes' then principal for having turned around a school once described as 'feral'.
Like the Grey Coat Hospital – the state secondary the Goves chose for daughter Beatrice two years ago – Holland Park, a flagship academy, is praised in Tatler's top 20 state secondary schools guide.
The magazine enthused that the school, which is housed in a space-age steel and glass building, has a 'five-star feel' with facilities, including a swimming pool, that many private schools would envy.
It gushed: 'Lots of glass, lots of light, Jo Malone candles and cream roses in reception – and of course, that swimming pool.'
Holland Park used to be a mecca for the Left-wing – Tony Benn sent his children there – but it has been reborn as a leading academy, with impressive academic results.
Mr Gove's 11-year-old son William will go to the oversubscribed Holland Park School in Kensington, pictured
Tatler says its head, Colin Hall, is 'ruthlesslessly ambitious' for his pupils.
The news of the school place comes after The Mail on Sunday disclosed that David Cameron was considering a top private prep school for his son, even though he followed Mr Gove in sending his daughter to the Grey Coat Hospital.
But even Holland Park has its less impressive alumni: five recent pupils went on to become jihadis and died fighting on the battlefields of Syria and Iraq.
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