SAVE THE LONDON ORATORY SCHOOL BOAT CLUB

I have never rowed but see the extraordinary impact it has on people and urge you to retain this opportunity for pupils and your community

My school boat club was the best part of my senior school education. 40 years later I'm still reaping the benefits.

The cutbacks are going too far. Rowing should be open to all not just the privilege few.

As the organiser of The Boat Race, I would support this petition. It would be wonderful to see an LOS graduate rowing in The Boat Race at some point in the future.

Closing the rowing programme would be a tragedy!

My son started rowing at a state school - funding was a constant battle and we competed on very uneven terms with many other schools. The sport needs more athletes from less privileged backgrounds.

good & dedicated kids, hard working coaches with a well run and supportive sporting and personal development program. would be a sad day if the rowing club closed down.

Please save the LOS boat club!

I was very fortunate to be able to start rowing whilst at a state school, admittedly this was 40 odd years ago, but I believe I am a much better person for it. Sadly my old school no longer exists but it would be a great shame if LOS stopped offering this option as it will leave the sport only available for youngsters attending fee paying schools. Please reconsider, the club has funding for another year, what is the problem?

It's very important for rowing as a major international sport to be accessible to young people from all walks of life, and Oratory should set an example in making this possible.

It appears that options for maintaining and growing the boat club have not been seriously considered. Is there another agenda here? Sad too at a school that is a beacon for other aspiring state school boat clubs in a sport that has so much to offer to boys and girls from all backgrounds. Please reconsider!

LOS coaches and rowers are a credit to the state school system and it would be a tragic loss to the sport were we to lose these lesser known rowing schools

I was educated in a state school but took up rowing at University and coxed to international level. I wish I had had the opportunity to row at school as I am bad at ball sports, a situation which caused problems. Rowing is a great levelling sport as everyone starts not being able to do it and it teaches children so much; teamwork, empathy, confidence, self awareness, time management and water safety to name but a few. I am now a junior rowing coach to children from state and independent schools. It is absolutely vital that state educated children have access to rowing, particularly via their own school as school sport is dominated by ball sports and in state schools sports provision is struggling anyway! Please reconsider your decision and support LOS rowing so that it continues to lead the way in making rowing accessible to all children, no matter their sociological-economic background. More sports, a wider range of sports and greater access for all children also sets healthy habits and raises academic performance!

This is a necessary team activity at which the LOS compete to an incredibly high standard, benefitting not only the boys but also the school's outstanding reputation. Being cost neutral, removing it from the curriculum is foolhardy and totally beyond the pale!

Rowing is such a character building sport; it must not be only available to those who attend private schools......

Good luck to the Oratory School parents in keeping LOSBC alive!

I learned to row at a state school and subsequently rowed for Cambridge - I would like others to have this opportunity.

Our son Fergus got so much out of the club and it would be a travesty if the club had to close

I am a strong supporter of schools rowing and the skills it develops in young people including fitness sesilience and team work.

It would be a real shame to lose it after the club has done so amazingly well.