Our school's too posh for the Beckhams; ...say some of its former pupils.(News)

Byline: Ben Todd

IT is the esteemed private school which the Beckhams are said to be considering for their children. However, their apparent choice of [pounds sterling]14,000-a-year Haberdashers' Aske's has upset some ex-pupils, who feel the former Posh Spice and her footballer husband aren't their sort of people.

One even criticised them for being 'working class' and said their sons could 'get by with poor grades like the Royal Family'.

The comments have been made on the popular internet site Mumsnet, the website set up by mothers to give advice on parenting and family issues.

It was reported last month that David and Victoria Beckham were planning to send their sons - Brooklyn, 12, eight-year-old Romeo and Cruz, six - to Haberdashers' Aske's, in Elstree, Hertfordshire, when they return from living in the U.S. Mrs Beckham, 36, was said to have made a secret visit to the school, which is 30 miles from their British home, and there were even claims the couple watched a rugby game there.

The news led some of those leaving comments on the Mumsnet site to vilify the family.

One former Haberdashers' pupil, calling herself crazygracieuk, wrote: 'David and Victoria are working class. Victoria has mentioned in interviews that she never reads books so it would be surprising if someone like her had high academic goals for her dc [darling children] when they could easily get by with poor grades like the Royal Family.'

Potential pupils have to take an exam and some writers insisted the Beckham children would not be given carte blanche into the school without passing it. One, called sardine, wrote: 'Habs is not a school which is particularly open to parents buying their way in.'

Another, Blu, wrote: 'It's a very competitive school with high academic standards and if they [the children] don't pass the exam I'd be quite shocked if they were accepted.

'Also, it really is not a school which would compromise academic standards, and the girls equivalent has been known to turn down very substantial (I'll buy you a new swimming pool) "donations" by parents desperate for their children to get places.

'If they get in it'll be on academic merit but my first thought honestly was: They'll have to pass the exam first.'

Others were more supportive, with one saying their 'loving and affluent' upbringing would give them 'quite enough academic ability to pass the entry exam'.

Last night a friend of Mrs Beckham said they had not yet chosen a school for the boys.

Dr Peter Spence, director of external relations at Haberdashers', said: 'We do not comment on the names of pupils, parents or potential pupils and parents.'

b.todd@dailymail.co.uk

321 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE

HABERDASHERS' Aske's was founded in 1690 by a royal charter granted to the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers to set up a 'hospital' for 20 boarders.

It was originally in Hoxton, East London, before moving to its present 103-acre site in 1903.

There are separate boys' and girls' schools, plus boys' prep and pre-prep schools and a girls' junior school. Prospective pupils sit an entrance exam in English, maths and reasoning.

A fifth of pupils go on to study at Oxford and Cambridge.

Past pupils include comedians Matt Lucas, Sacha Baron Cohen and David Baddiel, actor Jason Isaacs, historian Simon Schama, Formula 1 driver Damon Hill and broadcaster Alan Whicker.

CAPTION(S):

Coming back to Britain: The Beckhams with son Romeo

Haberdashers': A fifth of pupils go on to Oxbridge