A 16-year-old boy has been charged with arson following a fire at the London Oratory School in west London, the Metropolitan Police said.
Ten fire engines and about 70 firefighters were called to the 160-year-old Catholic school – which admits boys aged seven to 18 and girls aged 16 to 18 – in Fulham shortly after 10am on Wednesday.
The fire was brought under control and no injuries have been reported, but part of an atrium in the four-storey building was damaged.
A nearby shopping centre and some local properties were evacuated as a precaution, with residents urged to keep their windows closed.
Speaking to reporters at the scene, a spokesperson for the fire service said: “London Fire Brigade were called to a fire at the London Oratory School.
“It was an automatic fire alarm and we got called at 10.11. The crews worked extremely hard and got the fire under control at 11.47.”
The teenager was arrested a short while later and was taken into custody.
Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair and former deputy prime minister Sir Nick Clegg both sent their sons to the school, whose alumni include actor Simon Callow and trade unionist Mick Whelan.
The school educates around 1,400 pupils and has been rated as “outstanding” by Ofsted.
The boy was due to appear at Highbury Youth Court later on Friday.
