A 16-year-old boy has admitted starting a fire at a prestigious west London school but was cleared of endangering life with the blaze.
A major incident was declared after smoke and flames broke out in the atrium of the London Oratory School in Fulham on December 27 last year.
The school and surrounding buildings had to be evacuated while firefighters tackled the blaze, and the boy was arrested in the street nearby.
He pleaded guilty in September to a charge of arson, taking responsibility for the incident.
At Wimbledon magistrates court on Tuesday, District Judge Andrew Sweet cleared the teenager of the more serious charge of arson with recklessness for endangering life.
Dismissing the charge, the judge said the boy “did consider his actions” and “was intending to try and harm himself rather than anyone else”.
The court heard the teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, wrote a note of apology and made a 999 call immediately after the fire.
The case was adjourned for a sentencing hearing on November 12, when the boy will be dealt with for starting the fire and for assaulting a police officer by kicking him.
The youth appeared in court in person for the hearing alongside members of his family.
The London Oratory School on the morning of December 27 this year.
He also pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer that day and having a fake ID.
On Friday, Highbury Corner Youth Court heard that police received a call just before 10am alerting them to a potential fire in a school.
London Oratory School admits boys aged seven to 18 and girls aged 16 to 18, and is a short distance from the Chelsea stadium, Stamford Bridge.
The sons of former prime minister Tony Blair and former deputy prime minister Sir Nick Clegg are among the Roman Catholic school’s alumni, along with actor Simon Callow and trade unionist Mick Whelan.
