C of E schools ....

[nutcracker]

In the area i am thinking of moving to, the 3 nearest primary schools are C of E. None of my children have been christened so would i be able to get them in ??? I do not drive so couldnot get them to the nearest non religous school.

[fio2]

Of course you would be able to get them. CofE schools dont stop anyone going and the kids dont have to be christened either

[nutcracker]

Thanx FIO2 - I think you should become my personal adviser

[fio2]

lol do you pay well?

[nutcracker]

erm, would an extra smiley do

[nutcracker]

erm, would an extra smiley do

[nutcracker]

You got two for the price of one there.

[expatkat]

in London C of E schools appear to be more exclusive. I would love to send my ds & dd to one (our actual religioneastern orthodoxis quite close to C of E philosophically) but my children haven't a chance unless they are baptized C of E (which they are not) and unless we attend church 3 out of 4 sundays. Is this just London? Or perhaps just our part of London? It seems very odd to me--a sneaky way to exclude. All of ds's friends attend Catholic or C of E schools, yet he's barred from them, even though our religion is similar.

[Jimjams]

My ds goes to a C of E school. Different LEA- so we are way out of catchment- we are not church goers, he is not christened. Not in London though. Everything is more difficult in London school wise (used to live there).

[marialuisa]

It varies from place to place. If you are in a small town/village you stand a better chance. Expatkat, have you tried RC schools? We have greek friends in London who got their kids into a very oversubscribed RC school even thiugh they're Orthodox. They argued that they wanted a church school for their kids but that the only orthodox school was too far away.

[fio2]

RC schools are a no-go here, you have to be catholic. Funny how different schools have different policies. Nutty just ring up the schools in question and ask their secretary what there policy is on it. She will know

[musica]

I think it depends whether they're VC (voluntary controlled) or VA (voluntary aided). REALLY don't want to start debate on this (there was one a while back that was pretty inflammatory), but one of them, and I can never remember which, works like an ordinary state school, the other can select pupils on basis of religion, church attendance etc.

[tigermoth]

Nutcracker, my sons aren't christened and they attend a Voluntary Aided C of E school in London.
The school is oversubscribed, and you do have to attend church regularly (ie once or twice a month) to stand a chance of getting in. I know my sons would not get in to some other religious schools in the borough. I think it depends on the school's admissions criteria and on the local demand.

Agree musica, no heated debate please, especially considering the discussions on the other education threads!

[musica]

Not seen those tigermoth - might go and have a peek!

[musica]

Blimey!

[expatkat]

Thanks for explaining VC versus VA. I wasn't even aware of such a distinction (all this is new to me) and now may have an easier time navigating the system.

[bunny2]

I looked at 3 C of E primary schools and only one asked for the certificate of Christening. There are different categories to apply in, preference goes to those in the regular Church going category so if the school is very oversubscribed you would need proof of regular attendance. Ds hasnt been christened but should get a place in a CofE school as I have been putting in an appearnace most Sundays for the last 12 months.

[hellbell]

Just to add to the confusion, there is also a controlled (c) status for some C of E schools. The main difference is that the chair of governors is the minister of the church to which the school is affiliated and can have some say about the syllabus taught, although since the introduction of the National Curriculum and National Strategies, this doesn't amount to much.

[kmg1]

Admissions policies do vary, and often the crucial thing is whether or not a school is oversubscribed. A 'religious' school can specify as an admission criteria the active participation in churchlife (membership, etc.), of the parents and the children. But many choose not to. If they are undersubscribed, many schools want to have the kids (and the cash) to fill in the places, and don't care where they come from.

In our town we have a lot of Roman Catholic primary schools, and an RC secondary school too, and you certainly don't have to be RC to get in. (It is a criteria, and gives you priority, but it's certainly not exclusive).

[Lou33]

My 3 oldest are in a C of E school, none have been christened. They didn't even ask. Number 4 will hopefully go there too, if his sn stay as they are.

[Lou33]

Mine go to a VC school btw.

[Jimjams]

DS1's cofE school has other religions there as well. They don't seem to go to assembly (which is good as far as I'm concerned as it means ds1 doesn't stand out). I think that is their choice.

[Lara2]

I teach in a C of E school and our criteria is first and foremost does the child live in the catchment area. We teach all aspects of religion and religions. Alot of our children aren't religious, Christian or otherwise. I'm Catholic and went to a Catholic school and we ALL were. C of E schools seem to be much more relaxed about non- religious admissions.

[lydialemon]

Expatkat, where do you live? You can come to our Orthodox school we'd love to have you.

Our school is VA, and we have to have an intake of at least 10% non Greek Orthodox pupils.

[expatkat]

Lydialemon: London. Whereabouts is your Orthodox school?

[hmb]

Both of mine go to a fee paying C of E school. There are no questions asked about religious affiliation. All faiths are taught in school, and it is the most culturaly diverse school in the area, with Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Christians and athiests attending.