How does admissions work in faith schools?

[cheekychopsmum]

How does this work?

Our nearest primary school is a RC school and ds (2) is not christened or baptized, although we have been under pressure from my cathlic mum. Myself and dp are not religious although I was christened CofE and I think dp is also.

We have talked about getting him christened because of my mum, but firstly wouldn't know where to start, also feel a tad hypocritical.

Would ds have to be christened/baptized (don't know the difference) to get a place at the school?

[LIZS]

You have to ask what their actual criteria are. Some may well prioritise applications from those who are baptised and regularly attend certain parish churches over a period of time (even so far as requiring this to be confirmed by the priest) ahead of siblings and those living within a catchment or by proximity to school. It depends on demand from those meetinghte criteria and size of intake whether a non baptised child might get allocated a space there. tbh given he is already 2 and you may have to apply within the year for a place (depending if he is 2011 or 2012 intake) it may already be too late to hit the attendance criteria if it applies. To get a child baptised you just approach local vicar or priest to arrange.

[ShoshanaBlue]

Usually Catholic children do get priority of places in a Catholic school. If the school is not oversubscribed, then there won't be a problem. If the school is, then I think it will be doubtful. You will need to enquire about this at the school.

If neither you or your partner are Roman Catholic, I think the parish priest may well smell a rat if you request a baptism although he may well do it. Most parents have to do a course on baptism these days anyway.

Christening is just an informal word for the sacrament of baptism.

[helpYOUiWILL]

look up on the county councils website and they will have an admissions criteria for that particular school.

[RichardGereandtheGuineaPigs]

No point getting him baptised, if a child is not baptised within in six months it is deemed to be a late baptism and in essence doesn't count.

The rule regarding age was designed to stop children being baptised just to get into the school.

[LuckyJim]

Depends on the school and if it is oversubscribed or not. Dcs school is Catholic an has an outstanding ofsted but is undersubscribed. I would guestimate that about 3rd of the pupils aren't Catholic and every class has a few spaces in it. Some schools require a baptism within 6 months, some within 12 months, some before start of school and some want you to be on a course before they start school and some don't care either way because they have plenty of space.

[ShoshanaBlue]

Well, you could always pop in to see the school secretary who would be able to give you figures on how oversubscribed they are.

Otherwise, if you're not happy with the situation, why not just send your child to your local community primary school?

[annh]

RichardGere, your point about baptism before 6 months is not accurate for every school. I have heard of it happening in London but have no personal knowledge of it and in this part of Surrey it certainly isn't looked at as part of the admissions criteria. The general criteria will vary from school to school but usually you will need to fill in the LA admissions form and a supplementary form from the school itself. That school form will need to be signed by the priest and he can choose to sign it or not depending on whether you are members of the parish, you attend regularly etc.

If the school is not oversubscribed, then not having the form signed is not necessarily a big problem as the school will probably allocate any spare places on the basis of distance. However, very many faith schools are oversubscribed. Our local Catholic school had about 8-10 children of parctising Catholic parents in the parish not get a space at the school last year and the same will apply this year.

You really need to speak to the school in question to find out their admissions criteria and if you feel you have a chance of getting a place, decide separately if you actually want your child receiving a Catholic education.

[zanzibarmum]

If you are not catholic, if you don't know if 'partner' is baptised and you don"t know what the term baptised or christened means why are you even thinking that this is an option. Presumably, it is a good school and not just near. To be honest I am more shocked by the matter of fact replies of the other responses to this thread.

Just my opinion

[ShoshanaBlue]

Well, we had to go to a school 3/4 parishes away because of the shortage of places for Catholic children in this area. Every area is different, it is up to you what you decide and what you think is important.

Some people in our area do change their religion to get into a certain school. We have now missed out on a place to get into our local Catholic high school and will now think ourselves lucky enough to be able to get into the 2nd nearest....

[MrsNorthman]

RichardGere the reason that Catholic Children are Baptised asap after birth is that it is believed they will enter Purgatory if they were to die an infant and be un-Baptised. It has nothing to do with school admission. This is a belief that goes back centuries and is not as meaningful in this day and age were for the majority healthy babies are born and infant mortality is low.

Anyway - back to the OP's question:

A usual catholic admissions policy is:

1. looked after children (those in care).

1. Baptised Catholic Children who live within the parish.

1. Baptlised Catholic Children who live outside the parish.

1. Children with Siblings in the school.

1. Children of other Christian faiths.

1. Children of other faiths.

If you wanted to Baptise your Child a Catholic I am sure you would not be turned away but you would have to attend some form of class/course to show your commitment.

Also at the Baptism you would have to ensure that at least one Godparent was a confirmed Catholic.

I'm afraid it's not as simple as you being happy for them just to have a Catholic education. There is a little bit more to it than that.

But I suppose at the end of the day it depends on if the school is oversubscribed or not. Best to arrange a viewing round the school. Chat to the headteacher and have a think about it.

Good luck.

[Blu]

ZanzibarMum - the OP said it is their nearest school.

OP - visit the school and see if it is a school you would like to send your DC to.

[StillCrazyAfterAllTheseYears]

I'm a governor of a C of E school. Our admissions criteria don't say anything about baptism but (for a foundation, ie church-related place) they do require regular church attendance for two years by the date of application. The local Catholic schools also require regular church attendance - in some cases, every week without exception. So, around here anyway, having a child baptised at the age of two would not, on its own, be enough to meet any church school's admissions criteria.

[BethNoireNewNameForPeachy]

here it is a bit different- endowed faith school.

A catchemnt (tiny) gets first call as the endowment was set up for that. After that its a combination of distance,knowing the Head /Vicar and if Vicar then he can put in a good word, i've known that happen.

[BethNoireNewNameForPeachy]

MrsN didnt the Catholics doaway with the notion oforiginal sin and all that fairly recently?I'm sureI wastold that by someone I know.

[tubsywubsy]

Have a look at the school's prospectus - it will probably be on their website. There will be information there about their admissions policy and also about how many non-catholic children were admitted in previous years. This will give you an idea of what chance you have of getting a place if you don't have your child baptised.

However, if you really like the school, don't be put off if only a few non-catholic children are admitted each year, apply anyway - if won't affect your chances at any other schools you list on your application form.

[ShoshanaBlue]

Since when was Original Sin done away with? I don't recall any of this.

[MrsNorthman]

Not as far as I know BethNoire. I think Mormons don't believe in it? But I might be wrong.

[BethNoireNewNameForPeachy]

I think there is something you know- and about purgatory, I willsearch my notes later- very distant memory now though

[BethNoireNewNameForPeachy]

Right its limbo that they did away wioth firmly

Its farmore than theMormons who don't accept it though,Mopmrmon faith is fairly marked apart anyway-lots of denominations don't accept it (Unitarians etc)

[ShoshanaBlue]

Limbo was nothing more than theological speculation, not dogma.

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

I think it depends where you live. Not sure about England, but a teacher I know here in Scotland told me that catholic schools here cannot refuse admission to non-catholic children, as they are all now subsidised by the local; council, and not solely by the church, as used to be the case. therefore anyone paying council tax has the right to request a place in a catholic school, especially if in the catchment area. A friend of mine who is non-catholic and whose DH is non-catholic recently started her ds (also non-catholic) at the local catholic primary school without any hassle.

However, as someone who was brought up a catholic and educated in catholic schools, I thought long and hard about my dc going to catholic school- they are baptised, and do now attend the local RC school, but I sometimes wonder why the hell anyone who isn't catholic would actually WANT their children to be exposed to the amount of catholicism involved in an RC education!! My DH is non-catholic, and he is often perturbed by the "brainwashing" as he sees it! Having gone through it myself, I can explain and clarify things for dd (aged 6), but sometimes even I am amazed at the things she comes out with- recently one of her friends went home crying because the teacher told the class that the Virgin Mary loved them more than their own mothers!