Priority school places

[LocoParentis]

Hi, does any one know if the rules about priority places also apply to catholic schools?

[5madthings]

i think they apply to all.schools. but a poster called 'admissions' will be the one to know.

as far as i understand it adopted children and those in care are generally a priority for school places and first on the admissions criteria.

[tethersend]

It depends on the individual school's policy.

Children who have the highest priority in community school admissions can find themselves as low as thirteenth priority in some catholic schools' admissions policies; if for example they are Looked After/Adopted but are not baptised/regular church attendees, this will mean that they are given lower priority than a baptised Looked After/Adopted child, or even lower than a baptised non Looked After/Adopted child.

A sample policy:

(Children adopted from LA care now have the same priority as Looked After Children; policy yet to be updated to reflect this I assume)

1. Catholic looked-after children who are public care authority. It will be the responsibility of the Local Authority to adduce evidence of Baptism in accordance with the rites of the Catholic Church.
   

1. Catholic children baptised, into and practising their Faith, whose parents/guardians produce a completed Priest?s Reference Form (Section b).
   

1. Other Catholic children baptised into the faith. (Evidence of Baptism must be produced in support of the application within this criteria).
   

1. Other looked - after children who are in the care of a Local Authority or provided with accommodation by that Authority.
   

1. Other baptised Christian children whose parents whose parents/guardians wish them to have a Catholic education.
   

1. Any other applicants.

[Lilka]

Exactly what tether said. Catholic schools are entitled to allow children of the faith a higher priority than children who are not of the faith, regardless of their status as a LAC/adopted child

Of all the Catholic children, the ones in care/adopted will be first priority

And of the non-Catholic children, the non Catholics in care/adopted will have a higher priority than the other non-Catholics. However, in many/most schools, that is so far down the list that you wouldn't get a place

[LocoParentis]

Thanks for that. It's not the answer I wanted but hey ho will just have to find god like every other mother in our local area

[tethersend]

Check the school's own admissions policy- they do vary.

Good luck

[Lovesoftplay]

My boys got into a faith school based on their LAC status. I know it's a bit naughty as we aren't committed Christians, but it's by far the best school round here and isn't completely focused on academics which was important to us.

[Claifairy]

No, not all Catholic schools as I have found out!

In all our borough all Catholic school except the 2 outstanding ones have changed to accept all looked after/adopted children as priority as per the new admissions requirement. As another poster put it 'not very Christian of them'

Unless they are baptised they slip down to number 6 on the admissions so in the case of these schools will never get in unless it is a low birth rate year or you appeal.

I posted a thread about it on primary education as I cannot get my little man baptised in time as the courts are on a go slow but I can get something called an intention to baptise to support our application. I was not planning to get the little one christened even though I am Catholic as I am very very lapsed but needs must!

Finding God may be too late now as well as it is often a 2 year involvement within the church that is required to fill the criteria. (I am hoping going to church every Sunday and Saint's Day for the first 16 yrs of my life counts as well as having a Nun in the family!!)

I have accepted that he will probably not get in which is a shame as he goes to the pre-school and has started making friends and I was really not impressed with the pre-school attached to the local state school who were not helpful in any shape or form over getting a place as I had not put his name down years ago!!! Bit hard when adopting!

I found out all the info by going to my local council website and then looking at the admissions information page which states each schools admissions policy and additional requirements.



Good luck

[LocoParentis]

Thanks again claifairy, that's really helpful. I know it's a bit previous but the schools close to us are not great. One has just come out of special measures.
It's not even the academic side I'm worried about, I'm sure dh and I can prop that up a bit if it's lacking.
I just want the school to be supportive. A lot of you say adopted children may struggle settling in the school environment and I'd hate to have to leave them somewhere I know they don't feel safe.

[SauvignonBlanche]

Check wit the individual school, they would br priority 1 at my DCs school, or 2 after children with the school named on their statement.

[Lovesoftplay]

Hi, just read my post back and realised it might sound like boasting, sorry. It wasn't meant like that, I was trying to give you hope that although low down the priorities, my boys still got in and so can yours I hope :)

[LocoParentis]

Softplay - no it didn't sound like boasting it was helpful thank you :)

So i've checked the local primary schools and the (great) secondary and sixth form we would be under all the catholic children in the world who wanted to go, but ahead of all the non catholic children.

All of the schools had first priority for catholic children who are LAC.

I know it's all kinds of wrong but we could get them baptised, get the certificate thingy. keep the certificate thingy and then all the options are open to us to choose the right one for our children when the time comes.

Thanks again guys :)

I'll have to remember to pay forward all your help and advise when i'm a wise adoption veteran too!

[Moomoomie]

I know I can't speak for all catholic schools but in the area we live in the catholic schools are all about academic achievements and they do not concentrate on pastoral care. As an adopter the pastoral care side of a school is more important to me.
A friend of mine who is a teacher herself has two adopted daughters that she sent to her local catholic school and has regretted it.
So, just to say, it is worth looking at the other schools close to you and looking more at the pastoral side of things.

[LocoParentis]

The local catholic school scores better on the pastoral side than the other schools. I know things change but when the time comes when we are making the school decision I don't want to look back and regret not having that option open to me.

[Moomoomie]

Sounds like you need to do your utmost to get them into the catholic school then. Pull every string you need to. Good luck.