To go to church to broaden my childs choice of school

You won’t be the only one doing this.

but if you are doing it, do it right. Check the entry requirements carefully and see if you can find out what your priest thinks of the school- I know one family who got questioned by the priest as they had asked him to sign the form for a local Christian school that wasn’t dedicated catholic, he questioned why they weren’t applying for the catholic school in the next town.

if your priest stands at the door to shake hands at the end of the service you line up and shake his hand so he’s seen you each week. Don’t just walk past the queue because you’ve got stuff to do.

oh and visit the school if they have an open event, also the bad one- don’t just go off local reputation.

Well- plenty of people do this. Plenty of people play catchment monopoly to get into good schools. Some people pay for private school yet are crucified for it on MN.

I think most parents do the best they can- whatever that looks like to them.

@x2boys and son - well
Done you both - you broke free 🤣

The irony is the schools don't mind you doing this, because it means you are an involved, supportive parent and that makes their job easier.

You wouldn’t be the first person to do this.

My kids went to supposed religious schools 1 to Catholic 1 to C of E they both learned more about non Christian religions than the own school faith. Catholic school you had to go to Sunday school to learn about Catholic religion for holy communion etc. Do what you feel is best for your kid.

@x2boys "The god squad is usually far less tedious to deal with than the social services and psychologists that will result from having to send your child to a rough school"

Because obviously that's a foregone conclusion.......🤔

You might need a baptism and they are hard to get unless you are a church-goer. Catholic schools are in demand and that is a requirement for the primary that feeds the Catholic secondary.

I know a couple who got their kids baptised Catholic & took them to church for years so they could get them into the local high-performing Catholic secondary school - only to find, when their eldest started there, that it had really gone downhill. They moved him after a term.

I haven’t asked if they still go to church.

Exactly and despite people saying ,it's hypocritical, nobody is going to be sending their child to a rough school on principle.

I wouldn't but then I wouldn't want my Child to go to a faith based school. But you should do what feels right for you

I went to me where church going was a criteria. Of course many parents dropped the mask when their child had a place.

It depends on the school my son went to a Catholic school, s he's baptised ,but they didn't require regular church attendance
The outstanding C/E nearby secondary school did ,it was Common for parents to find " religion " from year
4/5 untill their child's place had been confirmed IME.

It’s dishonest but you’re not the only person who has or will do this.

If you are not religious, how come he was baptised Catholic? When you baptised him you would have committed to him being brought up in line with Catholic beliefs and teachings? Is it your partner who is Catholic and wanted this, if so, they should be the one to take them to church?

Have you visited these schools or are you going by their Ofsted results? I would definitely visit, there is no best school, just the best school for your child. My oldest (now 8) started at an outstanding Catholic school, after 4 months we moved her to a state school as the school was borderline abusive in the way it treated very young children, very harsh, questionable discipline methods. Thats not to say all faith schools are like this, of course they aren't, but you need to do your own research. Unfortunately due to covid we couldnt look round primary's so had to go off ofsted when selecting a school, and then found it completely unreliable. Her current school is rated Good, and is absolutely amazing.

are limited , sorry

Yes, if the school options in your area are, start going to church.

The god squad is usually far less tedious to deal with than the social services and psychologists that will result from having to send your child to a rough school.

I don’t think you’re unreasonable at all. There shouldn’t be state funded schools that can select pupils by religion. You need to look at their specific requirements and how they fill places.

I think it's outrageous on many levels. And possibly useless for your purposes because many schools require infant baptism so be sure to check.

But I don't know why you're asking.

They dont tend to do a very good job of indoctrination, I went Catholic school ,s I'm a very lapsed Catholic, my son went to Catholic schools he left last year he's an atheist.

It's absolute bullshit that our state schools have anything to do with religion. We all pay taxes then our children suffer if we don't believe in an imaginary being.
Do whatever you need to.

YANBU to do this. This is how the system has been set up. You are simply playing by the rules. I don't agree with this type of system, but that's a different matter.