To apply DC to a religious school although we aren't religious at all

Put not out

Put not out

Round here .... rural ... finding a non aligned school within sensible travel distance is very difficult indeed. Parents who have no religious beliefs are hard out to find a school

There is no reason to think that it is because of the religion. They just get extra funding from their diocese. Better that ALL state schools should be properly funded by the state with no strings attached.

To be fair, isolated incidents and at odds with the majority of wonderful people we met and worked with! A secular democracy with leaders voted on merit sounds great - I’ll vote for you!

ah yes, I can see how being Irish may bring out the prejudice. Hopefully not as much as in previous decades but yes, still there played for laughs and otherwise. Not sure most people in England/Wales would be able to tell if you were Protestant or Catholic and would have been happy to discriminate against both, so more about offensive national stereotyping than religion maybe but yes, prejudice against Catholics was (is?) very much part of the fabric in Ireland and I do see where you are coming from.

and yes, the Royal Family. Where do I start on that? The epitome of inequality. Fear not. Obviously I am getting rid of that shower when I bring in my secular state😉

How I'd feel if dc ends up embracing religion. Honestly - I'd hope that won't happen, but you never know.
I feel that if there is 5-10 kids there in similar position then indoctrination is less likely, and I'd feel better, I'll check the stats from previous years

If that's your attitude (and it's fair enough if that's how you feel, I'm not criticizing you), you shouldn't send your child to the Catholic school.

It’s certainly there - both my husband and I were told by NHS patients they didn’t want an Irish doctor (in less polite terms which referenced religion - not that I’m particularly religious ? !). Hilariously when I asked my colleague come in, they changed their mind sharpish - Exactly as you said, at least I was better than the non Christian in their minds. To be fair, isolated incidents and nothing compared to what my non white, non Christian colleagues would have experienced. In terms of the marriage part - I’m referencing the royal family! They check out who they marry and you must step out of line of succession in marrying a catholic (other religions are fine I think!)
I think as an Irish person I’m probably aware of how prohibiting access to education was used by the British in Ireland as a weapon so probably more sensitive to it than maybe is needed today - for all the massive wrongs perpetrated by the Catholic Church (and some were horrific), they offered the possibility of education to catholics.

My kids went to a catholic school. They are not catholic their father and that side of the family are. They will do gcse divinity and they will follow the catholic events. But no one is forced to become catholic, they will just come away with a good understanding of another religion which isn’t a bad thing imo. You do have to be careful about some of the views of teachers ie abortion there was def a bias when taught I felt, that it was wrong and I remember having to have more non biased conversation with my son about it.

I do think that catholic schools have high standards. I also think they are good for boys. My ex and my late husband all catholics and all of their friends were so respectful towards women.‘could be coincidence but it’s something I see also in my own son now too.

Yes, teachers are also impacted in their careers by having religious affiliation in schools. But I am laughing at s club 7… no one of any religion deserves to have that inflicted on them!

@Psychologymam So, in short I would agree with you that there is C of E privilege in this country but there is also religious privilege more generally to the detriment of access to education and social cohesion.

I'm an atheist working in a CofE school. I join in singing hymns because I enjoy singing, but just sit respectfully silent during prayers (and usually zone out a bit during collective worship). I have a few colleagues who are the same, and there is a Muslim child in my class who has clearly been told by her parents to be respectful but not participate in prayers. We don't have any pupils who are actively withdrawn from CW by their parents and they would just be sent to sit outside the hall/ classroom with a book if they were.

Re not being a Christian but working at a CofE school, I needed a job, this one sounded good and the pay was more than my last job...

I previously worked in 3 non-religious schools and assemblies were based on teaching good values like respect, being kind to others etc, or an 'Achievement assembly' every week where awards were given out or the teacher in charge talked about someone in the news who had achieved something worthwhile. God wasn't mentioned once and any songs sung were secular (S Club 7 Reach for The Stars was repeatedly sung).

OFSTED doesn't actually look at collective worship as part of their inspection framework so non-religious schools don't bother bringing Christianity into it especially when, like my previous schools, they have a very diverse intake in terms of religious and cultural backgrounds.

You don’t say if it’s primary or secondary. If it’s primary I would also check the admissions of the attached RC feeder high school. You might end up sending your child to a primary who won’t be able to get into the secondary school with their friends.

I have been on this thread from the start thank you! In England -and Wales I can’t identify with the anti-catholic sentiment that you mention at all. How would anyone even know who you were married to? NI is different. I can accept that there is a religious hierarchy in the Uk with those of no religion being at the bottom of the pile (no religion = no values in some peoples heads), Cof E at the top as it is intrinsically part of the state, other Christian faiths coming in next, then other religions coming in next. Re: no one complaining about Cof E schools - when a local high was taken over by a c of e academy, there were complaints a plenty.

The C of E schools near us requires a letter from a minister or religious leader to confirm you have attended for a period of time. Im pretty sure its 6 months for the primary and 2 years for the senior school. A lot of people start attending at the point they will need to, in order to apply.
The students have to attend the school chapel on a Sunday , for a certain number of weeks per term, I believe.

There are other highly regarded non religious schools in the town but I think the Christian one looks more fancy Is probably more popular

I’ve already said I would support all state schools being non religious - if you had read the full thread you’ll see I’ve already made the point that this type of outrage tends not to be towards COE schools but other types of religious schools - often catholic because people want them for their academic reputation. This is a country where marrying a catholic, let alone being one yourself eliminates you from some positions of power so let’s not pretend that all religions are equal. As for an Islamic school, I wouldn’t send my child there and ask them not to discuss Islam - that would be idiotic on my behalf.

In terms of choices, being the easiest option does not mean it’s the only option - I’ve referenced that already. Many people travel for schools for a variety of reasons.

well, quite apart from the fact that a state funded school should be accessible to all, 1. The parent/child shouldn’t have to travel further than necessary 2. By dint of the fact school a is closest, it suggests that there will be a whole bunch of people closer to school b so, assuming over subscription, OP would be behind them. Then consider this, school b may be another religious school, maybe another Catholic school, or Cof E, or a Jewish school, or maybe even (heavens to Betsy and let’s see how pleased Catholics supporting religious affiliation would be with this one) a Muslim school. And for the ‘non-believers’ who can’t comprehend being unable to readily access a school without religious affiliation, have a look here: www.mumsnet.com/talk/primary/3520241-Can-you-refuse-a-school-place-catchment-if-it-is-a-church-school

Usually it's mandatory and you may well need a letter from your local priest to say you all attend mass to even be considered. It's a faith school for Catholic Christians. I know people who did start going to church (CofE) to get their children into a very good faith school, they had to lie a lot to get their children in!

Ring the school up and ask what the entrance requirements are?

Our DCs went to a CoE primary school and they seemed to be in church every other week, and in between the vicar came to them. RC schools are probably the same.

As a PP said - have a think about why religion affiliated schools seem to do better. Kids from religious families aren’t born more intelligent, more caring etc.

Some schools do ignore the law, particularly at secondary. Some head teachers have advised parents of their right to withdraw their child.

Diluting them is a great idea!

“Daily worship that is 'Christian or broadly Christian in nature' is compulsory at all English schools unless the school has an official exemption. The ones that get exemptions are Jewish, Muslim, Hindu etc.”

The truly outrageous thing about this is that it means that there is literally no school in which you can be guaranteed a totally secular education - despite the fact that non religious people are the biggest percentage of the population!

That’s great that you do - I did say many people, not all! No problem with religion being taken out of schools at all - would be for the best. I just find it funny when people cross a city (literally!) to come to my kids school as it’s highly rated and then campaign to make changes to the religion side. Why not go to the school closest to you and campaign to make it better?

Daily worship that is 'Christian or broadly Christian in nature' is compulsory at all English schools unless the school has an official exemption. The ones that get exemptions are Jewish, Muslim, Hindu etc.

You do have a right to remove your children from this worship and from RE.

But if you are sending your child to a religious school the school can make it a condition of going to that school that your child attends the prayers and the RE lessons.

Do not underestimate how much religion can be put in to a school. Art - draw a picture of Mary and Joseph. English lets read a psalm. Geography this is where Jesus lived. History wasn't Mary I fantastic bringing the country back to Catholicism?

There are some schools that don't do that at all so you do need to ask questions.

Personally I don't like the idea of a depiction of roman torture on the wall in each classroom.

I do campaign .....
And I have the same objection of principle with all religious schools, not just catholic.
No state institution should be plugging one religion.