Would you start attending church to get your child into a C of E secondary?

I didn’t want to fake religion but I never would say to dc that religion is mumbo jumbo either. That’s very disrespectful and a sad reflection of the uk today - intolerant. I don’t like faith schools selecting on religion and I don’t like duplicity but do I think we should accept others have different views about religion. Telling dc that religion is, in effect, a cult, diminishes the great religions of the world. We can strive to understand religion without believing it or trashing it.

Most religious schools will have a more overtly religious daily act of worship and have a religious ethos which is noticeable in newsletters and what the school does in its daily routines. The RE syllabus must follow the agreed syllabus for the area and that’s agreed by numerous religious leaders or advisers from a variety of faiths. I personally think it’s a fair reflection of society and promotes knowledge of other beliefs. None of that is a bad thing.

I do not mention only one nich example (which should still make you think about the whole system, by the way).
I mention a Sutton Trust report which looks at the issue nationwide. See link above.

A humble suggestion for the future: it might be a good idea to read before replying. Just my 2 cents. Then you do you.

You mention one niche example in London.
in my town the religious schools really are no different to the non religious schools exactly the same amount of kids with free school meals. Absolutely nothing to do with money.

@Kanyekardashian ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...

No, faith schools are not better because the families are religious.

Have you drunk the kool aid so much that you truly genuinely believe that nonsense? Really?

Faith schools are more socially selective. There is plenty of research, eg from the Sutton Trust and Humanists UK, to back this up.

Take the London Oratory: those hypocritical bastards had an admission policy that prioritised people who contributed (financially) to the church. It took a legal battle, but they were defeated and that policy was ruled unfair, discriminatory and illegal.
Even so, it remains one of the schools with the lowest % of kids on free school meals, certainly much much lower than in the area.
Let the children come to me. But only the rich ones, the plebs can ##@@ off.

But presumably someone who is so morally bankrupt that they welcome services funded by everyone's taxes discriminating based on faith would have no objection against that system, either.

https://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2024/01/faith-schools-most-socially-selective-report-finds

And it also gives the children more of a chance to make their own mind up going to a non religious school (probably what that poster has a problem with) rather than having religion pushed on them as fact at home and school.

People do this and then bitch and moan that the school “spends too much time teaching bible basher nonsense” “the school feels like a cult” etc and try and change the school

newsflash these schools are good because the majority of kids come from old school religious families so there’s less behaviour issues and more time can be spent teaching. You can tell the kids who are only there because their parents wanted a good school

And why do you think that your child deserves a better chance than others? If they don’t get in they can go to another school surely? You can teach them the religious stuff at home.

When I was in school, this was pretty much what everyone would do, I think now in present times it’s more unheard of as they seem to be taking religion out of school branding, but like I say everyone used to do it

How dare you reply to fearmongering with facts and evidence? This is Brexit Britain, we don't do that here. We all know that those bloody immigrants are the root of all our problems... /s

@RedLeggedPartridge Agreed. I think it’s good if children of atheists attend church schools - they can hear the other point of view and make their own decisions about whether or not they believe.

Can you please elaborate?

You seem to be implying that children of atheists who attend non-faith schools do not hear "the other point of view". That is patently false.

Religious education is taught in all schools; in all schools children learn about the various religions and their differences.

Maybe the difference is that in certain faith schools children are more likely to be told that one specific religion (out of the thousands in existence) is the true one. But that is not exactly "hearing the other point of view".

So can you please explain what you meant?

There's 40 something Jewish ones, a couple of Sikh ones, and 3 "other" (I'm guessing possibly Hindu? Or maybe something else)
Hardly Islam taking over the uks school system 😅

No, because I think the teachings of the church are not benign like most people seem to think.

i would however move and completely uproot my life to find my child a better school.

Agreed. I think it’s good if children of atheists attend church schools - they can hear the other point of view and make their own decisions about whether or not they believe.

In the same vein, I hope that your child will benefit from having a more balanced intake at their school. It will help them learn to understand different viewpoints.

I do attend church, am active in my church and it bothers me people do this which jeopardises my DD getting a spot.

On the other hand, I welcome people coming to church and hope that the Lord works on them.

If it was the best school then I’d consider it
not sure morally how okay that is

Absolutely- I would do anything to help my kids get a good education. The system is wrong. However I would say 75% of attendees at this church are only there to get the kids into the school. Once they are in they won’t be seen again.

Many CE schools don't require baptism. My local primary didn't. The vicar of the attached church (who was a governor at the school) was happy to have atheists at his services but didn't want them baptising their child to secure a place at the school - that would involve lying.

Look up the admission policy of the school in question. The admission policy of many Christian schools require baptism + church attendance.

Yes this. There are lots of Muslim girls at my daughter's Catholic school. Other religions trump no religion in most faith schools. In my opinion most religions share the same basic ideals and beliefs.

Why not? It's a good opportunity to explain to them that the school admissions system is just the product of history and wouldn't be set up this way if it was designed from scratch.

As we're talking about secondary schools, the child in question presumably gets some say in the matter and is motivated to attend.

Back in 1991, I chose an RC secondary school, even though I wasn't a Catholic. It was a formative experience and helped me to develop my critical thinking skills.

And also, the world isn’t such a black and white straightforward place as you seem to think. What happens if somebody asks your kids if they like their new hair and they don’t? Do you teach then to be brutally honest at all times, no matter how much they might hurt the other person? Or do you teach rhem to balance honesty with empathy and consideration for others?

What about people at work who hate their job, but have to perform passion for it and act as if they love it and are enthusiastic about the company? Should they be brutally honest and go around with a long face, complaining about how soul-destroying it is to be a corporate drone? What would you advise your kids about that?

Great that you had another choice, but not everybody does, and you sound pretty judgemental of other parents who don’t have your options.

Yes. If private wasn’t an option then I wouldn’t hesitate.