Would you attend church to get a school place?

[Werehalfwaythere]

Sorry for the long content - feel free to just answer the title question!

We live in an area with the grammar school system, and as such, secondary schooling is a bit of a nightmare.

My child is only in Year 1 but I've also come to realise that where we live isn't particularly close to any grammar schools. We live in one of the 'priority parishes' for one school (this means we'd get a place over someone who doesn't live in the long list of parishes) but it's a train ride away and I'm not interested in that for my children as the town it's in isn't nice, especially after dark.

There's a comp on our doorstep that we'd get into. Known to be good in terms of experience but the academic performance is lacking and my child seems to be pretty academic from what we can tell so far so I'd like them to attend a school that offers them enough academic challenge.

Anyway, there's a comprehensive 4 miles away that gets great results, which is sadly rare in this area, given the grammar divide. The only issue is it's often way oversubscribed for this reason and also it's a church school, meaning they offer 50% of their places to church goers before the remaining places go to other kids based on address. This means we'd be unlikely to get in. (I've checked the policy and this is correct).

I'm not anti church. I'm atheist and always will be but have always liked the church community vibe, just not the Jesus stuff tbh. The communities close to us are all older people and generally very friendly and proactive with food banks, fundraising, playgroups etc. I'm friends with a few of them already through various community activities but have never considered joining the church.

To get into the good comprehensive, at least one adult in the family needs to be an active church member for at least 2 years. So if I join when my child is in year 2/3, I should be covered.

Is this amoral? I'm assuming there are other non-believers who attend church for other reasons (community etc)? Im aware this will involve attending services fortnightly as the admission criteria states.

Would you in this situation?

No.

No I wouldn’t

No I wouldn't. But lots of people do.

we also have a local church school with very good academics and it’s close.

We’re atheists too and the commitment of going regularly for 2 years is just too much! I’m sure people do it though.

Your child is 6 years away from secondary... A lot can change.

If there's nothing wrong with the doorstep school, then go there. If your kid is as bright as you say, they'll do well anywhere.

I know someone who did this in south west London. But it was a big commitment as just attending church every week wasn’t enough. To show you’re an ‘active’ member lots of volunteering etc. was expected. So it’s not something to take lightly. And that’s aside from the whole pretending to be religious when you’re not thing for years on end. How would you maintain this facade with your child and explain your involvement in the church and the fact they have to go too?

I mean if you are atheist, do you really want your child to go to a church school? the children will usually be required to attend prayers etc

If he’s exceptionally bright, he might get a bursary to a private school when he’s 11.

I'm a Christian. Anyone is welcome at our church, as often as they like, no matter their motivation.

It would be wrong to claim you believe when you don't. But as long as you're attending without not lying, go for it.

What would Jesus do?

No I wouldn’t.
If your child is bright as you as say they will do well in the local school. I’ve been to some schools with not so good academic reputations and kids will still leave with all level 9s at GCSE or a string of 7+

Unfortunately, I don't believe this to be the case. I've got various friends who are smart but flunked school due to going to less than ideal comprehensives.

You can't teach yourself, if the school don't offer the right material, the kids attainment suffers.

Yes, I would. Without question, I’d do anything to ensure my dc get the best educational experience possible

Love this!

The requirement is to attend, not believe.

The running costs from the school presumably come from the government, same as every other state school.

If the church attendance suits you, just do it.

I don’t think it’s any more immoral than everyone who will be heavily tutoring their kids to get them into the grammar.

This is what I was thinking. The schools aren't silly, I'm assuming they do this 1) to have a Christian ethos at school but 2) to encourage families back to the church.

We're a friendly, giving family and my child already goes to a CofE primary school, so I did think that the majority probably won't care if we believe in Jesus or not. As long as I participate and help the congregation and community where I can?

Hell yes!! Not much I wouldn’t do. It’s an hour a week.

I went to a church primary and I loved the hymns and parables. It didn't do me any harm, even though my family were and are atheist. I was taught to respect other people's beliefs, even if they're not my own.

Nope - and if I was in charge I would make it illegal for schools to discriminate in this way

I often think that Jesus wouldn't go to church as he would be so appalled by what The Church has done. He would get his follows to join CND or Extinct Rebellion etc

I wouldn't send my kids to a school that required me to attend church because I wouldn't want them to get the kind of education that people who required them to go to church would provide. I'm sure they're fine on physics and geography but pshe? No thanks. If you're an atheist, steeping your kids in a religious culture seems really weird to me.

They discriminate based on distance from house, why not this?!

When you get in charge, can you scrap grammar schools too?!

I hate the effect they have, but as I live in the area, we're bound by the ridiculousness it causes. Either you get into Grammar, or you're stuck with underperforming comprehensives. It's totally unfair.

I would. My eldest is in an excellent primary school and although when we moved we are still in 25 mins walking distance we are nowhere near in catchment for it now (in London so catchments are tiny). He will be in year 6 when it’s time to apply for DD’s place so we won’t get in with a sibling place. There is another excellent school which is a Church of England school in our area that we wouldn’t be in catchment for distance wise either, but 60% of places go to church families so we are debating whether to start going to church. It’s not too strict attendance-wise, the rules are twice a month for the two years preceding application.

The way I see it is we would be contributing financially to the church each time via the collection and bolstering their numbers so why not. We are a Christian country and everyone is entitled to attend church even if it is for reasons other than being godly.

(edited for spelling mistake)