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Original poster

Bishop Gilpin parents - And you call yourselves Christians?? (MERTON SCHOOLS)

320 replies

NutellaWithEverything · 15/05/2011 21:42

Name changed because I need to rant about my DS not having been offered a school place and don't want to be outed. I am in Wimbledon and my nearest school in Bishop Gilpin. My DS has not been accepted to start in Reception this September coming even though it takes us three minutes to get there. Yet, they take in children from the other side of Wimbledon even though they have to drive through town to get there. And why?? Because they go to the right churches. So last November there was a request from the Council to add another Reception class but parents voted against other children from their own community benefiting from attending a good school. They felt it would be in the detriment of their school's community feel!!!!! AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO THINKS THIS IS SELFISH, SHORT-SIGHTED, UN-GODLY AND JUST PLAIN WRONG?????????????????

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 15/05/2011 22:02

But your values do differ from theirs. You don't go to church.

wook · 15/05/2011 22:02

Sympathise OP but the problem is with faith schools in the first place- what on earth has religion got to do with education? Isn't that what families, churches and Sunday schools are for? Why on earth should the state pay for faith schools, and local people's taxes pay for local schools which then block their doors to them? Lunacy.
As for expecting all Christians to behave in a Christian way- Hmm

kartell · 15/05/2011 22:02

If your child had got in I can imagine you'd have been voting with the "no" crowd... ninety kids in a year is huge. Given the choice between that and sixty, I'd prefer the smaller school and wouldn't criticise a parent who preferred it too. And aren't there only something like 20 foundation places a year- ie most are not proven practising Christians? Maybe that's the problem Wink

PiazzaDellaRotonda · 15/05/2011 22:02

I agree with Harry - just exactly what kind of a monumental moron would you have to be to NOT know that?

teaforone · 15/05/2011 22:03

It wont be payed for with tax funds otherwise it would follow the normal goverment rules which you just said it did nt it will be privite

troisgarcons · 15/05/2011 22:04

Faith schools have to accept a quota of non-faith pupils (12% I think).

fact is - people 'like' faith schools because they perceive them to be a of a superior educational standard and have discipline..If that is your mantra - then I'm afraid to assure your place in heaven, get on your knees and bloody pray every day and you might get a place ...either there or at a school you pretend you have the same values as. Fact is you are a pseudo christian who doesnt givve a shit about god. worship, church, community but just want to latch on to a school you perceive to be better than the one you were offered.

Original poster
NutellaWithEverything · 15/05/2011 22:05

Ninety kids in a year is huge it might be, but what happens to all the local children without places? Classes will still remain no more than 30 children.

OP posts:
AmIAPayne · 15/05/2011 22:05

Were you unaware of the criteria for admission NutellaWE? Because if you were, then you realise that unless you meet the admission criteria then you have little chance of getting into the school.

Are your other choice schools okay/acceptable for your DS? Are you going to appeal?

I think it is unfair that although your taxes are going towards the school you are discriminated against due to your beliefs.

But that is the basis of faith schools.

Original poster
NutellaWithEverything · 15/05/2011 22:06

troisgarcons my DS has NOT been offered a school at all

OP posts:
CristinaTheAstonishing · 15/05/2011 22:06

About half the places there are community places. I don't know the minutiae of why they didn't want another class. I guess it's because they don't have the space anymore. Didn't they sell part of the playing fields a few years back? Also, the new build (again, going back a few years) didn't get a disabled ramp access. I'd have thought it would be a requirement to provide access, obviously they didn't quite find the right architects etc. I think faith is pretty low key, any child would have fitted in fine. Are you on the waiting list?

AmIAPayne · 15/05/2011 22:06

Hmm, first paragraph not well worded...apologiesBlush

teaforone · 15/05/2011 22:06

They will offer you a school

mypersonalfavourite · 15/05/2011 22:08

Hahaha at the idea that the children who got places over yours belonging to committed Christians. They're clearly much more on the ball than you about pretending to be. OP YANBU, I know the area and schools very well and three minutes away is far too far to get a place.

I also think it's unlikely they come from that far away either. You need to be practically on the doorstep and have been attending St Mary's AND running Sunday school etc. to get a place.

To be fair to the school, its grounds are already overcrowded and adding an extra classroom would not have been easy. And surely if you live three minutes walk away you can afford any school you like, many times over :). (Joke, before I get flammed for that).

If they added a bulge year this year, the resulting sibling priority places would have pushed out more local children in coming years and that's not fair either.

Good luck with finding a school place. Nearly everyone I know from baby groups has left the area for this very reason.

Original poster
NutellaWithEverything · 15/05/2011 22:08

AmIAPayne I understood, it's okay, I applied for a non-faith place because I'm so near. I am in the waiting list for this one and another 3 schools.

OP posts:
blackeyeddog · 15/05/2011 22:10

Yanbu Op. This system is idiotic. Apart from the fact it's a local state school paid for out of your taxes, your dc most probably haven't decided what faith they wish to follow themselves.

My dc attend a non denom and are still taught that god created the world. Is all nonsense.

Vornado · 15/05/2011 22:10

The council is rubbish - that's the problem.

Take your complaint to your councillor - try to make them pull their finger out. (could be difficult, though)

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 15/05/2011 22:10

Faith schools do not have to have a fixed quota of pupils not of the faith. They set their own admissions criteria, within the provisions of the school admissions code, and decide whether the faith adherence criteria will apply to all places or only to some. A third of the places at our nearest C of E school are community places, to which the church attendance criteria doesn't apply (and last year about half of the places were filled on this basis).

PiazzaDellaRotonda · 15/05/2011 22:10

Ok - I am still having trouble with you questioning the faith of the school operators because your DC didn't get in. Do you really think that because of that they are not Christian? Because if you do then I'm not sure you're ready to be out and about in the big wide world tbh.

kartell · 15/05/2011 22:11

It's tough. I don't know anyone who voted but I think people feel it is pretty squashed in there as it is. It does seem odd that you are so close and did not get in. I think there are an awful lot of siblings as well locally in that school year for some reason which as well as 50% to church attenders must make it really tough. :(

SpringchickenGoldBrass · 15/05/2011 22:11

Faith schools, if state-funded, are obliged to accept a percentage of neighbourhood children whose parents are not interested in superstition or ideed subsribe to a different mythology brand. I would have been able to get my DS into our local faith school despite being a militant atheist (two sets of atheist neighbours got their DC places there despite being open about their lack of superstition.) However, I don't like faith schools so looked for a rational school for DS and though we unfortunately do have to contend with a certain amount of crap peddling (as do all UK schools) it's minimal.
State-funded faith schools are a bit of a disgrace, really - some of them are shit schools anyway, and the ones that are 'good' schools get their status because they devise a series of hoops for pushy middle-class parents to jump through ensuring that they don't actually have to accept any disruptive kids or poor ones.

kartell · 15/05/2011 22:12

Vornado is right - merton is an appalling council. If we were in wandsworth it would never happen!
Did you try Wimbledon Park? They took the extra class, is that right? with preference to Merton children?

Northernlurker · 15/05/2011 22:12

'Because my values really do not differ AT ALL from those of Christians, that's the culture I know and live in. I just don't attend church ' - so in fcat your values do differ in one crucial aspect from Christians. It's a faith school. You don't practice that faith therefore you dont get to go ahead of those who do. Deal with it.

Being a Christian doesn't mean you have to be a mug and let the ungodly walk all over you.

PiazzaDellaRotonda · 15/05/2011 22:12

Schools not wanting to admit disruptive children? Now there's an idea whose time has come.

teaforone · 15/05/2011 22:16

Schools not wanting to admit disruptive children?

I really hope thats not trying to state that non christain children well should i say parents are all disruptive??
If it is you are well out of order there

bumpsoon · 15/05/2011 22:16

You were naive to believe that going to church makes you a 'christian' . Some of the most obnoxious , selfish , bigotted, mean spirited and downright nasty people i know of are regular church goers .