To send my children to Catholic school when we're not?

[JohnCusacksWife]

We are not religious and our DDs currently go to the local non-denominational primary school. Our village is in the catchment area for 2 secondary schools - a not very good non-denominational school in the neighbouring local authority and a very good RC school in our own local authority area. There is also a good non-denominational school in our area but we're not in the catchment for that and would have to make a placing request, which would probably be granted, but that would mean we'd have to make our own travel arrangements.

In the next year we'll have to decide which school our girls will go to and I'm leaning towards the RC school although they would obv not participate in any masses etc. Would IBU to send my girls to a school which happens to be RC just because its the best when (a) we don't believe and (b) I have a general problem with educating different religions separately?

Just to be clear we wouldn't be bending any rules if we chose that school....as it's in our catchment area it's technically open to all children in the area.

[lilyaldrin]

Why is it selfish to want to send your children to a state school that you pay your taxes for?

[Caitlin17]

Yes , how is the OP being selfish given the state catchment school in her local authority area is a religious school? It's not the OP whose being selfish.

[Caitlin17]

Lily couldn't agree more. Why shouldn't OP want to use the best state school in her catchment area?

[Financeprincess]

There are two other schools she could send her kids to. Read the original post.

She discounts the first non-denominational school, in her catchment area, because she thinks it's "not very good".

She discounts the second, good, non-denominational school, which she admits that she'd probably get her kids into, because she'd "have to make her own travel arrangements".

Instead, she plans to send the kids to a catholic school when she doesn't like faith schools, doesn't believe in God and doesn't want her kids participating in catholic activities, because she disapproves of them. But clearly not enough to warrant making special travel arrangements in order to get to a school that would suit her children better.

[x2boys]

you don't really have an option of opting out of religious stuff with it being catholic you may not be catholic but they are and wether you beleive in their beleifs or not they will be taught religion from a catholic point of view i even had to do religious education gcse from a catholic pespective

[lilyaldrin]

Still don't see any issue with choosing a good school that is convenient to get to. It isn't the OP's fault that it has a Catholic ethos.

[Caitlin17]

Lily there are 2 state schools in her catchment area. The other one would need commuting 2.

Let's suppose her next door neighbour is RC. She has the choice of both. What entitles the next door neighbour to have a better provision? What is fair about that?

[StanleyLambchop]

I don't know if all RC schools are the same, but ours is largely funded by the diocese, as in they own the land and paid for the buildings, and subsequent extensions. The school gets grants from them too. The tax-payer funded bit comes from the pupil premium which is paid to the school for every pupil who attends. However, every child gets a pupil premium paid for them, whether they are RC children or not, so they are only receiving the same amount of government funding they would receive if they did not go to an RC school. The parents of the pupils at faith schools are tax payers too, so their taxes are funding all other school children too, so it is not as if every non- RC tax payer is funding an RC school but not getting anything paid for them in return.

Our LA sees this set up as good value- it could not afford or even find any suitable land for schools, so if the diocese are willing to provide all of that and take on the education of significant numbers of children each year, then why would they complain? if all faith schools were closed down it would cause a massive increase in demand on all the other local non-faith schools.

So given that the school is probably heavily funded by a church which you don't believe in, YABU to then take up places when that could well be denying places to those who do genuinely believe.

[Caitlin17]

Lily sorry my reply was to Financeprincess

[Caitlin17]

Stanley actually my taxes are funding RC schools which my son would not have been able to attend. I don't object in the slightest to my taxes funding state schools which would have been available to him had we used the state system.

The non hypocritical route would be for those who want this to go fully private.

[JohnCusacksWife]

Financeprincess, you are correct that we have another potential option. There is a good non-denom school which is a possibility although we would have to make a placing request for that. It is some distance away, no public transport and so we would have to find some Ay do getting our DDs there which would not be straightforward. Also whilst the older one would prob get in there is currently a v large number of houses being built in the catchment area for that school so there is every chance that the school will be full by the time DD2 is 12 and so she wouldne get in.

The non-denom school in our catchment really is "not very good"....1/4 of the number of pupils there get 5 Highers or more compared to the RC school. Which would you choose for your children??

Also still don't see why I'm being selfish? There are spaces in the school, if my children go there they are not depriving anyone more "deserving" of anything.

[JohnCusacksWife]

Precious, that would be their choice entirely.

[JohnCusacksWife]

The school is NOT funded by the church. It is a state school and is funded 100% from public funds, including my council tax, just like the non-denom schools.

[Lillily]

I was brought up catholic , went to catholic school, but am a firm atheist now.
I send my children to the local catholic school because is is a good school, I would rather it was not catholic.
It is increadibly unchristian to run a school just for your own kind, I find this hypocritical , I have no problem sending my children to the school, it happens to be the only local mixed school and I have a stronger belief in mixing sexes if I have to chose between discrimination on gender or faith.
My children know I don't believe, we discussed hiw we have to pretend because it is just the way the system works. They are good at RE, but know it's not true.
I cannot think of any of their friends who still go to church now they are 13&15.
In each area there are different , often nonsensical hoops to jump. You just have to pick the best school for your child.

[JohnCusacksWife]

For the avoidance of doubt this is a bog standard 100% state funded school and as we are in the catchment area we are entitled to attend with no requirement to be baptised, catholic or anything at all.

[StanleyLambchop]

Stanley actually my taxes are funding RC schools which my son would not have been able to attend.

But my taxes are also funding schools which my children can't attend- because they are over -subscribed, for example, or because they are out of catchment. Why is that fair? It isn't, but clearly not everyone can go to the school they want, and there has to be admissions criteria for schools to allocate places in the event of over-subscription. Why is catchment any better a reason than faith? Especially if the church are willing to put money into the school, therefore saving the LA from doing so?

[Caitlin17]

Stanley seriously- you ask why is living in the area a better criteria than faith? Why should faith be any criteria for preferential selection at a state school.

[x2boys]

yes diocese provide at least 25%of funding fo school which is why they are allowed to priortise baptised catholics

[Caitlin17]

If they provide 25% then no more than 25% of places should be reserved. In any case OP has said the school she is 100% state funded.

[Fancyashandy]

Catholic schools are supposed to be open to all to apply, though might favour Catholics who apply of course. If you are ok with the religious element - go for it if you feel it is the better option and a good school. It's a state school. I went to a catholic high school and don't really remember it being all that catholic or religious. Primary tends to be much more so due to first confession, communion etc (and little ones are more gullible).

[Nataleejah]

It is not unreasonable to choose the best available option for your children's education, however, you should accept the whole package -- there will be certain traditions, certain morals, certain beliefs taught and you shouldn't be moaning about that.