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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be sick of people slating Faith schools

999 replies

Jenga123 · 30/01/2016 15:09

Don't get me wrong I understand why some people may be against them but the negativity I've come across recently is, quite frankly ridiculous. I've been told by friends of friends, family etc that they pay for my dd's to attend their catholic primary and secondary schools and that tax payers that are paying towards these schools should not have to do so if their children can't attend these schools. Well let me just say the average amount of income tax each individual pays, that actually goes towards the upkeep of schools is minuscule, so they aren't in fact paying for them. Myself and the other parents of my dd's schools pay a considerable sum each year to the upkeep of the school and the school contributes 10% towards the costs of running their school and repairs etc.

I also come across animosity at the fact my children are getting a good education and people putting that down to them simply being baptised. But my point is if they feel that their own children are missing out by going to a less desirable school then I'm sure they could have them baptised therefor giving them a higher chance of securing a place at a faith school, and whilst I'm not advocating people pretending to be of the faith, I'm simply saying there are options.

As for my dd's schools like I said they are Catholic and are obviously places were parents of the same faith opt to send their children as they want them to be educated within that faith, and I can't see any problem with this to be honest so why am I hearing nothing but negativity from people?

OP posts:
Highsteaks · 30/01/2016 16:00

That should say, we rather unexpectedly moved!

Jenga123 · 30/01/2016 16:00

Crikey you make out as though they're being brainwashed, and this isn't the case.

OP posts:
MySordidCakeSecret · 30/01/2016 16:01

religion should be kept totally seperate from children's education.

PosieReturningParker · 30/01/2016 16:01

No flames Highsteaks, when it comes to my kids I find my principles take a back seat to ensure the best for them. (reasonably)

Why shouldn't you send them to the best school?

The point is that others can't, that's not your fault.

FrasierCranium · 30/01/2016 16:01

I'm all for people doing exactly what they need to do to get their kids the best education they can.

I'm against the fact that faith schools exist at all. A completely outdated, divisive and discriminatory notion.

Oakmaiden · 30/01/2016 16:02

So you wanted to send your child to the nearest "good" school? The fact it was a faith school was not important to you - you would have contentedly have sent to your other non-faith (but not as good) choices if necessary?

Why should the same choice of school not be available to your non-faithful next door neighbour?

IloveAntbuthateDec · 30/01/2016 16:02

Jenga I agree. My children go to a faith school. They are amongst children whose backgrounds are Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Jewish and of no particular faith etc. It makes no difference which school I chose to send them to the taxpayer would have to fund their education regardless of which school they attend. Some people choose faith schools, some wouldn't touch faith schools with a barge pole. That's all about personal choice. Every school teaches RE. Faith schools are no exception. The only difference being children who attend faith schools have to take RE for GCSE exam.

PosieReturningParker · 30/01/2016 16:02

My atheist children went to a Catholic primary, it was a fluke of moving dates and so on. It was mid year, any other time they wouldn't have got it.

It was brainwashing, my 7 year old did 2.5 hours of unquestioning RE "we believe" bulllshit every week.

Oakmaiden · 30/01/2016 16:03

Thing is though faith schools are funded by the church.

When I inquired about this I was told that 10% of the maintenance of the school buildings was paid by the church. Which is a tiny proportion of the cost of running a school.

PosieReturningParker · 30/01/2016 16:04

It's funny how you Catholics are missing the point.

The fact is those who are not religious do not have the same choices, it's not about them wanting a faith education as clearly they don't.... it's about them not being able to select the nearest or the best school because they don't have a faith.,

Griphook · 30/01/2016 16:04

Would it be acceptable for the local state primary to say only non religious children can't attend here.

No... Would that be not be ok, would you like to have less choice over the non believers?

I think faith school should be unable to receive any money from the government, if part of their policy of admission is any different from the rest of primary school.

HermioneWeasley · 30/01/2016 16:04

Yes oak for a tiny contribution to costs, the church gets to set the intake criteria and what flavour of superstition is taught. It's a national fucking disgrace.

PosieReturningParker · 30/01/2016 16:05

The difference is that RE is a study of religion and RE in a faith school is more like worship with an unquestioning belief.

More like Jesus said, rather than Christians believe Jesus said.

SunsetGirl · 30/01/2016 16:06

But all the Catholic schools in my city are very close to 100% Catholic some non-Catholics in older year groups where a place has come up or before there was so much pressure on school places.

My DD wanted to know why she wasn't going to the same school as some of her friends from nursery - "Because we're not Catholic, dear."

SwedishEdith · 30/01/2016 16:06

If Catholic schools have kids with all kinds of beliefs (well, with parents with all kinds of beliefs) and taxpayers fund them anyway then, really, what is the point of them?

Religion has absolutely no place in school - it's a private matter between parents and their kids.

And I went to one.

BertrandRussell · 30/01/2016 16:07

Jenga- why do you think you should have a choice of more schools an people who do not have faith?

HermioneWeasley · 30/01/2016 16:07

RE is a study of world religions which explains their beliefs and rituals. It's a waste of a GCSE IMO, but at least it is fact based.

Teaching bible stories as fact is indoctrination and has NO place in any modern education.

PosieReturningParker · 30/01/2016 16:07

What if buses were to operate with the same rules... you queue like this

  1. Catholics in the diocese,
  2. any other local christians.
  3. Catholics out of diocese
  4. Christians out of diocese
  5. Disabled children or those in care
  6. Anyone else, although to be fair the bus is likely to be full.
Jenga123 · 30/01/2016 16:07

When I said that they are better i just meant that a lot of them, granted not all, have better reputations, results, ofsted reports than some community schools, and to be fair that is certainly the case in our area. As a Catholic parent those things weren't the only factors in me choosing to send my kids to their schools, I also wanted them to be educated more in the faith they were being raised in, and whilst yes they do get that from me and from attending church I simply thought it would be beneficial for them to continue their education in a nice, friendly and caring school.

OP posts:
JugglingFromHereToThere · 30/01/2016 16:07

My DC go to a local faith school.
We were fortunate to find out what the admission requirements were and fortunate to be able to meet them.
I have to say I'm glad they are there.
I would defend our choice of behaviour given the situation, but I don't feel the need to justify the system.

We have, somewhat separate from all this, brought them up within a local faith community which we have all valued - one that was compatible with, but not the same as, other requirements relating to school admissions.

I guess historically the church was involved in setting up schools but whether that fully justifies their continued existence and admission policies in the 21st century I'm not so sure

PosieReturningParker · 30/01/2016 16:08

Then Jenga you should pay for that privilege. Although how fragile is your faith that it needs to be force fed all day as well as at home?

Abraid2 · 30/01/2016 16:11

poster GingerNutRiskIt Sat 30-Jan-16 15:35:23
The only think I would slate about faith schools is that they teach that the world is 6000 years old.

Rubbish. Very few of them do.

Even my Catholic convent 40 years ago didn't do that.

PosieReturningParker · 30/01/2016 16:12

The Catholic school sent home worksheets that said God made the fish... not evolution.

Scabz · 30/01/2016 16:12

If a business only employed people who were a particular religion they would get into trouble due to something on the discrimination act. I really don't understand how schools can stil select by religion. And I believe that you have to practise that religion to become a headteacher at a faith school (but I could be wrong). Why is that not discrimination?

LentilStew · 30/01/2016 16:12

It's funny how you Catholics are missing the point.

Posie, it's funny how you are completely ignoring the Catholic on the thread who has posted 4 or 5 times saying exactly the same as you.

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