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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be annoyed with friend's smugness

119 replies

ratherstuck · 24/07/2019 22:21

We've recently moved away from an area where there was only one school with a good reputation, it is also a catholic school. We are not catholic and didn't think we could ever get in to the school so we moved to another area where there are more school choices. My friend started to panic that they are not in a position to move so their dc will have to go to one of the less sought after schools.
Moving away was a decision that was right for our family, there were other reasons why it made sense. I started to feel like my friend resented me for moving, my DC got in to a lovely school and she often grilled me over what the school is like, felt like she was trying to pick holes. She started being a bit rude about the area we moved to as well. She was so worried, she placed her dc in to the nursery attached to the catholic school and got a c of e vicar to write them a letter to say they attended church. They don't, and they are not religious. Their DC came home from nursery clearly having been influence by the ethos and she made fun of it. This annoyed me as they want to send their dc to a religious school but does not follow the faith!
Anyway, the news is that they actually got in! I was happy for them as it is a nice school. But now she is being really smug because she thinks we moved away for nothing. We were clear that schools were only part of the reason. She is making comments along the lines of them still living in a nicer area with a sought after school, whereas we've gone to the effort of moving away and now live in a "less nice area".
I know this all sounds silly now seeing it all written down. But I might snap and point out that they lied to get in to their school!

OP posts:
NewSchoolNewName · 25/07/2019 12:39

I’d ignore her comments about the school as much as possible. Keep reiterating that you’re happy with your DC’s school and your new house and then change the subject.

Although she may have got in because of her lies about being CoE. It would make a difference at our local Catholic primary. That’s one where you’d have to check what category the last child admitted that year fell into to be sure.

Our local Catholic school has a huge long list of categories. It basically prioritises all Catholic children first, then children from other recognised Christian denominations (including CoE), then children from other recognised faiths (including Muslims, Jews, Hindus), then children of no faith. They’ve got no guaranteed spaces at all for non-Catholic children.

So at that school a child who qualifies as CoE wouldn’t be in the top set of criteria but would be offered a space before children from non-Christian families.

floribunda18 · 25/07/2019 13:09

She doesn't sound very nice, but the more people game the system to get over ridiculous faith school admission policies, the better, as far as I'm concerned.

RedHelenB · 25/07/2019 13:42

Tbh I think you are both as bad as each other and maybe you are feeling a bit resentful that shes stayed put and got a "good" school.

Where I live there is no angst about schools as there is on mumsnet and all the one upmanship. And the kids that were prepared to work have all done well regardless.

3luckystars · 25/07/2019 19:20

Everyone is welcome at the Catholic schools near me. Are you sure it is not the case with this school, did you ask before you moved?

Anyway she does sound like a pain, it also sounds so boring just talking about schools so much! I'd suggest you talk about other things or dump her. Good luck.

Mrspenfold123 · 26/07/2019 18:15

It’s all ridiculously petty, isn’t it?
Can’t you just be happy for her that she got what she wanted?

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 26/07/2019 18:16

Your friend is a dick.

GrabbyGertie · 26/07/2019 18:17

This annoyed me as they want to send their dc to a religious school but does not follow the faith!

That’s incorrect though. I bet she would have preferred to send their DC to a ‘good’ non-religious school but as she didn’t have that choice she had to make do with sending her DC to a religious school.

TriciaH87 · 26/07/2019 18:17

My son went to a c of e infants. We don't attend church. The school also takes in children of other faiths. It's not like it used to be. They may be influenced by the church but ultimately they take any child.

Toomuchtrouble4me · 26/07/2019 18:25

Erm...Sounds like she’s right? Are you sure it’s not just you hearing what you are already thinking? There’s bad feeling in the friendship so I’d back off but I’m not convinced it’s all on her part - you sound pretty bitter and jealous too tbh

Toomuchtrouble4me · 26/07/2019 18:27

TriciaH87

My son went to a c of e infants. We don't attend church. The school also takes in children of other faiths. It's not like it used to be. They may be influenced by the church but ultimately they take any child.

That’s not usually true, if it’s a popular oversubscribed school then first criteria is children in care, then siblings, church, other religions, then others. Most popular schools don’t go beyond church as they are full by third criteria.

maddiemookins16mum · 26/07/2019 18:33

With the terrible reputation the Catholic church has I’d also be tempted to drop that into the conversation.

Soontobe60 · 26/07/2019 18:51

She hasn't got the vicar to write a letter that is untrue. Getting into a faith school usually means months of attending church, signing an attendance register and s attendance being confirmed. So she's clearly lying about that.

Vixenvibes · 26/07/2019 18:51

Are you both from Surrey Grin?

LonelyTiredandLow · 26/07/2019 18:58

We are in Kent so realistically if dd doesn't pass her Kent Test we have to also be Catholic to get into either of the 2 'decent' schools. However a friend of mine has told me that as her 2 were on free school meals and only failed the Kent Test by 1 and 2 points respectively, when they looked around the school the head came up to her to say how he had appreciated the questions and kindness shown by her eldest and that he had no qualms about giving her a place. She had the same response 2 years later for her youngest. I think it seems to be (not quite there yet with the technicalities and not everywhere has a grammar stream so happy to stand corrected) that if you are not Catholic/ religion of choice you are on a 'waiting list' for want of a better term. If your child (who may have only missed out from the test by 1 point) spends the open day being a prat who belittles others and is a massive know it all/not a team player/generally annoying then they will be overlooked for the high achieving and better behaved children. It's meant to be a community after all.

Catsandchardonnay · 26/07/2019 19:01

Why are you friends with her? I hate people that try to do you down like this. Ditch her and don’t look back.

Nothingmuch · 26/07/2019 19:17

Report her for getting into the school by deceptive means.

FelicisNox · 26/07/2019 20:32

I agree with everyone else: she's jealous, childish, possibly lying and is a waste of your time.

Move on from her. Life's too short.

I ditched someone like this over a year ago, the constant oneupmanship grated and once she took to interfering at work I just cut her off.

Sometimes the trash takes itself out.Grin

Catsinthecupboard · 26/07/2019 21:22

As my dearly departed mother used to say, "water seeks its own level."

Take it anyway you want.

SentfromHeaven · 26/07/2019 21:37

It’s very interesting to hear that the Catholic faith is being completely slagged off, however, the Catholic school are really good?!!

Ivegotthree · 26/07/2019 21:49

Agree with PP the hate on Catholics is offensive.

Would you posters say the same about a Muslim school? I doubt it.

Mylittlepea · 26/07/2019 22:13

Friendship should be based on enjoyment of someones company, being supportive and having stuff in common. Making someone else feel bad about anything, smugness etc is not good friendship.

I’ll be walking away and sticking with my friends that make me happy....

Let her get on with her bragging to someone that cares...

X

Mac99 · 26/07/2019 23:17

Not at all! She is clearly jealous and trying to make you jealous of her. The little weirdo.

winniestone37 · 27/07/2019 09:13

Oh god people are weird aren't they. Is she a bit like this in general or is this a one off? I struggle with people who seem like they're always in competition with you. If she's always like this it doesn't sound pleasent.

Pineapplefish · 27/07/2019 09:17

Toomuchtrouble4me I disagree - the religious schools near me have the criteria children in care, siblings, children in catchment then church attendance. So the religious criterion is rarely reached.

VampireSlayer19 · 27/07/2019 09:34

She sounds like a shit friend and a Catholic school isn’t going to be impressed with a Vicar and not a Priests letter!

I just hope they don’t keep making fun of the child if they come home talking of religion, no matter parents believe if the child is gaining something from it they shouldn’t mock it!

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