To put a Catholic school on our application if we are not Catholic?

[coffeeforone]

For the reasons that it is one of our closest schools and is outstanding and there is a chance we will get in (assuming there aren't more Catholics / Other Christians applying than previous years as we will be a lower priority). There is probably only one other school we have a good chance of getting into (good) is and the others are real outsiders.

Has anyone sent their non-Catholic child to a Catholic school and regretted it?

DH is a practicing Hindu and does have a lot of time for his own faith and DS is being raised as Hindu. I'm not very religious (but was christened and raised Christian).

I assumed to go to a Catholic school the child must have been christened? Whay would happen during religion classes and when the other children are doing things like making their first confession and first holy communion? I went to a Catholic school and there were no non catholics attending

Many schools are secular in everything bit name/funding, so it may not pose a problem, if there is sufficient places to go around. If not, however, you'll have to accept you're unlikely to be top of the priority list.

Read the school's admission criteria. It will be on their website.
Where I live Catholic schools only admit practising Catholics. Parents have to provide a letter from the priest stating that the child is baptised and the family attend mass every week.
It might be different where you are.

@Girlsmummy30

Things have changed, I can say that as a practising catholic regularly involved in the local schools through my work. Providing ni catholic child misses out, the school will accept others according to the admissions policy. The school ethos will have to be respected, but non-Catholics will not be expected to join in services/alternative RE will be provided for other religions, as per ecumenical rules.

It's entirely your choice, but how likely is it that your son will be admitted? Faith schools have prohibitive admissions policies and it tends to be that only if they are undersubscribed will they allow pupils of no or other faiths. And most faith schools tend to be oversubscribed because they're self selecting and tend to be in the outstanding category. If you and your dh are ok with trying though, then go for it.

I'm fundamentally opposed to faith schools - particularly in areas of high growth rate where competition for school places is stiff. I personally would not choose one, but I'm sure many people make that choice and are happy with their child's progress.

@endofthelinefinally I understand that they have to allow a percentage of non-catholic's take up places in order to keep LA funding?
OP, if you're comfortable with the ethos of the school then yes of course you should apply. My local Catholic Primary is a bit hardcore (or maybe just very catholic!) so I wouldn't be happy sending my child there, but lots of people are.

We have with both of ours and we’re really pleased with the education our children receive. DD has just gone to the catholic high school along with all of the children from her primary (no other schools have a feeder system in our area.)
The primary school really celebrates diversity and has a wonderful ethos.
There’s no harm in putting it down as your first choice, assuming there’s an equal preference system.

I accept that we will be very low on the priority list. They admit 60 and in the past four years no more than 5 of the final category (other children - no evidence required) get in based on distance alone. but we are close enough based on previous years distances.

weymouthswanderingmermaid that’s certainly not the case in my county. It’s a myth that they have to take a certain percentage of non catholic children.

My local Catholic Primary is a bit hardcore (or maybe just very catholic!) so I wouldn't be happy sending my child there, but lots of people are.

This is my slight worry - the general opinion from parents of other children who already attend is that it's an excellent school but 'very religious'. Some of these people are Catholic

When I went to catholic school (seven years ago) there were people of all faiths and atheism was actually the dominant one in my year group. Although, everyone had to attend mass at some point the the school chapel and special services. Might just be my school though.

I don’t see a problem with a Hindu attending a Catholic school. He would just be put in the library with a teacher during religious assemblies. That’s what happened at my school anyway. The rest of the education provided is secular.

They might teach things you will strongly disagree with...

My child (CofE) went to a Catholic school, it was fine. “Very religious” could mean absolutely anything! There’ll be masses, confirmation, First Holy Communion etc but that is part and parcel of going to a Catholic school - all children will follow the same teaching, and in our experience no child would be excluded from such events. Unless you are totally against Catholicism it really isn’t a big deal.
The only caveat would be, don’t rely on previous years admissions to figure you’ll be ok. There could have been a bumper birth year - admission criteria obviously puts Catholic children at the top (excluding LAC and ECHP) but anybody can apply and be admitted if there is room.
My child then went to a Catholic High School so it obviously wasn’t too traumatic!
Go and have a look around the school and chat to the Headteacher and you’ll soon work out if it is the right place for you.

My DC attend Catholic primary school. In the admissions criteria the children had to have been baptised within 6 month of their birth and we have to attend weekly Mass. Under no circumstances will the Priest sign his admissions letter without this.

DD is preparing for her Holy Communion at the moment and the whole of her class is taking it at the same time.

The school is extremely religious and celebrate weekly masses, prayer services etc. The Priest is also very involved with the school.

I'm not sure about LA funding as per @weymouthswanderingmermaid post but all of the children at DC's school are practicing Catholic and it is extremely over subscribed.

If it's ok for them to take your taxes, it's fine for you to apply.

I was a Hindu child at a Catholic school for a while. It was fine - of course there were times when I felt a bit left out but there were plenty of other non Catholic kids there too.

YANBU to apply

YABU to expect to get in if it's oversubscribed

I personally wouldn't, but that's the legacy of an Irish Catholic education.

Doesn’t sound like you would have a great chance of a place. It’s not unreasonable if that’s what you want to do, though.

My Son attended a Catholic Primary school as a non catholic. I loved the school during the masses and holy communion he was involved in it but not fully obviously. He learnt a lot from it.
By the time my daughter came to go her year group was oversubscribed and she didnt get in and I have many years of two school drop offs etc for many years. I knew the score though many other parents seemed clueless and shocked that it happened to them. Some converted at the last minute, some pulled the older ones from the school.
Just go in with your eyes open especially if you have younger ones to think of as you may also have to contend with subsequent kids not getting in.

Have you read the schools admission criteria on their website? Our local religious schools favour their religion (obviously) then any religion where they are active members of, then no religion.

Most schools have an open day or will let you look around if you've missed it, why don't you go and see what you think?

You can try - I think depends on the school. The catholic school I went to only o my excepted practicing catholic’s - except for one girl and that was a massive massive exception.

You have clearly researched and there is a chance of a place.
Go along and speak to them. Have a really clear understanding of what is involved. But I do think you need to think very hard about a school that teaches a religious belief totally different to that of your child.

I think its very hypocritical. Also will you be happy with him attending mass etc?