To ask for your opinion on faith schools?

[Syrinx89]

That's it, really. In this day and age, it seems strange to me.

But if you had your way, we wouldn’t have equal choice: you would be able to educate your child in line with your conscience and I wouldn’t. I’m not a turkey!

If I had my way schools would allocate places on catchment, looked after children and children with additional needs. Children who go to a different church 10 miles away, shouldn’t have access over in catchment children.

Plus of course those with a faith can also still access that aspect of their lifestyle out of school.

I think there are various issues with faith schools, however these issues largely depend upon the faith school in question.

My son went to a Catholic primary as they had room to take him during our "in year" move.

They were very inclusive and Mass was attended just once a term. My son who is autistic was well cared for and supported at school and in the church when he attended with school.

The "grace" each day consisted of the head rubbing his tummy and saying "rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub" which both made the children laugh but also gave a concept of thanks without a religious overtone.

Yes they learned the Christian story but they also learned about Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism and even paganism as part of RE.

It was a lovely school and still is.

I think faith schools should not be a thing. My children go to a faith school which is completely contradictory, there just seems to be a dearth or non-faith schools that fit our needs - which were a two class intake as we have twins that needed separating.

JacquesHammer

Yes, and again, you would have the option you preferred for your child and I wouldn’t. Which, all things being equal in terms of who established and owns faith schools, I probably couldn’t argue with, but it’s not equal. In the Catholic case at least, these are institutions founded and owned by a faith community of which I am a member, and all my family have been members, going back hundreds of years or more. They’re not yours. Mitts off!

Yes, and again, you would have the option you preferred for your child and I wouldn’t. Which, all things being equal in terms of who established and owns faith schools, I probably couldn’t argue with, but it’s not equal

Wouldn’t you simply ensure you were in a catchment with a relevant faith school? As has been advised as the “solution” to people who don’t want faith schools.

They’re not yours. Mitts off!

Ain’t that religion all over.

I am against them.
There should be a line between state & any religion. If you want your child to be brought up in a specific faith then you use time outside school to educate them in that faith or you pay to send them to a private state school.

No state funded educational establishment should have links to a religion that enables the school to pick its students based on them & their parents conforming to a religion. Parents producing a letter from the priest/whatever and getting their child into a good school is wrong and disadvantaged the poor, those less able (or willing) to play the game.

This is the 21st century these anachronisms should be ended.

Wouldn’t you simply ensure you were in a catchment with a relevant faith school? As has been advised as the “solution” to people who don’t want faith schools.

I am within catchment for a relevant faith school. As are all the children of Catholic faith for whom it is their nearest Catholic school.

Many faith schools were set up before schooling was obligatory. I guess if we wanted to abolish faith schools they would need to be bought back by the state and integrated into the secular society. This would cost a lot and funding in education us already low. Basically, not going to happen!

I am within catchment for a relevant faith school. As are all the children of Catholic faith for whom it is their nearest Catholic school

So if you’re within catchment then you wouldn’t suffer.

Ain’t that religion all over.

The Catholic faith is open to all. Feel free to come along.

The Catholic faith is open to all. Feel free to come along

What utter nonsense

The Catholic faith is open to all. Feel free to come along
This is very much true

So if you’re within catchment then you wouldn’t suffer.

I don’t think you know what catchment means. It doesn’t mean a prescribed area. In this case, ‘catchment’ applies to the area from which, in the last academic year, the school took in children. The school I am talking about can take Catholic children from as far away as they like, in order of proximity, until there are no more Catholic applicants. That’s their catchment.

you would have the option you preferred for your child and I wouldn’t

I don't understand, as far as I can see Jacques isn't arguing to close faith based schools, just open them up so that admissions are fair... How is that taking away your option?

And can you imagine a situation where your local, Ofsted rated excellent, school banned people of your religious faith (or out them way down the admissions criteria).. there is a local faith school but it "requires improvement" and your children would have to travel for 30 mins on the bus every day. How would you feel then?

What utter nonsense

What do you mean? Have you tried to go to Church and been expelled?

I think it’s a disgrace that faith schools are publicly funded. It’s even more of a disgrace that they are included as catchment schools thus meaning that LAs can allocate a faith school to a 4yr old and consider they’ve met their obligations.

Religious freedom is a fundamental right in this country and I strongly support it. However, it’s not the state’s job to support schooling in any faith. Religious teachings are for Church and home, not for school.

Religion has no place in any aspect of the State be it the House of Lords or schools.

If the religious want to educate children in their faith no-one is stopping them it should just be outside of school hours in other facilities and with no public funding.

State schools would then be entirely open to anyone and absolutely inclusive - job done.

The French have taken religion out of all public life and it is a popular move

Religious teachings are for Church and home, not for school.

That simply isn’t true. People have the right to educate their children within their faith.

The French have taken religion out of all public life and it is a popular move

Yeah, that Revolution - so much popular support.

We are not a secular state. France is. Nations evolve differently. When the Queen is no longer the Head of a national Church, indeed when there is no national church, I will consider it reasonable that my own faith is disestablished from public life, not before.

I resent that my taxes pay for school my children won't be able to go to just because I don't go to church

Your taxes pay for dozens of things you will never use. Why is education any different?

People have the right to educate their children within their faith.

So should the government open fully state funded Jain schools, Buddhist schools etc etc in every area??

@MintyMabel because if I needed them they would be open to me on an equal basis and not restricted on the basis of my faith or lack thereof.

So should the government open fully state funded Jain schools, Buddhist schools etc etc in every area??

That’s a slightly separate question, as it hasn’t opened Catholic schools in every area. These schools pre-date state-run education. I would have no issue with a school for every faith everywhere, but whether it’s practical is a different question. If people want to crack on with opening them with their own land and buildings, however, I won’t complain about state per capita funding.

My son goes to a Catholic school it's not overly religious and very multi cultural the thing is the only decent schools where I live are faith schools ,and the rest are crap really crap ,mumsnet is weird about faith schools ,they think they shouldn't be allowed , if we get rid of we get rid of faith schools we also need to get rid of Grammar schools as it's massively unfair they are only available to a select few and only in certain parts of the country it should be a,level playing field for all.

Yeah, that Revolution - so much popular support.

No, the French separation of church and state was in 1905.

I too am of the opinion that there should be no religion in schools. You want your kids to learn about faith you take them to church.