For considering sending our DS to a CofE school even though we're Jewish?

[Mariagatzs12]

Our local authority schools are in need of improvement but the CofE one has consistently been outstanding. I don't even know if they'd accept our DS as I'm a practicing Jew. Would he feel very out of place? My DD didn't like singing hymns (and it wasn't a CofE school) but they'd let her not take part in any of those celebrations.

Sorry I just read your comment about the emphasis on the bible on the school website. I think you’ll have to visit to make your mind up but certainly it does sound as if they are quite hot on Christianity whereas the schools I went to and DD didn’t give it much space other than at main festivals and even then they were often not traditional plays. DGC have been in very literal nativities though but for our family it’s not a problem. It might be for yours though so go and look and ask questions and see how you feel after the visit perhaps.

Echo given what their website says, I would expect that almost 100% (if not 100%) are CofE or at least non denominational Christian. We're in the middle of the West Country, where diversity in general is almost non existent.

It will depend on how heavily religious the school is. Some have a fairly generic approach that is more about promoting values that many faiths and none hold dead, others are more heavily faith based.

As long as you respectfully withdraw from elements you wish to and don't complain about the Christian elements of a Christian school then you're fine.

Sandy yes we're part of a small but very active community. No we don't worship at a synagogue because the closest one is about 2 hrs away. We do have Shabbat services EOW (of which I'm sometimes a leader). Our "local" rabbi has to drive for 4 hours whenever he visits.

@Mariagatzs12

I teach in a CofE school. We welcome all faiths and none but have bible quotes and displays up. No one has withdrawn from worship or RE or nativity performances etc in recent years but when children are withdrawn by their parents then it excludes them from experiences and the life of the school despite the fact that we are kind about it.

We talk about ‘Christians believe’ in the same way we talk about ‘Muslims believe’ etc. We do not say ‘we’ or ‘us’ when referring to Christians or Christianity. Indeed, some of our staff are not Christians and many are not practising Christians.

I would take issue with your child stating that ‘Jesus is not God’s son’ because that is merely one belief. Similarly we would not accept a Christian child stating that Jesus IS God’s son. We would say Christians believe that Jesus if God’s son and people of other faiths or none do not believe this.

I went to a CofE school which had Hindu and Sikh children and there was no issue.

There were other religions at DSs catholic school and that was fine too. Lots of overt religion like prayers etc but no issue with people opting out.

So from what I can see a small non diverse town CofE will not be unwelcoming per se, but the feeling left out it will be down to how we handle the "opting out"? To the PP by saying "we agree to disagree" is a way of saying we can all co-exist with our very different beliefs.

It’s disgraceful that the state funds faith schools in this way. If it’s your local school you have every right to send your son there, and it appalling the way the Cof E is allowed to favour their believers with tax payer money.

Plenty of experience of CofE schools here. Of all of the faith schools they are the most open to everybody, to a frankly ridiculous but wonderfully inclusive degree. Go for it. 💕