To go to church to broaden my childs choice of school

[AwkwardAadvark]

Hello
I live in an area where the comprehensive schools aren't great. There's only 1 I'd be happy for him to go too. We also live by 2 religious schools that I'd be happy with. Issue is these schools require church attendance. It's a while off but I do worry about these things. Do I start going to church to widen his choice of school?

I don't really understand what you need to ask us for

Well I'm not religious at all so it seems a bit odd to me!

Are you happy for him to receive faith-based assemblies and lessons while there? If so, there's nothing wrong with going to church provided you're going with an open mind.

I'd say it would be dishonest and counterproductive to go simply to get a place but then ask for your child to opt out of every RE lesson and assembly etc

Well, I know people do go to church to get their children into better schools. I doubt you'll be alone in thinking and doing this. Are you religious at all?

If you want to waste your life by sitting through church stuff, sure 🤷‍♀️😂

I wouldn't want to but I see no harm in it.

Check the criteria your child might Need to baptised
I mean you certainly won't be the first to suddenly find " God" to get your child into a better school.

Check the criteria first. Its no point if you need to be at feeder school or have been christened or if there is no faith criteria.

Otherwise... its your choice.

Are you sure your dc’s admission to these schools depends on your attendance at church? Not theirs? Not being Christened/ Baptised?

seems odd to me

The whole religion and school thing doesn't sit well with me at all, schools should be teaching religious theory only, not as fact - it's a way to indoctrinate children to not think for themselves ... what's the likelihood of your child getting into the 1 school you do like?

I have no religious beliefs so would feel it hypoccritical to go to church and pretend I was a devout Christian.
Mind you, I think all schools should be secular anyway. If parents want a religious education, then that should be done by the child attending separate classes run by the church out of school hours.

Lots of parents do this. I've known a few and the church attendance dies off after year 7 as the children are established by then.
Of course it's not good for those who have always gone to church and actively support them, but I'm sure the church schools are well aware of who is trying it on a bit and who is genuine! You may need to look into it a lot more ( as detailed in this thread) and what the criteria is. It must involve a lot of commitment.

YANBU to do this. This is how the system has been set up. You are simply playing by the rules. I don't agree with this type of system, but that's a different matter.

He's been christened as Catholic but the church/ school is C of E. They will take Christian ie both. I've looked at the admission criteria. I really don't want to go to church but suppose I'll have to ? I know kids who haven't got into the good comp and have little other choice.

It's absolute bullshit that our state schools have anything to do with religion. We all pay taxes then our children suffer if we don't believe in an imaginary being.
Do whatever you need to.

They dont tend to do a very good job of indoctrination, I went Catholic school ,s I'm a very lapsed Catholic, my son went to Catholic schools he left last year he's an atheist.

I think it's outrageous on many levels. And possibly useless for your purposes because many schools require infant baptism so be sure to check.

But I don't know why you're asking.

I don’t think you’re unreasonable at all. There shouldn’t be state funded schools that can select pupils by religion. You need to look at their specific requirements and how they fill places.

Yes, if the school options in your area are, start going to church.

The god squad is usually far less tedious to deal with than the social services and psychologists that will result from having to send your child to a rough school.

are limited , sorry

If you are not religious, how come he was baptised Catholic? When you baptised him you would have committed to him being brought up in line with Catholic beliefs and teachings? Is it your partner who is Catholic and wanted this, if so, they should be the one to take them to church?

Have you visited these schools or are you going by their Ofsted results? I would definitely visit, there is no best school, just the best school for your child. My oldest (now 8) started at an outstanding Catholic school, after 4 months we moved her to a state school as the school was borderline abusive in the way it treated very young children, very harsh, questionable discipline methods. Thats not to say all faith schools are like this, of course they aren't, but you need to do your own research. Unfortunately due to covid we couldnt look round primary's so had to go off ofsted when selecting a school, and then found it completely unreliable. Her current school is rated Good, and is absolutely amazing.

It’s dishonest but you’re not the only person who has or will do this.

It depends on the school my son went to a Catholic school, s he's baptised ,but they didn't require regular church attendance
The outstanding C/E nearby secondary school did ,it was Common for parents to find " religion " from year
4/5 untill their child's place had been confirmed IME.

I went to me where church going was a criteria. Of course many parents dropped the mask when their child had a place.

I wouldn't but then I wouldn't want my Child to go to a faith based school. But you should do what feels right for you