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?

Exactly and despite people saying ,it's hypocritical, nobody is going to be sending their child to a rough school on principle.

I know a couple who got their kids baptised Catholic & took them to church for years so they could get them into the local high-performing Catholic secondary school - only to find, when their eldest started there, that it had really gone downhill. They moved him after a term.

I haven’t asked if they still go to church.

Probably 70 per cent ? Obviously hes disadvantaged as he's an only child so has no sibling to go before him. Siblings automatically get into the school

You might need a baptism and they are hard to get unless you are a church-goer. Catholic schools are in demand and that is a requirement for the primary that feeds the Catholic secondary.

It's dependant on his attendance at church. I'd obviously be taking him.

@x2boys "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"

Because obviously that's a foregone conclusion.......🤔

My kids went to supposed religious schools 1 to Catholic 1 to C of E they both learned more about non Christian religions than the own school faith. Catholic school you had to go to Sunday school to learn about Catholic religion for holy communion etc. Do what you feel is best for your kid.

You wouldn’t be the first person to do this.

The irony is the schools don't mind you doing this, because it means you are an involved, supportive parent and that makes their job easier.

@x2boys and son - well
Done you both - you broke free 🤣

Well- plenty of people do this. Plenty of people play catchment monopoly to get into good schools. Some people pay for private school yet are crucified for it on MN.

I think most parents do the best they can- whatever that looks like to them.

You won’t be the only one doing this.

but if you are doing it, do it right. Check the entry requirements carefully and see if you can find out what your priest thinks of the school- I know one family who got questioned by the priest as they had asked him to sign the form for a local Christian school that wasn’t dedicated catholic, he questioned why they weren’t applying for the catholic school in the next town.

if your priest stands at the door to shake hands at the end of the service you line up and shake his hand so he’s seen you each week. Don’t just walk past the queue because you’ve got stuff to do.

oh and visit the school if they have an open event, also the bad one- don’t just go off local reputation.

Having taught in a range of state schools, I would 100% do this to get my child into a better school.

That wasent my quote

Lots of parents do it. My mum did it for years to get us into better schools than the local comps. I wouldn’t feel guilty about it. The church will appreciate bums on seats but you may need to have child baptised/ confirmed etc to actually get them in to faith school. Check the criteria

Loads of people did this at the church where I used to live and the vicar was well aware of who they were because it was an easily identified phenomenon. You’ll have to go in for competitive worship, so be prepared for that. I’d say you’re not being unreasonable because it is such a ridiculous system.

Yes, the current system allows for religious hypocrisy and plenty of people do it. You're not wrong to use the system in this way, but it's wrong that it exists in the first place in my opinion. A word of caution though - some schools now ask for proof of ongoing church attendance once you're at the school so you can't stop going as soon as you get the place.

Is your child Baptist into that religion. That forms part of the criteria, not just going to church

It is up to you but do not moan if RE is compulsory for GCSE, church attendance in term time is compulsory etc etc.

Most faith schools have a points system and around where I live you need quite a number of points to secure a place.

Attendance historically when they were young carries more weight than anything else. Read the criteria very carefully to see what points you gain for various things, find out how many points pupils have needed recently to get in.

Used to be 1 point here 10 years ago, now it's over 10 points.

Vicar here! We can spot these kinds of attendees. Whilst I think church is a great place to be on a Sunday, if you’re only doing it for a school place, you’re going to be annoyed at the lost lie-ins when the vicar won’t lie for you on application forms.

He's not disadvantaged because he's an only child!

You'd have the same problem if he was the eldest of countless siblings.

I'm a churchgoer for religious reasons, and I would see no problem in you doing this.

People go to church for all kinds of reasons. One of my best friends at church has no psrticular religious faith, but likes the sense of community. The church is there to welcome everybody, and in my experience they are only too pleased to get bums on seats.

As a regular church attendee myself I can see no harm in this. Everyone should be made welcome at church regardless of their reasons for attending. I doubt you will be the first or last parent to go for school admission reasons and yes, some may assume this is the reason for your attendance but hopefully they will not be judgemental. People attend church for many different reasons including habit, companionship, the music, guidance, shelter and warmth, a sense of belonging, an hour to sit and think without the pressures of everyday life. It doesn't matter to me what the motivation is for people to attend, I just glad they are there and hope that they get something helpful out of it, even if it is just a warm drink and friendly face at the end of the service.

Yep you need to start going early, not just in time to have exactly one year regular attendance. You never know, you might actually like it. Many a member of the church in our town linked to a very good faith primary started off going to get a school form signed yet are still going 10+ years later.

Word of note, if it’s state funded, they won’t remove your place after the offer day if you stop going, unless it’s stated in their admissions policy. (Read that carefully!)

And yes to RS being a compulsory gcse in faith schools.

She loves her child and is doing the absolute best for her child in the circumstances. That's a good Christian principle, surely.