to put sons name down for catholic school when we are not catholic?

[doublethetrouble]

Its convenient, has better results than other local schools and part of me thinks its a bit prejudice that only pupils of certain religion be allowed to a particular school. Catholic friend gave me funny look when i said we had put sons name down for school. His son is already at the school and he knows we arent catholic.

I am an ex-Catholic and wouldn't touch a Catholic school with a bargepole. Too much religion. You really need to think about how you would deal with the fact that the Catholic religion would be part of the fabric of your son's school life.

I think it is unreasonable if it means that a Catholic family loses a place to enable your child to go there.

If it is a case of there being a spare place, then I don't see a problem with it. Your child will probably be required to go to certain church services, though, and the catholic school that I went to had daily prayers. Would you/child mind that?

I agree with Iamthedoctor.

I agree with Iamthedoctor.

so much so that I said it twice!!

dont start complaining about church visits and the fact that they says prayers.

i think as individuals we do what is best for our children

on a wider level i think that there shouldnt be religous schools and if there are they should be funded by the religeon not the state

given that there are catholic schools priority is given to catholics anyway so you mightn't get in

YABU pivotal to faith school is belief in ethos/faith as non practising RC how will you get in?

But surely you won't get in if you're not catholic? Here you have to have a letter signed by the priest to say you go to the church and proof of baptism etc. I know they have to take a percentage of non catholics, but it's a small number with loads of people scrambling to get in.

The nearest school to me is a very good catholic school with an excellent rep. I don't want DS or DD to go there for the very reason that we are not religious. I appreciate the fact that as a young person I was able to draw my own conclusions about religion. I'd like my children to do the same without having it rammed down their throats.

Is that all you have to do - put his name down? Do you have to start going to Church too... How do you feel about that?

I think you should be able to put your name down at whatever school you wish - church school or not - think it's a very antiquated system I have to say

I think it's unreasonable.

My dc go to a Catholic school, though they do say all religions can enrol as long as they are aware they are taught the Catholic ethos. A couple of Protestant families [parents have mixed marriage so technically one parent is Catholic but children aren't] attend and their parents don't want them included in feast days or anything they take part in at chapel. It's unfair on the children as they often feel excluded when there is special things happening, ie: St Patrick's day mass, end of year mass etc...

As long as you have no problem with them going to mass & attending ceremonies with the school it should be ok.

No i wouldnt mind him taking part in church services etc. I believe in god although im not of a particular religion and i do think its nice to have the morals and beliefs i believe are installed at catholic schools. Main reason for considering it though is because of the good results compared to other local schools. Honestly dont know if it would mean someone else doing without.

agree that they should fully participate in the churchy side of school life if they do go

How does DS feel about having to go to church? Is he a believer?

i thought RC schools had admission critera which obviously favours baptised RC

Criterion 1
Children who are in public care will be offered places as our next priority i.e. before all other categories below.

Criterion 2
Children who are baptised Catholics. One of the following will be required as supportive evidence:

• A copy of the child?s baptismal certificate.

• A supportive signature/letter from a Catholic priest confirming their knowledge of the child?s baptism.
• A supportive letter from the parish priest indicating the date set for the child?s baptism. (In this case, a copy of the baptismal certificate must be provided prior to the child?s admittance to school).

In the event of an over-subscription in the number of applications within this criterion, then the Admissions Committee will offer places in the following order of priority: Baptised Roman Catholic children: 3.1 Who have a brother or sister at the school at the time of likely admission. 3.2 Whose parents/guardians are resident in the parishes of Penzance, St. Ives and Hayle. 3.3 Whose parents are resident in other parishes at the time of likely admission.

Criterion 3
A child with at least one parent baptised as a Catholic. One of the following will be required as supportive evidence:

• A copy of the parent(s) baptismal certificate.
• A supportive signature/letter from a Catholic priest confirming their knowledge of the parent?s baptism.

Criterion 4
A child with a sibling who will still be attending the school at the time of likely admission.
Priority will be given to those applications with the following supportive evidence:

• A copy of the child?s baptismal certificate.
• A supportive signature/letter from a priest or any minister of religion confirming their knowledge of the child?s baptism/christening.
• A supportive letter from a priest or any minister of religion indicating the date set for the child?s baptism/christening. (In this case, a copy of the baptismal certificate must be provided prior to the child?s admittance to school).

Criterion 5
Applications made by parents/guardians of other Christian denominations desirous of obtaining a faith education for their child(ren).
First priority will be given to those applications with the following supportive evidence:

• A copy of the child?s baptismal certificate.
• A supportive signature/letter from a priest or minister of religion confirming their knowledge of the child?s baptism.
• A supportive letter from the priest or minister of religion indicating the date set for the child?s baptism/christening. (In this case, a copy of the baptismal certificate must be provided prior to the child?s admittance to school).

Criterion 6
Applications made by parents/guardians of another recognised world faith tradition desirous of obtaining a faith education for their child(ren). First priority will be given to any applications with a supportive letter from their relevant minister of religion testifying to this fact.

Criterion 7
Applications made by non-denominational parents desirous of a faith-centred education for their child(ren). Evidence of this will be a signature of parent(s) to this effect on the supplementary form.

quite interesting the views from catholic mummies with children already at catholic school. I wouldnt want son to be alienated so would expect him to fully participate in religous aspects in school. Really dont want catholic mummies gossiping and shunning me at school gates either. Just want son to go to good school and get good results.

indeed as do most parents, obviously faith schools have an obvious faith imperative why would anyone shun/gossip?

scottishmummy you for one have made it clear you do not approve of non catholic kids going to catholic school as has my catholic friend. If son was accepted and we decided to accept place we wouldnt want to have to raised eyebrows that you and my friend have so far expressed. I believe u are a good person i do believe that but u may all the same make me/son feel like the misfit.

Hey, you have no worries about Catholic mummies shunning your son/you at the school gates!!!

The only reason I mentioned the couple of families at our school was because of the parents choice not to let them participate in the celebrations! The pupils or other parents would never ostracise the children/parents because of that!

I do find ot difficult to explain to dd why X & X in her class don't have to say morning prayers or go to mass. So far I have just said they go to a different place to say their prayers...

In fact, dh & I have a mixed marriage but the children are being brought up Catholic. I think if dh had any objections to them attending mass, saying prayers etc, I would have sent them to another school so they wouldn't look as out of place by leaving school every time something was going on that involved a Catholic celebration.

My ds's attend a catholic school. They are not baptised. They take part in everything the school does. Visiting the local church (I like the feel of the catholic church)
I would say that there are many children who attend the school are not catholic but that maybe because it is an inner city school.

oh LOL i am not disapproving so you assume too much...and maybe dont personalise it either.my eyebrows are static

When the results are much better than other local schools im sure it is going to be very popular with non catholic pupils. Good results are my main motive for wanting son to go to schools but i wouldnt be hypocritical and take him out prayer etc. I think having faith is nice even though i wouldnt consider myself religous. Like i said i do believe in god.

Yep yabu.
Sorry to be flippant, but I think that religious schools are not a great thing and if you choose to cheat you way in there because you think that your child will benefit I would disagree. Personally I would rather my child went to a school with a better mix and more inclusive ethos but worse 'results' than have them pay lip service in Catholism everyday.

Sorry "cheat your way in there" is a bit emotive really.

I mean that actually, you should be able to go there anyway, becuase I don't think there should be faith schools anyway. But it is a Catholic school and there will be reprecussions and pray and well, religion. Are you prepared to deal with that?