To think its unfair that my DD will probably not get into the state school I can see from my window

[dilemma456]

Message withdrawn

eachpeach - I do believe that's the case, yes. But we are both right. Catchments grow and shrink, but schools do also turn away applicants who are in that particular catchment in that particular year.

I still don't really understand. She wants to go to the school nearest to her because it is a good school. She can't get in because it is a Catholic school and she isn't a Catholic, so she wants faith schools abolished so that she is first on the list-this is if I understand it properly?
Surely it is then an entirely different school and although it is nearest it may not be a good school because it has a differnt Head, ethos etc?
I think I must be missing something!

different-sorry typing too quickly.

squeakypop - but I like Doctor Who and so do my kids. There isn't a Doctor Who school for my children to go to. And neither should there be. There's a time and a place for Doctor Who, and it's Saturday, 7pm, on the sofa. Not in the classroom!

Yes squeaky their admissions criteria discriminate- that is the whole argument against faith schools.
However discrimination on grounds of parental religious belief is wrong I feel. Perhaps you could evidence for me where that discrimination is a good thing?
Discrimination on grounds of gender and academic ability actually have quite a few decent arguments in favour of them. I haven't come across any basis for discrimination on the grounds of religion or race.

Actually Squeaky, people don't like them. There have been a number of polls which have all established a clear majority of people would like to see them abolished.

The minority (of people whose children go to these schools) are very vocal though ...

Can't it still be a "good" school without being a faith school? Or are we getting into arguing that its the faith-iness which makes it good rather than the good results, good behaviour, etc., per se? Cos that's dodgy if so.

We all have our crosses to bear, UQD.

Dr Who didn't have the foresight set up schools 200 years ago. Maybe with his powers, they will magically appear.

No, the answer is not to build MORE divisive, discriminatory schools. The answer is to change the admissions policies so local children can go to local schools. Or, if the religions want to keep the school as their private club, they can take them into the private sector.

I went to a CofE junior school back in the days before we were sold this lie about parental 'choice'. It was the local school and the intake was local children - no-one demanded to see any letters from the vicar or anything.

Ridiculous that the government and churches have actually been busy creating their little ghettos, excluding anyone whose parents' faces don't fit. And using taxpayers' money to do it!

Are these the people who are in these schools, or out of them, Quattro?

I think you need to do some break-outs on your survey.

here's a poll showing that people really DON'T like faith schools

There are more, I think ...

I could say "Manchester United schools"...

I could say "Marxist schools..."

Blah blah blah redux, deja vu anyone?...

They only 'discriminate' because far too many people apply.

When the general population gets turned away from bog standard over-subscribed schools, they don't cry discrimination. They just accept that others where more entitled than them to the places.

Quat- a little unfortunate- 2/3 oppose state-funded faith schools... but 2/3 of schools are state-funded non-faith schools
Not sure what that proves!

AbbeyA - you are correct I had not noticed the last sentence!
The OP is BVU- she wants DC to go to a faith school because it is the best in her area!

We have moved on from the OP I think though!

Squeaky, yes but that entitlement is not based on faith. That's what sticks in people's throats.

Me, I'm a taxpayer. I personally do not want to pay for faith schools. I think as a taxpayer, that I have a right to say that my taxes should not be spent in perpetuating faith-based divisions in society.

There's plenty of evidence to show that the majority of people feel the way I do. A big YAY for tolerance and social inclusion.

I don't want to pay for shitty comps in my area, but I have no say where my taxes go.

Our closest school is a RC school. It also happens to be one of the best schools in the city...it's right across the road from us but we have 0 chance of getting in.

Our kids get the "rejects" school down the road instead. I love the English education system.

pmsl- there is nothing but shitty comps in my area, unles I pay for independent!

That's what I have to do.

most comps wouldnt be 'shitty' if the social and economical mix up was varied in each school.

Quattro - that says to me the guardian don't like faith schools, conduct the same poll in the times you'll get a different result, lies, damn lies and satistics and all taht.

Yes- they would- because people with money would vote with their feet- and either go independent, or create enclaves around certain schools... oh yes- we have that system now

A CofE poll comes out against faith schools

Each Peach -- most bog-standard Catholic primary schools in inner London will be 50% non-white. Unlike my local uber-desirable 'community' school with a catchment of about 400 yards from the school gate (all big houses in leafy areas, plus all those further away who managed to fiddle the system by renting in catchment for a year). Which has about 1 non-white pupil in each class.

There is no single fair system which is not potentially open to abuse. There are catholic schools everywhere which are not considered desirable, just as there are non-faith schools ditto.

The 'magnet' thing arises once a particular group of parents of a faith or of no faith have decided that a particular school is desirable and will go out of their way to target it, whether by buying a £1M house in catchment or by going to church every week. Neither is ideal, tbh.