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Education

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Original poster

Do you start going to church just to get into a good school?

60 replies

Ginabraz · 16/03/2011 16:06

I have not made any admissions to local schools for my boys as I didn't think that I would still be living in the UK. My eldest is 4 in November and the youngest will be three in February 2012. I am now inwardly panicked as the good schools seem to be run by the churches and neither my DH or myself are church goers. I am willing to attend church even though I fear that it could be too late. DH refuses as he is a non-believer.

Do you or have you started attending church just to improve your chances of getting a place for your child(ren)?

OP posts:

GoldenBeagle · 16/03/2011 16:09

Some good schools are faith school, but there are plenty of good schools which are not. Do sioe research into your local community schools.

AtYourCervix · 16/03/2011 16:09

Original poster

Ginabraz · 16/03/2011 16:11

I have looked around locally and the non church school is really not an option for numerous reasons but particularly the fact that about 100 languages are used.

OP posts:

AnnoyingOrange · 16/03/2011 16:11

you should check the entry criteria for the school. Some schools require a letter from the vicar/priest confirming how long you have been a regular churchgoer

bibbitybobbityhat · 16/03/2011 16:11

Not if you have any self respect.

Original poster

Ginabraz · 16/03/2011 16:13

Self respect - what do you mean by this? I do respect myself and my children's education. I was raised to 'believe' but we have never been regular church goers. Is this a problem?

OP posts:

LittleCheesyPineappleOne · 16/03/2011 16:15

Since our children's school was graded outstanding last year, they're now having to apply the admissions criteria for the first time (previously applicants = places). The attached church's attendance has at least doubled and in the last year they've set up a Sunday School and paid for an extension to the church hall. When we moved to the village the attendance was approximately a dozen very elderly members of the congregation, plus a young couple or two hoping to be married there, now it's flourishing. I don't think it's a coincidence...

Original poster

Ginabraz · 16/03/2011 16:20

LittleCheesy - I think your instincts may be very correct and therefore we can assume that people are attending church in hope for placements for the kiddies. I don't see it as a good or bad thing.

OP posts:

rubyw · 16/03/2011 16:35

'particularly the fact that about 100 languages are used'

Yes you should definitely start attending church straight away, heaven forbid that your children be exposed to other languages.

GoldenBeagle · 16/03/2011 16:41

"the non church school is really not an option for numerous reasons but particularly the fact that about 100 languages are used."

Unless by teachers, I would view this as a positive thing. Bilingualism is shown to support cognitive develolpment and a greater understanding of what language is. Children learn a new language very quickly in school.

Or go to church and make sure your child mixes with people just like you.

Cheesy - the church have done nicely out of that, then! All those keen new donors.

ttalloo · 16/03/2011 16:46

I don't think the OP is unreasonable in not wanting her DC to go to a school where 100 other languages are used. It suggests that many of the children at that school don't have English as their first language, and the school is busy trying to bring their language skills up to scratch. I'd be worried in the OP's position that this meant that my DC were getting less focus from the staff.

And as for going to church in order to get the DC into a good school - DH is Catholic and I'm not (and not at all religious either), but we had the children christened Catholic because we knew that that was the only way they could get into one of the two excellent local Catholic primaries. DH has been going to church every Sunday for the last four years to get the priest on side, but both schools are so over-subscribed that our chances of getting DS1 in this year are slim at best (because we are on the edge of the catchment area).

So, OP, do whatever your conscience can live with to get your DC into a good school, but bear in mind that at primary school level it is said that if the parents have a positive attitude to education the child will do well whether they go to an outstanding school or not.

AMumInScotland · 16/03/2011 16:52

If the church schools in your area are seen as much more desirable than the others, then you are likely to find that you are too late for suddenly attending church to make any difference to your application - you will be competing for places with parents who have been regularly attending church since their DC were babies, and have been on the cleaning rota, doing the flowers, helping out at the summer fete and generally making sure the clergy will recognise them when the time comes to get the form signed.

You should talk to the schools to find out what the criteria are for actually getting places before making a decision.

FWIW I think its morally wrong to suddenly get all religious to get a school place. But also that it's morally wrong for the education system to work in a way that makes it relevant. So the two cancel out - do what you feel you have to!

Niecie · 16/03/2011 16:55

If you want to go to church because you have a faith or an interest in religion then go and if the bonus is that your DC are eligible to go to a church school then fine. If you aren't really intersted and don't have a faith, regardless of how you were brought up, then don't go. I don't think you should go solely to get your DC into a faith school. Besides, if you don't want to look like a chancer who is trying to manipulate the system then this isn't something you are only going to be doing for a couple of years, until your DC start school, you should really be thinking of going until they leave the school at least. That is a big commitment.

TBH I wouldn't be bothered how many languages the other school uses. Is it a good school? What is their value added score like? Does the school have a nice feel to it? Does the head teacher run it well? If the children thrive there I don't see what language they may or may not speak at home as much of an issue. They all get taught in English presumably. It depends on how it is handled really.

Original poster

Ginabraz · 16/03/2011 16:58

Ttalloo -thanks, I feel that you understand my stance on the language front as well as the religion front. My conscience is fine and I'm sure that 'God' would welcome us and not think of us as morally incorrect even if were to attend only to get into school!

OP posts:

Original poster

Ginabraz · 16/03/2011 17:03

BTW - the school with many languages is not a good school with a bad reputation to boot.

OP posts:

cory · 16/03/2011 18:22

"the non church school is really not an option for numerous reasons but particularly the fact that about 100 languages are used."

I'd give church a miss round about Pentecost though

GoldenBeagle · 16/03/2011 18:26

Numerous community languages are spoken in my DCs (outstanding ofsted with top SATS) school. The vast majority of children also speak excellent English, those that don't learn very quickly and are supported with extra funds.

As the children of first generation immigrants, many refugees, the families also have a brilliant ethic re education and support achievement immensely - they value it.

Don't reject these schools until you have visited and spoken to parents there. Dedication to education and good behaviour isn't just confined to pretending to believe something you don't.

Hardandsleazy · 16/03/2011 18:26

Yabu but that doesnt stop lots round here - it's amazing how many people find faith and a need to attend on Sunday then it usually declines around the time admissions are announced.

meditrina · 16/03/2011 18:33

Round our way, you need to have been a regular attendee for minimum 2 years (in current, or current plus previous parish if you've moved).

So for 2012 entry, you may be too late already.

Personally, I think it is wrong to go to Church just for the school. But f you and your children are christened, and you are confirmed, then you are members of the Church and you should follow your own faith and conscience about your actions.

Oblomov · 16/03/2011 19:18

I go to church just to get my ds in a fantastic catholic school.Many of the mums say they do too.
Dh's whole family was catholic. I was a pentecostal and fully immersed baptised. I had both ds's christened, very young. And I go once a month. Will have to up that to weekly to get ds2 in in 2 years time. Not a problem. Will have to go every week for ds1 when he's 8 for holy communion. Not a problem. I like going to church. I enjoy it and love it. But thats only becasue I go once amonth.
The school is very catholic and ds is very into it. I love that. their ethos is beautiful. And he goes to rosary prayers. none of the other children in his class do. And i just stand there mummbling 'hail mary, mother of god" because I don't kjnow the words. But I love it.
These threads annoy me. Do you have any idea what prayers they will be saying every day. They say them morning, assembly, lunch, hometime, at ours. religion side of the shcool is HUGE. why would you POSSIBLY want this , if you didn't beleive ?

kat2504 · 16/03/2011 19:20

This is why I think that the Church of England should not be allowed to run schools.

Portofino · 16/03/2011 19:25

No, I hate this. I think religion should play no part in school at all. I love my dd's secular education and the fact that she mixes with children from all sorts of backgrounds. Oblomov - you are the worst of all hypocrites in my opinion. I really hope you are being ironic, because if you arent' then you are behaving in a despicable manner imho.

kat2504 · 16/03/2011 19:28

What happens when your only village school is a CofE school? Do you have to drive to the next village to possibly get a non faith school? Are you forced to go to church to avoid this happening to you? Very unfair. Apparently one in three schools is a faith school. Whereas 33% of the population are definitely NOT confirmed Christians who attend church weekly. More like 5% probably.

GrimmaTheNome · 16/03/2011 19:33

Do lots of people attend church just to try to get their kids into a particular school? Yes.

Did I do it? No. I was lucky enough to be able to buy our way out of this corrupted system. (I know that's a choice few have and many reject, but it sat better with my conscience)

Do I blame people who feel they have to do this? Not much. They didn't invent the system.

I'm afraid that though the OP is willing to go along with it, she'll be too late and so will end up disliking this way of organising admissions as most of us.

amothersplaceisinthewrong · 16/03/2011 19:38

I think ONLY English should be spoken in our schools (unless of course in a modern foreign languates lesson. We should expect that kids come to school speaking English. They should remain in nursery until they have learnt.

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