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Original poster

Church schools - how can they get away with it?

567 replies

CountessDracula · 23/08/2006 21:33

Am I right in thinking that they are state funded?

How come they can pick and choose when others can't? Isn't it essentially exclusion on the basis of religion, isn't that BAD in the current climate?

OP posts:
Celia2 · 23/08/2006 21:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LIZS · 23/08/2006 21:37

I thought they were another form of "opted out" schools which control their own LEA budget and may reiev some from the Church to which they are attached, and which can set their own admissions criteria, one of which could be regular attendance at a particular church or living in the parish .

Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/08/2006 21:38

but they are funded by the taxpayer?

I think it is wrong if they are

OP posts:
southeastastra · 23/08/2006 21:39

it's a loaded topic!!

Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/08/2006 21:39

It just seems unfair

OP posts:
Thomcat · 23/08/2006 21:45

So what's the answer, not have church schools. if people who don't have a faith all sent their kids to a church school it wouldn't be a church school.

Does the same go for special needs schools? Should children without special needs be allowed to go, becasue it's a great school with wonderful teachers?

Not arguing, just commenting btw - so don't start, okay!!!!

Thomcat · 23/08/2006 21:49

And is it sexist if a girl isn't allowed to attend a boys school?????!!!!!!!

LIZS · 23/08/2006 21:50

But it is free to all for whom it is relevant because it is State/Church funded . Would you rather they were all fee paying ? It is only "wrong" because they have a reputation for being better performing schools and therfore often oversubscribed, if all schools were equal quality-wise would you have the same issue ?

Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/08/2006 21:51

yes but you can't send your child to a church school (around here) unless you are a churchgoer (genuinely or not!) So no chance of the church school being turned non-church.

Obv special needs schools are totally different. Just because you are catholic or c of e or muslim doesn't give you a SEN. Your special need should be fulfilled with your family in your place of worship, NOT in a state funded school

OP posts:
olivia35 · 23/08/2006 21:53

Church schools should not be a feature of the state education system IMO, having attended a peculiarly hellish example because my (atheist) parents thought it would be the best of a bad lot locally.

Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/08/2006 21:53

I think that single sex and religious schools are both anachronisms

OP posts:
Celia2 · 23/08/2006 21:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

olivia35 · 23/08/2006 21:56

Specialist colleges & SEN schools cater for students with particular aptitudes/talents/educational needs. That isn't the case for church schools.

Cappuccino · 23/08/2006 21:56

we've been here before, many looooong, loooong threads. It usually ends up with MrsBadcrumble and me getting into a scrap

i only have experience of C of E but basically it's very very rare for a church school to exclude on the grounds of religion. you don't usually have to be religious and you don't have to attend the worship. my dd goes to a church school and I'd say I've seen 5 of the kids in her class at the church.

(Mrs Badcrumble look I'm going, see, I've got my pyjamas on and everything )

Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/08/2006 21:56

I have no problems with people paying to send their children to schools with leanings of their choice

I just don't see why the nearest primary school to me (by a long way) should be reserved for catholics. I was brought up a catholic, I am not religious and am not prepared to pretend to be a catholic to get dd into school, neither do I want her to go to a catholic school. I want her to go to the local school and I don't understand why the church should be funded to spread its propaganda via my tax contributions

OP posts:
Thomcat · 23/08/2006 21:56

But if you don't go to church or have a faith then why would you want to send you child to a church school? What's the problem?
It's a church school for a reason, because the parents want their child to be bought up in the , say Catholic ethos.
Why should a family who don't have any faith send their kid to such a school? Becasue they have the reputation of being better schools. Well why are they better, what makes them that way?

Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/08/2006 21:57

well cappucino, you can't get into this school unless you are a church going catholic

OP posts:
olivia35 · 23/08/2006 21:57

In my pyjamas & off soon too, honest...

Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/08/2006 21:57

yes tc that is why I said that I don't want her to go to a catholic school

It is state funded it should not BE catholic

OP posts:
Cappuccino · 23/08/2006 21:58

ah well, catholics, they should all go and jump in the sea

imo

Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/08/2006 21:58

it is also no better than the other schools but it is closer

OP posts:
Original poster
CountessDracula · 23/08/2006 21:59

catholic, c of e, muslim, whatever

I just don't see why I fund something I am excluded from

OP posts:
Thomcat · 23/08/2006 21:59

Sorry, I'm a dimwit. I don't get why it shouldn't be statefunded.
I just don't get what the big problem is.

Cappuccino · 23/08/2006 21:59

as I said I only have experience of C of E

and it's different, really. Don't lump us in with those over-committed Catholics. Cos we really couldn't give a bugger.

alex8 · 23/08/2006 21:59

The C of E church I did a teaching practice has a sliding scale of entrance. First were c of e kids, then any kids who were religions (eg had references from Iman etc) then lastly local non religious kids.