Getting into out of catchment church primary

[user987654]

I'm looking for advice from those who have managed to get their dc into a church school through church attendence (I'm not interested in opening a debate on the rights/wrongs of doing so, ultimately this is the system in our country atm).

I moved to an area end of 2017, have a preschool dc. The school we'd probably get is not great so would like to have a fighting chance of getting them into the church school, but we're not in catchment (I have checked and kids from this area do get in with church attendence).

Intend to go to church from now on and get them baptised there.

If you did this successfully, how early did you start attending? Did you get involved in the church any other ways?

Does it matter if only one parent goes?

Concern for me is that they don't seem to take a register so how are they monitoring church attendence in families?

Would be good to hear from people who did this and they still didn't get the school.

@brilliotic

Priest! I think you mean priest:)

My parents were one RC one not, my mother (the not) developed selective claustrophobia ie said nope not sitting through this!

I think our schools just cared that the children were RC, one parent was definitely enough. We were brought up with it all so were, I think my parents actually debated whether they should send us to a school that all the kids in our street weren’t going to, but went for the choice and it was a lovely school.

A lot of religious focus every day though, mass, prayers, kick ass nativity plays:)

I quietly opted out as a young teenager, it just wasn’t for me. The high school was beginning to look at becoming more inclusive just as I was leaving, a much better thing in my view to be honest!

@LuMarie, in fact in this case it was the deacon who signed attendance forms :)

The priest, fairly new to the parish, was not involved, in fact seemed bored by it all. The deacon had been there for decades and was very happy to singlehandedly control who could get in to the popular school, and seemed to enjoy making parents jump through hoops to be noticed, in order to be able to obtain his signature as there was no attendance record.

You win Titchy. We got 9 points and dd was offered a place in 2009. We ballsed up and sent her to the other one that was closer. Had her out of there pdq. Was ghastly and not what it was cracked up to be. .

@brilliotic

RC has deacons?!

I recall priests and archbishops, but not deacons. Goodness me, I really wasn't paying attention lol

It's not remotely offensive or disingenuous to do this. The school criteria are based on attendance not belief. The church welcomes people to attend no matter what they believe. Churches aren't membership clubs for people who believe a set list of things - the OP will be very welcome.

The OP won't be taking anyone's "rightful" place - if the criteria place out-of catchment church- attenders as a higher priority than in-catchment non-attenders then one fewer in-catchment non-attenders will be admitted (presumably the one who lives furthest away within the catchment) but that's not the OP's fault, the place will be legitimately theirs according to the criteria and not "taken" from anyone else.

Different churches and schools will have different setups. My brother's church had a very formal system - a signin register at the church door that was put away as soon as the church service started so that latecomers didn't get to sign in, and when school applications we due in there were two set days during which you had to make an appointment slot to have your signatures independently counted. My church has no register and whilst I attend regularly anyway (have done since before DC were conceived, will do long after they've left education) it does worry me slightly that there's no proof without a register. All churches have little gift-aid envelopes to allow you to put your collection plate money into - if you use one of those every time you attend then when the time comes to apply if there is any doubt in their minds whether you are entitled to the signature you can suggest that they check the Gift Aid records which will have dates for all your attendances.

To answer the other Q in the OP I would suggest that you start attending as soon as possible - if you start precisely 52 weeks before a deadline that looks at attendance over the preceding 52 weeks that is cutting it a bit fine.

You need to check their admissions criteria. The school local to me specifies a particular Church, you have to have been on roll for 2 years prior to applications and attend regularly.

WE see this in our church all the time. Family rocks up with a 3 year old. Attends for a year and gets the forms signed then dont see them again until the next child is due to start school or the first child wants a place in the church secondary! The vicar/Sunday school teachers can tell them a mile off. Doesn’t mean they can’t sign the forms though! It’s a massive loophole in the school system, and rightly or wrongly we all do what’s best for our children.