Are there any non-catholics out there who send their children to a catholic school?

[pepsi]

Just wondered, Ive started a new thread for this. My ds is going to a catholic school in January, we are not catholic, just wondered if this seems a bit odd to people/and if anyone else is in our position. School in question is great.

OUr daughter went to a catholic secpndary for a while but then we moved away from the area. WE were very happy with the ethos of the school. However we are Christians and asked lots of questions about what she would be taught and expected to do at the school. I guess it depends on your own beliefs and the ethos of the school really - but we thought it was great.

I'm currently on mat leave but the catholic secondary I teach at has less than 50% catholic students - you may find you are not that unusual

Great thanks for that, that makes me feel better. I dont like to be different, I just want my family to be "normal", whatever that is. Sometimes I think I think about things too much and then get confused and dont know what Im thinking....like now.

My daughter goes to a catholic school and although nearly all the kids are nominally catholic (though not many families are strictly by the book types, not regular churchgoers, etc), however in many cases only one parent is from a catholic background. As long as you are happy to support the school's ethos, etc. it should be ok. Do you know if there are many other non-catholics at the school and if all pupils are expected to take part in RE together? So far in our school the RE teaching seems to be very similar to normal state schools in that they learn about other religions too and the emphasis seems to be on christianity in general rather than the catholic version of it. In fact, the word catholic is rarely mentioned. I think the schools are a lot more liberal than when I was a kid! A few years ago, when year 3 made their first communion, only one child was non-catholic and she was very much included in the whole thing, went to the first communion mass along with her class mates, wore a simple white dress and received a special blessing from the priest rather than receive communion. However, when I went to secondary school in Ireland in the late '70's any non-catholics generally went to the library during RE.

My dd goes to a catholic primary school and we're not Catholic. It's a great school the best in our area, or was last I heard. There are a lot of non catholic children at the school because they are in the catchment area for it although when we applied we were told that first priority went to catholic children who had been baptised in the Catholic chruch, the next priority was catchment area etc. I think there were 5 priority areas and we were in the last one but we got a place. I don't think it's that unusual nowadays to be non catholic at a catholic school.

Totally agree with linnets post. I am R.C and am about to send my first child to a Cof E school because of its reputation, but now feel terrible for not supporting the local R.C school which is perfectly adequate but not as smart and wonder if it will feel unusual to us.

Just catching up on messages so thank you all, you have made me feel better and realise that we are not odd at all.

Yes we do. Oldest Catholic school in England. There are lots of denominations there. No problems at all.

pepsi - I went to a catholic primary school (my parents were nominally C of E but in practise were non-religious) and I loved it. I have very fond memories of that school and my friends there. I'm sure your ds will be fine

Do you agree with any of the teachings whatsoever?

Am curious as to how you can get into a Catholic school without being a Catholic - I thought you had to be seen at Mass, show baptism,communion,confirmation certs etc ? I was brought up as a Catholic,though I don't go to Mass anymore and am married to an atheist, but I wouldn't mind my son attending a Catholic school as I loved every aspect of my Catholic education - at Primary school we backed on to the church and spent a lot of time in there, Mass and Benediction (loved that - incense and mystic ritual !) plus the Stations of the Cross every lunch time in Lent...

binker-it depends on where you live. In some areas where the R.C. schools are more popular they do ask for all that but in others, esp where R.C. population is low anyway, they're not so fussy. Priority goes to R.C. kids but any remaining places are open to anyone.

we recently moved, the best option for our son was the catholic school as it had excellent results, less numbers in class and a super small school feeling about it. dh and I are both baptised Catholics but nonpractising in the nost literal sense, ds is not baptised and we have never attended church.
he has settled in well, now sings "god" songs happily, has integrated well, you will likely find, there are many non true Catholics in situ as your ds settles in!

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My friend isn't a catholic but lives in a catholic area and sends her children to catholic schools as she thinks the education in them is better than the state system- from talking to her dd who's in year 9 I have to say that I think discipline in her particular school is far superior to my state school

My DS has been at a Catholic school for the last 5 years. When we considered sending him there we asked if it made a difference us not being catholic, they said not at all. They said that 60% said they were cCtholic, 40 % actualllywere catholic and 20% were actually practising catholics.

My DS has loved the atmosphere and ethos, and felt a real sense of belonging.he loves mass and says it gives him time to reflect on life, something we don'talways do in an anglican service, He has considered converting a few times, and I would n't have a problem if he wanted to.

The pastoral care is fantastic.