Sending children to Sunday school to get into good secondary

[wildawake]

What are your views on this?

I'm an atheist, I don't want it to be part of my children's life. However there are 2 very good schools in our town. To even have a chance of getting into either, they need to be seen to be attending church on a weekly basis.

I'm so conflicted. Makes me feel very uncomfortable, apparently they don't do much praying it's more crafts etc, but a register is taken which can be used when supporting school applications.

If it was up to me I wouldn't even be considering, however DH thinks I'm being very narrow minded, selfish, holding them back. They are excellent schools, both outstanding.

Definitely not. In my view it is completely hypocritical and sets a poor moral example to your dc. Sorry.

Check the school's entrance criteria - exactly how does it describe qualifying attendance?

Is baptism required?

Why would you send your child to a faith school if you're atheist?
Why would you want to?

Happens in my town, they have registers with local churches (CofE) and expect regular church attendance (2x a month) for the 2 years before year 6. The vast majority never go again once their kids are in, lots of joining cubs/ brownies etc too until they're in as church parade counts. It's been going on for years.

Only reason I want to is because they are ofsted outstanding schools, excellent exam results, superb reputation etc.

The other non religious high schools aren't fabulous, not dire but not great.

I want to do what's best for them.

They don't know my views on it, just religion not really part of our lives at home.

DH would be taking them (far more relaxed views than me),

I think you'll find it's a parent who has to go not the child. So send your dh. Job done.

In my town it's the kids who have to go - hence the registers. You're not in the NW are you op ?

I am in the north west. Yes deffo DH!

Lancashire ?

I'm in Bolton

I’d have absolutely no problems with it. State schools shouldn’t have religious requirements IMO. All children should have the chance to go to any state school near to them.

The churches are using religious admissions criteria to encourage young families into church. You are doing exactly what the churches want so surely it’s win win?

They can’t require children to be church attending as an admission criteria. They can ask it of parents. There is usually a time commitment so you can’t just pitch up two weeks before submitting the form.

That said, a priest that I sat on governing body with once said that if we were truly committed to spreading the message of Christianity, it was far more important to reach out to those who had very little experience of Christ as part of their lives and it was more important to educate atheists and agnostics than those being raised in a truly Christian family.

Go to church. You might be surprised. You might enjoy time for reflection. You might enjoy the sense of community and acceptance. You might find out an awful lot about yourself. After all, God works in mysterious ways.

You won’t be the first and you won’t be the last and any religious understanding and tolerance has to be a good thing.

I'd be fine with it. State schools shouldn't be allowed to select by religion or church attendance.

I think that if a child is well support at home they will always do their best no matter what school they are in. I am an atheist and I wouldn't compromise my beliefs for anything.

And what message do you thin you'll be giving your children by encouraging them to do do this?

Catholic schools require attendance to church at least 3 times a month, for 2 years prior to school application and for the child to have taken their first holy communion.

Different faith schools have different criteria. CoE for instance is more relaxed than catholic.

Admissions criteria in my area

You need to specifically read the admission criteria for each school and decide if you want to play the game! Churches are totally aware that people do it, but it still surprises me the number of people that haven’t read the admission criteria

And what message do you thin you'll be giving your children by encouraging them to do do this?

That she values their education, and that she recognises that a discriminatory system that segregates children by class and faith is not in their best interests.

Criteria can only require parents to attend/participate. If parents do, they are following the rules.

You don't want it as part of your life, but apparently it's good.
We don't know whether you value your principles, that's for you to decide.

Definitely the child, not the parent that needs to attend here as said child often had a hobby at that time and we had to ensure her once a month!!

We like the community but arent beleivers.

Catholic schools require attendance to church at least 3 times a month, for 2 years prior to school application and for the child to have taken their first holy communion.

Not the case in all areas. My catholic primary and secondary schools only require evidence baptism, there is no church attendance requirement. The secondary has a feeder system from the catholic primaries, with spaces for others too.

Also agree this is morally awful.

So In shaddywaddy's example that requires minimum of attendance during year 4 and 5, twice a month. Some may also add confirmation of baptism or specify particular parishes for worship and/or residence. You need to be clear what your chosen school's criteria are. Our local faith secondary has something like 230 faith places, 20 community plus LAC etc. To get a community place you have to live almost on the doorstep.

I'd do what was necessary, under your circumstances.

Game away.

It's unbelievable that in the 21st century, we tolerate this nonsense.