secondary schools

[megrob]

does anyone know if you can change your childs religion from church of england to Catholic? in order to get into a catholic school?

I think it would be hard to find a Catholic priest willing to essentially rebaptise to a different branch of the same faith especially if you were honest about your reasons. Would you be 'converting' too?

You would need to check with the Catholic church what preparation your child would need to complete, before being received into the faith. You would also need to check the admissions criteria for the school(s) you have in mind. Some Catholic schools (for example) expect the child to have been baptised in the first year of life.

if i wanted my child to go to a catholic school should i not declare their religion on application forms?

If they prioritise rc baptised children and other faiths you need to declare and evidence it to be allocated the relevant priority category. It is likely children of no faith are placed lower down. If you genuinely want to convert you need to speak to the priest and look at the school admissions criteria as to what evidence is required.

You've posted in the Secondary Education topic, so I think you are likely to need both baptismal and FC certificates, and the child themselves will need to have a record of church attendance.

Was your DC baptised in the CofE? If so that's recognised by the RC church and cannot be done again. They will need to show that they are on or have completed a series of Catholic Education classes (and I think it's the case that they often last for a full liturgical cycle - ie a year). Then there are the actual ceremonies of reception in to the church.

So you can't just declare it on the form without supporting evidence.

Does your DC actually want to be RC? This will be explored in the classes, and if they're not sure then they may be sent away for a period of further reflection

You don’t have to put religion on the application form to the council. However, there is a separate form for the catholic:church schools so if it’s oversubscribed you have virtually no chance. What are the admission criteria?

Sorry - you can just declare it on the form (the Supplementary Information Form, not the main LA one - do remember you need to do both). But it'll carry no weight without supporting evidence (probably relevant certificates, and PP's endorsement of attendance)

What do the criteria actually say for the school you've got your eye on?

In particular, what does it say about converts (who may not have baptismal certificates or have made their FC) but have been received (or be well on their way to it)

Separately, are there attendance requirements for any of the criteria?