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Original poster

You know how a lot of us object to the way church schools run on state money but won't let any old taxpaying atheist in?

81 replies

WendyWeber · 03/04/2008 21:17

Well....

DD1 didn't get a teaching job at a CofE school today because the person who did is a practising Catholic (and DD1 is any old taxpaying atheist).

OP posts:
ScienceTeacher · 03/04/2008 21:18

and your point?

harpsichordcarrier · 03/04/2008 21:20

I think her point is probably something about religious discrimination being a pretty bad thing?

ScienceTeacher · 03/04/2008 21:22

Maybe the other candidate was just better

Original poster
WendyWeber · 03/04/2008 21:23

It was equal between the 2 of them otherwise.

Obv if church schools were entirely funded by the church it wouldn't be an issue.

OP posts:
harpsichordcarrier · 03/04/2008 21:23

yes, possibly.
but church schools can and do discriminate on the grounds of religion in their recruitment and selection.

Original poster
WendyWeber · 03/04/2008 21:23

No, the other candidate wasn't better.

OP posts:
harpsichordcarrier · 03/04/2008 21:25

nasty business, discrimination.
makes everything a bit grubby, imo.

Hulababy · 03/04/2008 21:25

She should have had feedback following her interview. Did they give reasons as to why she didn't get the job, bar her religious beliefs.

I have been in a similar situation. I didn't get the job. The person who did was in a similar position to me but was practising Catholic. I am CofE and not practising. Feedback was all good for me and me and the other candidate scored the same "points" in the interview system, but they employed the catholic lady as she could offer extra stuff re the religious instuction, etc. And I couldn't offer that.

ScienceTeacher · 03/04/2008 21:25

How do you know the other candidate wasn't better?

If it's a toss-up, then it's only reasonable that they look at the ethos of the school.

Original poster
WendyWeber · 03/04/2008 21:28

Similar then, Hula, but that wasn't what she was told - the official feedback she got was that the other candidate was older and would better balance the ages in the department.

The unofficial feedback, from a friend in the dept, was that it was the religious aspect that swung it.

It's not the end of the world, she is good and she will get a job, but she was very keen on this one

OP posts:
LaComtesse · 03/04/2008 21:28

Why would a CofE school necessarily prioritise a Catholic teacher? They're not technically the same faith although they probably did consider the relative backgrounds of each candidate if everything else was equal.

harpsichordcarrier · 03/04/2008 21:30

well, to discriminate on the grounds of age is illegal discrimination.

ScienceTeacher · 03/04/2008 21:30

practicing catholic = devout christian. Pretty cool for a church school.

Heathcliffscathy · 03/04/2008 21:30

had anyone taken a church school to court over this ever??? would be v interesting.

harpsichordcarrier · 03/04/2008 21:31

yes, wouldn't it? religious discrimination makes my teeth itch.
I would certainly take them to tribunal if they had openly admitted to age discrimination tbh.

Original poster
WendyWeber · 03/04/2008 21:31

Dunno, sophable, but a NQT isn't the person to do it

OP posts:
DrNortherner · 03/04/2008 21:33

ut sirely in any job it can come down to 2 candidates, who on paper have the same credentials/quals/expereince. Then it comes down to personality, and when recruiting you do have consider the balance of the current team etc.

All this talk of discrimination is rubbish. So everyone who does not get a job is being discriminated against in some shape or form?

Unfitmother · 03/04/2008 21:34

Why was 'any old taxpaying atheist' 'very keen' on a church school?

harpsichordcarrier · 03/04/2008 21:34

WW would you suggest to her that she speak to her union about the age discrimination?
v bad practice, but perhaps the school on't know the law

Original poster
WendyWeber · 03/04/2008 21:36

Thing is, if they'd said the other candidate had the edge in one or more specific areas she would have minded less!

She's not bothered about the religious edge - I am, but it's nowt to do with me.

Onward and upward.

OP posts:
harpsichordcarrier · 03/04/2008 21:36

religious discrimination is unfair and illegal, just like race and sex discrimination.
discriminating against someone because their qualifications aren't as good isn't.
it really is quite a straightforward distinction.

DrNortherner · 03/04/2008 21:36

Why is it age discrimination?

She did not get the job. 2 similar candidates, 1 believes in God, 1 doesn't.

In a church school I'd hire the beleiver any day.

flowerybeanbag · 03/04/2008 21:36

I find it strange they've admitted to age discrimination, which I would have thought in this context is more unacceptable. You could see there may be a possible 'genuine occupational requirement' for the religious discrimination, wanting a practising Christian, but no justification for age discrimination.

UnquietDad · 03/04/2008 21:37

But when recruiting for jobs they can do whatever the hell they like that doesn't break the law. If it comes down to two people who are equal in qualifications and experience they can go for the one with nicer hair or the one with the fitter arse, or the one they simply like best. It wouldn't be wrong.

I am as ready to spit blood about the arachic ridiculousness of faith-based stated education as you are, WW, but I think this is a separate issue, to be honest. Sorry.

LaComtesse · 03/04/2008 21:37

Well if the older person hadn't got the job instead then they could claim that they'd been discriminated against. There was only one job vacancy so somebody's going to be disappointed. They might have thought that the older person might find it harder to get a job than the younger person.

Who knows? Unless the interviewer is reading this