St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School

[DeeLite]

Anyone know if it's hard to get in here? Our DS will be due to start school in 2014 and we would like him to have an RC schooling as we did. I like that St B's is a small school and the pupils we see in the park from there always seem very happy and well-behaved.

Do we need to start going to mass? I have London friends who are busily making cakes for their PP and attending mass every Sunday to ensure their kids get into school but I find that a bit as none of them would have dreamed of going to mass before they had kids.

DH and I are both RC and both went to RC primary and secondary schools. We didn't have a church wedding but had our DS baptised. We don't go to mass as I don't find the PP very inspiring and probably wouldn't go anyway if I'm honest. I will obviously start going once DS is in school but do I really have to go before then in order to get into the school?

Sorry, just briefly here, yes you do need to start going to mass and demonstrate a real commitment to the Catholic faith. There is, for all faith schools in Brighton, guidance available from the council, and undoubtably available online, that informs you of the procedures for ensuring you get a place at them. Good luck.

Thanks Sam. I guess that's fair enough but wondered whether the competition was as stiff as in London and hoped that our heritage would bump us up the list ahead of people like my London friends who aren't RC but had their kids baptised in the faith in order to get into the right school .

yes it is stiff. Most schools in Brighton are oversubscribed - again you can get details form the council of how it works out per school.

I believe if you are not seen to be practicing then you have no entitlement to a place over people who play the game you describe.