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St. Paul's Primary school

4 replies

JanLady · 30/10/2016 22:56

Hi,
Does anyone know how religious are St. Paul's Primary School and St. Matthew's? Seems like they might be in a catchment area of a house we might rent, but since we're secular and Jewish by culture, we prefer a non-religious school. What happens if your area school is religious? Would they reassign you?
Thanks.

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CityCentre · 31/10/2016 14:00

From what I've know, St Paul's is religious (Church of England, VA) and the head teacher is fairly keen on religion. St Matthew's is not religious (despite its name) apart from what is required for any community school.

You would not be reassigned a school - all schools will have some small element of religion of a broadly Christian nature (often very minimal - a reading at assembly, or a few songs, sometimes focusing on general 'kindness' type values), and you are able to withdraw your child from this if you want. (In many schools, you'd barely notice it).

Schools such as St Paul's will give priority to those who attend church, but in practice, many lower down the criteria will also get in on distance, including those who do not practise any religion.

The council will have a list of which catchment various streets are in - it won't be both St Matthew's or St Paul's, but one or the other, and you will also have a slight priority if you apply to your catchment one. You could still get in on distance grounds, though, if the school isn't oversubscribed (e.g., if you are in St Paul's catchment, but prefer St Matthew's as it's less religious, and you live quite close, you might still get in). I don't know how oversubscribed they are these days. You are better off making sure you rent in a street that is in the catchment of St Matthew's, as you will then have a better chance of getting in (and the closer the better, as distance will be a tie-breaker within the category).

CityCentre · 31/10/2016 14:06

that all, of course, is assuming you are applying for Reception.

If you're applying for a mid-year place, then it's fairly irrelevant (unless you're going on waiting lists), and the only thing that matters in which school has places, and whether you can find one that you are comfortable with the level of religion in that has places - there are several fairly central schools that would be realistic to get to from that sort of area, some more religious than others.

Cammumm · 01/11/2016 08:45

St Matthews is not at all religious and has quite a mixed intake so doesn't assume they'll all celebrate Christian festivals. They are generally over subscribed for reception but often have places in older year groups as families tend to move to less central locations as their children get older.

JanLady · 02/11/2016 03:28

Thanks, all! Not applying for Reception. We're coming to Cambridge in January...

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