Catholic schools

[Balsam]

OK, I admit I'm totally ignorant about religion so hope these questions aren't too stupid.

DS will start school in a year or so. There's a bog standard primary school down the road but practically opposite our house is a Catholic primary school. It has excellent results, as I understand many faith schools do.

DP and I are totally non-religious. I doubt we would stand any chance of getting DS into this school anyway BUT we're wondering whether we should apply on the off chance.

What I want to know (and can't tell from the school's website) is how much religious stuff there would be in the curriculum. Would it be fairly full on?

I also wonder if DS would be bullied because of not going to church every week and so on. And also, I gather Catholicism is a more....heavy religion (the ides of sin, hell and so on) than what you might get in a, say, CofE school.

Anyone got experience of sending their children to a Catholic school when they're not one themselves?

I suppose the best thing to look at would be the admission criteria

Our Catholic school has a good reputation, but the chances of a non-catholic child getting in is remote - a record is kept of the no. of times the child/family attends church and this is taken into consideration when the parents submit the child's application.

We send our child to a CoE school - the admission procedures are slightly different to the non-aided schools, but the only stipulation is that the child's parents are on one of the local parish registers.

Catholic schools do around 2 1/2 hours of specific Catholic RE a week. Same time allocation as Science.

catholic school are not so heavy nowadays. Yes they do learn about religion and have to say prayers in the mornings before lunch etc so not as bad as in the 50s and 60s. But most would expect you to attend church regularly, Each area is different around here you have not got any chance to get into a catholic school unless you are catholic and even then is very hard but other area may have less catholic residents and the school is under subcribe. Even COE schools are some time more heavily on the regilion side than others. Do bear in mind if you send your child to a catholic school that most of them will be making their communion and reconcilliation in y3 and do you want to be part of that etc. Why dont you make an apppointment with the school and see what you feel. Catholic schools are the same as most - they are not all religion crazy.

It's not heavy as such but it is sprinkled over most things throughout the school day IYSWIM. I certainly don't think your child would be bullied for not attending mass.

FWIW, speaking as a Catholic, I have absolutely no problem with non Catholics applying and going to the schools, it's the deception of people pretending to be Catholic I don't like. But if you're up front with it, go and have a chat with them and apply if it's what you want. You might not get in but you never know. Good luck :)

Thanks all for your replies. Don't worry, we have no intention of pretending to be Catholic - I find that sort of behaviour inexcusable, frankly.

The same as everyone else on the planet, we just want the best education for our child. I'm just weighing up the good reputation of the school, in terms of its academic record, against any possible implications of a) the religious instruction DS might receive and b) any 'social' effects from the other children and parents of us being non-Catholic and not attending church.

My dc go to the village catholic school, we're not catholic but like you it was closer than the bog standard school and being lazy that was the main attraction. Our school is about 50/50 non/catholics.

Our school seems to have fits and starts of religion, for eg ds1 has today had to take something in connected with the creation story. (he took a dinosaur, not sure that they were mentioned in the bible but he's there to learn). There are masses every term and lots of events are held in the church.

As we are a very non religious family I think it's good that the dc are aware. I've found that I've learnt as much as the dc have. I would say to go and have a look around the school and ask the questions.

I love the idea of your DS taking in a dinosaur for a lesson on creation !

I would never send my DC to a Catholic school on principle, but I would second what others have said about looking round the schools and seeing what you think.

Also try and speak to some parents and see what their opinions are.

Good luck .

Just wanted to post before I go to bed, but I certainly don't think your DS would be bullied for being a non Catholic!

It's certainly worth applying on the off chance.

My DS1 has gone from a Catholic junior, to a Catholic senior school and tells us quite definitely he is an atheist.