On getting a DC of a different faith into a C of E school?

[minervasmom]

Ok, there's this really good C of E school in our part of London that I'm keen on DD attending. I much prefer it over our catchment area one (though have applied to anyway). I went to a Christian school myself.

Here's the deal though. When I saw the little blue form for the Church minister to fill in, my heart sank. I was expecting it but.... Well, my husband was born Anglican, even christened, but is now avowed atheist. I'm Hindu, born and bred, pretty devout. But in our faith we don't really attend a temple regularly, but practice our faith in private, meeting for annual religious festivals. Our family temple and priest is back home in Asia. DD even had a Hindu naming ceremony a bit like Christening, which was very sweet (I wanted her to have something )

So, does anyone have experience of getting a child into a faith school when from a different faith themselves? Do you have any advice? maybe writing a letter explaining why I prefer this school?

depends on their applications criteria: which criterion will you apply under? because you haven't a hope of getting in under any religious requirements. Are you in catchment?

The school will have defined admissions criteria, which you should be able to get either from the council website, the school website or the school itself. This will show you which criteria you are likely to be admitted under; as it stands, it would appear that you won't get in under the CofE religious criteria so you would be dependent on whether the school takes any applicants on distance, or on any other religious grounds (not usual, but not impossible). If it's an oversubscribed school (as a CofE school in london is likely to be) it's quite possible that it can easily fill a year through the CofE criteria alone. The school should be able to tell you how many pupils were admitted under each criteria in previous years.

A letter is unlikely to help unless there is a specific criteria specifying other religions, and even then you would need to prove it, which would be hard.

Can only speak for our local C of E school which is oversubscribed with siblings and church goers but you would not stand a chance. You have to be a regular worshipper at one of two churches.

Why do you prefer the school?

Thanks everyone, no there is no catchment with this school but we are walking distance and I hoped that would be a criteria. Also was hoping that if the school is looking to add some diversity, inter-faith pupils etc then we might get lucky. Though they might give preference to the other great abrahamic faiths over mine. Frankly I didnt even expect to get an application form (signed up for one last year).

@Patricia - how do you mean "prove it"? A letter from my priest? Or temple...? Yes that would be hard to get or justify. But can be done if it will help.

@QueenofFlamin - because their teaching is considered superior, the children well-mannered and well behaved, at least compared to the school we're resigned to in catchment for. I believe they go the extra distance with lessons, over and above curriculum, instil a real joy of learning. I don't mind the religious element to their school life which I hear is very minimal anyway.

Oh I see, have finally found the information online. Criteria no.5 (halfway down the list) does include other faiths where the following proof must be given:

"at least one parent has attended a meeting of the local religious community on a weekly basis for a minimum of two years"

But I still need to know if its worth going to all the trouble to get this proof if most CE schools in London are oversubscribed anyway?

Has no one been succesful in getting their child into a CE school without being Christian?

but how will you get this proof if neither of you attend religious meetings, let alone for two years?

there are plenty of non CE children in CE schools but lots of other children will have preference over you. All the CE ones, and all the siblings of children already there for starters.

@Donnie - You're right, I don't want to fabricate anything either.

I'm thinking of trying to meet or speak to the Head. If she doesn't seem encouraging, then that'll be it I guess.

Do those criteria apply to all places at the school? At the London C of E school where I am a governor, a third of the places are community places to which the religious attendance criteria don't apply. The diocesan board was encouraging all schools in the diocese to do this, although (of course) you might be in another diocese.

Meeting the Head will have no advantage, she must abide by the criteria set for admissions to the school. Even if she wanted to admit your child to broaden the racial/cultural/ethnic/mix of the school, she will be unable to if you don't meet the criteria, simple as that!

The school will be able to tell you how many children were admitted under each criteria in previous years, to give you an idea of how likely it is.

Is this for admittance in Sept 11? If so, you're not going to be able to meet the criteria, surely, as you won't have been worshipping in the area for 2 years?

The Head won't be able to bend the rules I'm afraid, the school must abide by it's published admissions criteria. I think it's much more likely you'll end up at the other school you applied for.

Don't get me started on religious entry criteria!!!!

I'm pretty sure that half the kids that attend my dd's C of E school aren't christened or ever go to church (apparent at a service a Christmas!)
I guess different schools have different rules....

My problem is more that I don't think church attendance should get people into a school. It makes for very odd congregations, registers being taken at services. I can't buy the idea that Jesus would select in this way, in fact he went out of his way to attract people who were def not religious types. It's a huge issue for me, although thankfully our local church doesn't have religious criteria for entry to the linked school. But I know from reading other threads that there is a very wide spread of opinion on thus and other issues relating to faith schools that are largely state funded.

Thank you, everyone, for your responses.

LaVieEnTechnicolor your school sounds wonderfully enlightened. I'm not sure how to find out if this one has similar criteria for number of places.

PatriciaHolm its for Nursery admission this year (I'm starting the fight early)

Being Hindu, its hard to prove worshipping in particular boroughs anyway. Our temples are few and far between. Besides I'm hoping a priest can explain how regular church attendance doesn't apply as we worship differently.

bubbles that's funny but sounds realistic. I bet I could sing more carols and hymns and desport myself suitably at church, than those kids :)

I was thinking of meeting the Head just to clarify these entry criteria, I'm pretty sure I meet one or two of them.

my DS's are at CoE church schools (infant and junior) there is no religious requirement- it's just like applying for any other LEA school.

Thought generally speaking (not totally most of the pupils at both school are Christian of one denom or another because of the broad general Christian ethos of the schools it's hard to get away with if you don't want your child exposed to it (though we do have a few from other faiths)

My children go to a non selective C of E school. Religion plays no part in whether your child gets a place or not. You can be a Satanist for all they care. Nobody has priority based on religion even if they are C of E church attendants or christianed.

Ditto discodaisy

Our school is a C of E school but my kids never go to church, and nor do I, but because it is our catchment school, that's where they go.

You should be able to find out whether this school has open/community places (different schools call them different things) by looking at your borough's schools admissions booklet - it should give each school's admission criteria and information about last year's admissions (how many places awarded under each criterion, distance at which the last place was awarded etc).

Also, you've just mentioned that you are interested in admission for a nursery place. The admissions criteria for nursery are often different from those for reception. This is something else you need to check. It is quite common for local education authorities to say that admission to the nursery does not guarantee a place for reception - our LEA does this.

You need to be aware that in most cases, unless specified in the admission criteria, getting your child into the nursery does not confer any advantage when it comes to getting a place for the reception year.
I would not place a child in a nursery knowing that in 12 months time you are going to have send them to a different school -it is not fair on the kid.
I think you have to be realistic if this is an oversubscribed school, it will almost for sure be because there are too many pupils who meet the faith criteria. You are not going to do that unless you suddenly develop religion and start taking your child to the church.