would you consider a faith school?

[londoniana]

Hi, I'm hoping to get some insight.

We are moving from Ealing to Teddington and our daughter is due to start reception in September 2012. We were advised by the Ealing council to hang on to our current school place until we know for sure we're moving (i.e. have a sale contract in hand).

Now, on Teddington. There are three community schools that are all oversubscribed (in fact I know already there are some kids with no school place yet, for the 2012/2013 yr). Out of those three, two won't have a community bulge for sure, Stanley is a 4-form and Hampton Wick Infant was recently expanded to 3-form. Collis had a bulge year a couple of years back but at this stage there is no promise of it.

There is also a small Roman Catholic church state school (Sacred Heart) where they've already added a bulge class for 2012/2013 and looks like some of the children in the borough who are not Catholic were allocated places there. (And there's one more CE state school I know nothing about and it's far, so not considering that one at all)

Initially, I was thinking about listing only the three community schools on the late application - Collis, Hampton Wick, Stanley, in order of preference (and order of distance, actually). Collis is very close 400m or so, and we have good chances to be at the top of the wait list (last distance offered this year at initial allocation was 650m or so).

But, when I found out about the non-Catholic kids being allocated at Sacred Heart I thought... why not list Sacred Heart as well, since it's around the corner and is a good school? We might have good chances to get in because of the bulge class..

However, I don't know much about faith schools and I am a bit worried to send my daughter to an RC school - won't she feel isolated/different there? The school is a small 1-form RC and normally non-Catholic kids are not admitted there - this is a bulge year. Anything else I should consider?

Thank you!

I am Catholic and my DCs have all been to a Catholic primary school.

Be prepared for some religious symbolism around the school - statues, cruxifixes etc. At my DS's school they say prayers at the start and end of the day and grace before meals. They also have assemblies and hymn practice weekly. He performed in a Nativity play at Christmas and there are religious themed performances for Easter and Harvest Festival. The parish church is next door and the children use this when they are older to prepare for First Communion and Confirmation.

This all sounds a bit full on but it isn't in reality. The Catholic aspect is taken seriously but is kept separate from the rest of the curriculum. The focus of the school is to promote a caring ethos in the pupils. The children are well mannered and well behaved.

The school is now oversubscribed and could fill it's classes just from Catholic children but when DD1 went there she had a number of non-Catholic children in her year. They joined in without any issues - just didn't participate when it came to Communion and Confirmation.

Good luck with your move and I hope your DD enjoys her new school - wherever you choose.

Thank you, this sheds some light into the daily routine for sure. Is the routine pretty much the same everywhere? Are there Catholic schools that are 'more Catholic' than others?

I forgot to mention, we are Christian (Orthodox) but not really church goers and religion does not play a big role in our lives. I don't mind the religious symbolism at all but for sure I don't want her to feel like she doesn't belong there and can't participate.

Do you have other children? It looks like their admissions state that being a sibling only increases preference within each category. If they've got a bulge class then the single class in a few years' time will be very oversubscribed and there will be very little chance of your child getting in.

I'm sure that as a result of the bulge class she wouldn't be the only non-Catholic at the school.

I can't really speak for other schools. The one I know about is fairly standard in my limited experience. Of about 250 families only about 2 or 3 dozen are regular church goers.

Here, Communion preparation is in Year 3 and Confirmation is in Year 6. Thinking back to the children in DD1's year the non- Catholic children had the option of not participating in any RE/services. They came to the services and sang along with the hymns - one of the boys was Joseph in the Year 1 Nativity play. The school includes children in everything - unless a parent asks them not to.

I would do anything to avoid it personally. I don't believe in God and would find it pretty much impossible to support the school on anything to do with religion, which in a faith school filters into everything they do - it's precisely what you sign up for. And being able to support the school ethos and work with them is a huge part of education so for me personally, no, I couldn't do it.

All schools are different. Some religious schools are so in little more than name, while others are very heavy on it. If I were you I would go to look around, see what they say, look at what the children are doing that is up on the walls (lots of stuff related to bible stories?) that sort of thing.

We don't have much choice but faith as there are so many faith schools here. DD1 went to the nearest school which is a faith school, they have a special service every week at church and many lessons reference the bible (judging by what she is saying!).

So you need to go and see the schools. Always see the schools IMO, it is the only way to get a feel for them.

And in answer to your question the answer is yes obviously, as I do! I am an athiest though, and the school is of a different branch of christianity than the one I was brought up in.

Depends whether you can smile and nod when people including your children talk to you about Jesus, or not, really.

@Polly No other existing children and none planned so that's not a concern.

@sparkle I do believe in God and we have Catholics in the extended family so I guess we're a bit different there.

The thing is, I'm from a country where there are no state religious schools and generally school education and religious education were always kept separate. I'm not sure about this whole idea of a religious school, just trying to make up my mind re listing that school on the school application form... I don't want to get offered a place and then have to turn it down.

@SardineQueen thank you very much! Good to hear from someone in a similar boat. I've only visited one of the schools there so far, which is the closest one to our future home.

It's a good idea to visit the RC one before I list it, and try to speak with people locally.

I think what Polly is saying us that the siblings of the bulge class will get preference in future years, so places for other children, i.e. your DC, will be limited as there will be twice as many siblings as in 'normal' years.

I was really anti faith schools until I went to some. Found they had a lovely ethos and DD will be going to an RC school. I don't have an RC bone in my body but (DH does) it is lovely school, outstanding in all areas and a kind and caring head. There is a set amount of religion they have to do but some do seem to go less heavy on it, as long as they hve good acedemic results too this doesn;t bother me. The way I see it is I can balance it all out with my heathen nature when she gets home. Funny thing is around here the non faith schools that aren't as good people would step over someones dead body to get into but a lot of people ignore the faith ones. This means it is often easier to get a place. Maybe i will change my tune after a few years of it but currently delighted with my choice. Becasue they are linked to churches they also seem to have great community links too which i think is an added bonus. Go and check them out and see what you think for yourself.

londoniana it must be hard to get to grips with state funded faith schools here if it is not what you are used to. It is an anachronism IMO and state education should not involve religious worship.

However you "get what you're given" and we have the choices that we have. Around here there are loads of religious state schools - so I had little choice - they were all quite good schools so I went with the one that was nearest (I think walking to school at primary age is v important) and the one that I liked the atmosphere and head best (same school happily!). So it's a case of weighing up what the important things are and which you can compromise on. I could compromise on religion to get the other things I wanted, what each family compromise on is individual to them

Go and see all the schools, and good luck

Strangely I felt I could compromise with going CofE, but not RC which is the religion I was brought up with. So even amongst the religious schools there may be some you feel you would like and some you would not.

I'm sure you'll work it out

Thanks all - I've decided to visit it and if it all looks okay I will list it as the third choice since it's so close to us (the fourth choice is a community school that's almost 2 miles away so not walkable, and I don't drive).

For what it's worth I have (Catholic) friends with children at Sacred Heart and they are delighted with the school.

It is very small, with excellent academic results and a lovely feel about it. It's Catholic ethos is very central to the school though so you do need to have a think about this. There is not much outside space (unlike Collis) and this can put parents off.

Having a look around the school is an excellent idea.

My children go to a faith (CofE) school I am a lutherean protestant dh was raised baptist but is now agnostic The children have been been christened but I would not say we practice religion in our house.

When we moved down here this was simply the only school that had spaces for 3 children and dd3 joined her siblings the year after. We have not looked for other schools as over all I am satisfied with the school I have had to go and and remind them once or twice that my children are noted as not of the faith and I have had a few objections. (I dont like my children coming home to be told they HAVE to give something up for lent for example - i have no problem with them knowing that this is what Cof E does and believe) school has over all been helpful with this and I know my children are not the only one who is down as non faith etc.

I think the poster who said it depended upon how willing you were to nod and listen. For me it is easier as I do have a Christian belief however it is very different to CofE so there has been times where I have had to say "actually this is what I believe" none of my children believe in any sort of god so I dont think I will say I feel the school is "bible bashing" and they spend time researching other religion. I am comfortable with them saying grace and having a religious assembly plus the vicar coming to visit by weekly for me these are things that can enrich your childs cultural experiences I am aware not everyone feels this way.