Trying to get non-catholic DS into catholic school..

[VeryProbablyStupid]

I don't know if this is the place to post this..

DS is 27 months. I have started looking at the local schools etc. There are only three viable options. One school is in a kind of rough part of the area, although it does have good reports etc. Another is a welsh speaking primary, which Im not that keen on although I wouldnt count it out totally. The third is my favourite, its very small, only about 160 pupils in total, seems wonderful. Its a Catholic school, and they have told me seeing as DS is not in the actual catchment area and that he is not catholic, I would need to attend an interview to say why I would value a Catholic education..

There are a few muslim kids in the school, and I know they are not all Catholics, so Im confident there would be a place for him, but Im worried about what to say! I like the idea of there being a strong set of morals, and while Im not religious, I went to a regular school with Lords Prayer and hymns etc and I dont think its a bad thing for kids to be aware of this etc. Anyone been in a similar situation who can give me any tips?

He's only 2, you've got ages yet

Lol, Im not sure when I have to decide by! Dont want to miss my chance!

I think you should just concentrate on telling the school how you think a religious education would benefit your child and how it would shape his future and character. You can say it would give your DS choices in life rather than just following you or your partner (if you have one) in terms of religion or non religion. Also look at the school admission criteria. Think you still have to go thru the local council normal admission and just do additional stuff for faith schools e.g. extra forms to fill, interviews etc..If I was you I would also go for the catholic school.

I thought that interviews of any kind were explicitly forbidden in the Admissions Code. Is this in the published entry criteria?

convert to catholicism?

If you want to indoctrinate your kids into something, may as well do it yourself too

is the welsh speaking one all welsh? surely not.

I know a Hindu whose DC went to a CofE school.

It was their commitment to faith education that swung it for them. Which could be why a Muslim child would get into the school over a child of no particular faith

Is the school oversubscribed? You can find out by asking your LEA.

Do you know the admissions criteria?

There is absolutely no point trying to get in if there are many more Catholic applicants to the school than children who are actually offered a place.

You can do an advanced search here for topic "Catholic Primary School", and read a couple of old threads. It might give you an idea of what life would be like with a child in a Catholic school. A lot of involvement is expected from Parents, normally.

I don't think any state schools are allowed to interview parents
Where they possibly referring to the appeals process?

^^what strumpet said.

Sorry were not where

From the fact the OP talks about a Welsh speaking school I presume she is in Wales. The rules there are different from England.

I agree with Owed comments, it is probably your commitment to a faith that is important; my DS went to a catholic school, we are not catholic but we do have a strong faith - we met the Head, discussed it, and were offered a place.

I emailed them to ask about admissions and they said obviously priority would be given to Catholics, then nun Catholics in their catchment area. Then everyone else, and if they had too many they would be interviewing parents.

We are in wales. I didn't think about children of any faith being given places over nun faith kids but that's a good point.

I'm not sure is whoever said I should convert to catholicism was being sarcastic, I don't think it matters past my son going to the school I think he will be happiest in?

It would probably be easier to go to church and get DC baptised. We are Catholic and there is a lot of school-church involvement and community activity. Would be odd not to get involved really.

If priority goes to Catholics , then anyone in catchment and you are in neither category there may well not be any spaces left, so no, I doubt the poster who suggested converting was being sarcastic - many parents do exactly that, or move.

Do you know much about catholicism or what a catholic education will involve OP?

Even in Wales the school is not allowed to interview, though that has never stopped some schools from doing their own thing in the past !
OP if you can PM me the names of the schools and the Local Authority I will look at the admission criteria for the schools and tell you exactly what the situation is around admissions to the schools.
All schools in Wales do teach some welsh but it is a question over whether the schools are welsh media, bilingual or english media schools or not, do you know?
From your original post I would expect that your child would be starting school in september 2014 and you would apply for a school place between september 2013 and January 2014.

I would suggest you start going to the local church and convert (it doesn't really matter whether you believe or not), its the only way to prove your sincerity. But you will also be able to talk to the other parents in the church and they will know the inside scoop on how to pass the interview, what to say, who to be nice to etc. Once you get into the school the sibling rule will apply and you can have your Sunday's back to do more enjoyable stuff.

Completely disagree that you should go and convert for the sake of it. I'm not sure if you mentioned this or not but what is your personal stance on faith - atheist or a subscriber to a different religion? Speaking as a Catholic, I think the school would be flattered that you are happy to have a Catholic education for your child and that you support the ethos of the school. You can do that and not be Catholic. They are possibly trying to avoid a situation where they offer a place and then when your child starts at the school you come to them to say you don't like the various aspects of the Catholic ethos within the school e.g prayers. If that is the case, then this obviously isn't the school for your child, and they are simply making sure that doesn't happen..

If the school has typical admission criteria for a Catholic school the OP's child will stand less chance of getting a place if she does not convert. The school may be flattered that the OP wants her child to have a Catholic education and that she supports the ethos of the school but that will not help her get a place.

I do not mean this as a comment on faith (I admit I am not a believer) but tax payer funded schools should be open to all and I do not agree with discrimination being inflicting on a child because a priest says their parents doesn't believe in the right deity.

Therefore every child should have access to that school and if parents have to pretend to believe in one superstition rather than another to get DC into a good school, then so be it. So OP - my advice is to do everything possible to get your DC into a good school, if that means deception to overcome discrimination then do it, one day we will all be equal.

Of course OP isn't going to convert to Catholicism to get her DC into a Catholic school - that would be going along with what you disapprove of, rather than making a stand against it. If people follow through what you are saying, chloe, far from widening access to faith schools, it will restrict it even further.

It is really Hobson's choice for OP; I don't think she particularly wants a Catholic school, just that this is the least worst option. The best she can do is follow dinosaur's advice or the other possibility would be moving into catchment.

I repeat, dinosaur's advice won't get her anywhere. Telling the school that you want a Catholic education and support the ethos of the school will not get a child any priority for admission.

I agree, prh, but if the school takes a small number of children who are neither Catholic nor live in the catchment, the OP needs to find out what it is that gets them a place