Would you risk applying to the faith school if not religious?

[FlamingGallah]

Looking at primary schools, and saw a very impressive C of E school yesterday which has shaken up what I thought we were going to do! Lovely outdoor space and facilities, much better than the "normal" state ones we'd seen. Problem is that we aren't religious and it's oversubscribed, but if they end up taking 2 classes rather than 1 this year, we might get a place.

My concern is that we have 2 younger siblings too. If DC1 did manage to get in, it wouldn't count for as much in the over subscription criteria as it would normally, as we'd still be behind all the churchgoing folk (which is fair enough). So we'd potentially have this stress with the other 2 and would risk them not getting in when it's their turn.

Is it worth the risk?? Thanks for any advice! The alternative schools also have a good feel, but much less impressive facilities...

personally one of the biggest things for me was feeling secure dd2 would get into the same school. A lot of other people seem to hardly think of this at all though.

I personally think all religious schools should be non-state funded. Are you happy, as a non-religious person for your child to get even more religious input in their school day than normal? Because it will happen. Speaking as a teacher who was, for a brief time, in a religious school, I couldn't believe how religion made it's way into practically every lesson. (Although there are some schools where this is less the case, I think).

And yes, there's every chance your other children won't get in, as more and more parents edge into the area and suddenly get God and go to church so that they, too, can attend this better than "normal" school. That's how the system rolls, if you are a religious school. It's unfair, and it shouldn't happen in a state funded system. I'd go to another school, and soon, when all the "nice" parents join you as they are edged out of the church school, it might become better than "normal" too!

Sorry, terrible "It's"! Shame on me. First day of half-term joy has taken me over.

It would be OK to do as long you had put a school or schools you have a very good chance of getting in as your lower preferences.

The fact of siblings not having such a good chance to get in would put me off. I have to apply for my DS this year to a horribly over subscribed school; the fact my DD is already there so DS has sibling priority is making me so much more relaxed about it. I was a nervous wreck when applying for DD...

Also we have some lovely religious schools around here with great facilities. As an atheist I don't think I'd enjoy DCs going there. The religious elements in a normal state school are bad enough for me :)

So overall I don't think I would apply for it in your shoes but it's not a silly thing to do if you can deal with the other factors.

Hello there, I am an atheist and had massive issues (of my own) when trying to decide which school to send my son to (yr 3) as where we live every single school within my town is CofE, with the exception of one school. However, I'd heard from so many parents that their only criticism of this one non-denomination school was that it was like a religious "sect" because the head is also head of one of these new wave Christianity/spiritualist churches. So i felt proper pushed into a corner because my values are not reflected in Christianity, i.e. i am pro gay marriage, a feminist etc. my biggest concern is that faith schools indoctrinate and that religiousness and ritualistic stuff is intertwined within the way they teach the school curriculum (which in our case has turned out to be true). But, I truly did not have a free choice. I do not drive, we walk to school and also, my son had attended local pre school and adores his friends, and they all went to school together. And that was far more important than my concerns about indoctrination and filling his head with, what I would call mumbo jumbo (miranda reference!). It's horrible that there is sometimes so little real choice. My strategy has been to just talk as we always have about religious beliefs. Most of the stuff they have to do he can put up with but there are some "special" assemblies with chanting, dark rooms and candles etc that he has asked me to talk to the teacher to remove him from as he finds them weird and wants to piss himself laughing throughout. I always try to remember that if you withhold something from a child, they'll want it even more when they become teenagers (just to get back at you!) so I'm happy to let him explore. But if it does get any more weird then I'll have to think a bit harder about it....join the humanist society and their campaigns?? Made feel better :0)

Are you happy, as a non-religious person for your child to get even more religious input in their school day than normal? Because it will happen.

Not necessarily. Some faith schools are considerably less religious than some community schools. Many of them are little different to community schools and certainly don't bring religion into every lesson. Visit the school and ask parents before deciding.

It is, of course, possible that the school will change its admission criteria to prioritise siblings before it becomes an issue for you. If they don't you will have to decide whether you are prepared to attend church for a while in order to get them in.

Thank you all so much for your replies, I really appreciate it. Was chatting to DH about it and he feels as most of you do, that it's not worth the stress of worrying the other 2 won't get a place. I definitely couldn't "get God" just to get the others in, though I have to say that since school admissions started, I've become much less judgmental of those who do!

I think you're all right, the safest thing is to put the non-religious ones first and not be swayed by playing fields and computer rooms and lovely little pinafores

If you are in an area of rising birth rate, then if they do add a class this year they could well be expanding rather than just adding a bulge class.

I would also go and look carefully at the "non-religious" one to see just how non-religious it is.

BTW my DCs C of E primary is pretty feminist, wouldn't say anything about gay marriage (but would be positive if pushed) and handled a transexual pupil very sensitively. But there are other C of E schools that I as a Christian wouldn't touch with a barge pole (eg. the ones that ban Harry Potter).

The headmaster is keen to expand into a 2 class entry permanently, but so far it's been on an adhoc basis when the council realises it doesn't have enough places locally.

I'll still put it as a third choice as its worth a gamble over the school that I really don't want.