Local school is a poorly performing faith school...

[JimbosJetSet]

We will be applying for a primary school place for DD next year. Our local school is a Catholic school, performing badly according to Ofsted.

How does the admissions process for faith schools work? Are we likely to get allocated that school even though we are not Catholic?

Thanks in advance for any advice. I realise we can't just go on the Ofsted report, but it seems a reasonable place to start?

Go to your council's website and find the primary admissions bit - there's usually a booklet which explains the admissions criteria which will apply for each school, and for oversubscribed schools, the last admitted distance - ie the furthest away that a child lived last year who got a place.

If you're in a city where most schools are oversubscribed, then if you don't list it you're unlikely to get assigned it if you list some you have a chance at, but all depends on local criteria and spaces.

Catholic schools prioritise catholic children so unlikely. You need to consult LA web site etc

probably the school website has their admissions rules available for download.

you'd only get allocated that school if

1. you didn't get a place at any other school which you listed higher in your order of preference, AND
2. you WOULD get a place at that school according to their admissions rules, AND
3. you put that school somewhere on your preference list

OR you could get allocated a place at that school if you didn't get a place at ANY of your choices, and it so happens that this school was undersubscribed, so you'd get a place there on the basis of 'nearest school with available places'.

Yes, you could be allocated that school if it is undersubscribed.

I would find out about all your local schools, and visit those that would be a possibility for you.Underperforming in Ofsted terms doesn't necessarily mean it's awful- it might have lots of advantages that you wouldn't find in a 'better' school. Also, schools can go from outstanding to fail very quickly nowadays- or vice versa!

OP, there's nothing to stop them allocating you to a faith school, but you would have strong grounds for appeal if you could show that it wasn't suitable (e.g. if you follow a different religion, or if you are an atheist). More information here; question 4.

I'm afraid midweekGandT is wrong about grounds for appeal. Note that the BHA has only won one appeal on these grounds. To be honest, I think they were lucky (or maybe the appeal was really won on other grounds). You appeal for a school, not against the allocated school. And most Reception appeals are heard under infant class size rules, which basically means you can only win if a mistake has been made.

Catholic schools tend to have large catchment areas to serve their parishes. So their catchments sit on top of other local school catchments, if that makes sense. So you should be in the catchment for another school despite the catholic school being the nearest. All that bring said, depending on the applications to your "official" catchment school, you may not end up with a place there if it is oversubscribed. There is a possibility of you being allocated a place at the Catholic school if it is not filled via its admission criteria.

Prh47, anecdotally I think some councils deal with non-suitability issues voluntarily, meaning that its not necessary to appeal formally. That's probably why the BHA only get a few cases coming their way.

Councils have a statutory duty to provide families with a suitable place, not just any place. The word suitable is open to interpretation, and therefore councils can be challenged in these circumstances. (Though you're right that it doesn't mean OP can demand a place in her nearest community school if it is already full. She may be allocated an alternative place much further away).

I'd have made it my mission in life to get expelled from a Catholic school

Yes tiggytape, I agree with all that. I was trying to say the same thing, but you said it more comprehensively.

Except to add that just because its that way now doesn't mean it can't change. The more people who kick up a fuss, about being allocated to schools they consider unsuitable (on faith or quality) the better, whether that means writing to the council, your MP, posting on Mumsnet, or more. Tides of opinion bring change.

Perhaps, I managed to bite my tongue just at my CofE infant school, but I think I'd have got in trouble at a Catholic school. Even a fairly mild one.

I found myself in the corridor during senior school RE a couple of times and I wasn't trying to be annoying.

OP, if your child is allocated a place at the faith school, its worth keeping an eye on the sibling policy (if you have younger children). If the school improves and becomes more popular in future then it may begin to prioritise churchgoers over siblings. People in other areas have been caught out by that.

personally I would be very worried about sending a non-Catholic child to a Catholic school.

I used to teach in a Catholic secondary, that is a different story. The time I spent in feeder schools it was like brainwashing. Definitely if you are thinking about it then visit and get a proper feel for it.

OFSTED add someone said you hear people going on about 'Good' schools 'outstanding' schools but another inspection and that all changes.

Thank you everyone, there are some very interesting things to consider here. I appreciate everyone's advice