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Primary education

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Original poster

Looking at Catholic School Tommorow

26 replies

MrsScavo · 17/07/2007 17:42

I'm looking at a Catholic school tommorow for DS, and hoped someone could offer an itelligent response for me to give when they ask if we're Catholic. All I can think of at the moment is "No".

OP posts:
cornsilk · 17/07/2007 17:43

Are your kids baptised?

Original poster
MrsScavo · 17/07/2007 17:44

Er, no. We don't practice anything, but I usually put Christian on forms. (DH is baptised, but not confirmed)

OP posts:
cornsilk · 17/07/2007 17:46

Sorry - not sure. But I thought they had to take a percentage of non catholic chn anyway.

Ladymuck · 17/07/2007 17:48

I guess that you can say something on the lines of "No, we're methodists/baptists/other" if that is true. otherwise "No" is really the only answer isn' it? THat said, I would be surprised if you were asked this on a visit (unless it is a private school). if they were really anti-non-catholics they would have asked before letting you visit so as you don't waste their time. But in general they will let the application process sort itself out.

Ladymuck · 17/07/2007 17:52

I think that the requirement of a %age of non-catholics is an urban myth cornsilk. If the school is undersubscribed and non-catholics apply then they have to take them, but if it is oversubscribed then it could be catholic only.

Original poster
MrsScavo · 17/07/2007 17:52

It's a state school. The secretary of the other two Catholic schools I contacted both asked me if we're Catholic (there seem to be a lot of Catholic scholls around her

We wan't a place for September. It's a last minute decision to mid key stage 2, so no aplication process. The do have spaces, but need to keep some free for baptised children. We need to be "sympathetic to their mission statement" Although I can't remember what that is.

OP posts:
Blu · 17/07/2007 17:58

Then have a quick read, and if they ask if you are catholic say 'no, but I'm very sympathetic to your mission statement' and add a phrase from it that you can remember and say 'that's the sort of school we would like to support, and that we feel ds would fit into'.

Original poster
MrsScavo · 17/07/2007 18:00

Good idea, Blu.

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gringottsgoblin · 17/07/2007 18:06

my dc go to cathoic school, we are not catholic altho i was baptised, confirmed the lot as a kid. i was just honest and said we werent catholic or any other religion but i want them to grow up with christian values. i also would not contradict anything school told them. just be honest, if they dont want you because of that you are best off not going anyway

Tommy · 17/07/2007 18:32

they are only asking you because that will take you higher up the admission criteria - as someone said, they have to take baptised Catholics first. You can't lie about it but just say that you would like them to be educated at that school. If they have spaces, they'll take anyoe

amidaiwish · 17/07/2007 18:38

why do you want your dcs to go there?

Original poster
MrsScavo · 17/07/2007 18:45

It's more a case of we don't want DS to continue at the school he's at now. The school we're looking at tommrow is one of three in the town with places. The other 2 are awful, and a long way from our home. This one happens to be close to our home, which is a bonus. I'm praying we like it. DS has already decided it will be brilliant.

OP posts:
Blu · 17/07/2007 18:48

Don't slag off your current school. Give one concrete reason...'we are looking for a school that can xyz because the 'particular circumstance' at current school isn't working as well as it might for us, and we are looing for a school which can....'

Original poster
MrsScavo · 17/07/2007 18:59

You're really good at this, Blu

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yorkiemom · 17/07/2007 20:24

As a catholic mum of catholic children, who go to a catholic school, I would definately not lie, and just tell the truth " no not catholic" but a real plus would be to say " we really want our children to come here, as we agree with the christian ethos within this school".

This seems to go down well, that basically your not going to moan about the amount of time spent on RE and your children attending mass in school time.

Good luck

Original poster
MrsScavo · 17/07/2007 20:36

Ofcourse I wouldn't lie! I would look pretty stupid when they asked to see DS's certificate of Baptism. I'm not sure what DS will make of going to mass. It will certainly be an education for him. DH's side of the family will no doubt be thrilled.

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Original poster
MrsScavo · 17/07/2007 22:41

And what should I wear?

(Can you tell I'm nervous?)

OP posts:
MadEyemarthamooDy · 17/07/2007 22:44

Don't dress as the pope. Or a nun.

MadEyemarthamooDy · 17/07/2007 22:45

Sorry Smart, I guess - but not uber smart. Is that more helpful?

Original poster
MrsScavo · 17/07/2007 22:59

That's OK, as I don't have a Pope outfit. I've decided on the laid -back-Mummy look. Linnen trousers and a white linnen shirt. Birkies (I have a nice pedicure atm) or silver ballet shoes?

OP posts:
MadEyemarthamooDy · 17/07/2007 23:00

Shoes, I think (though I'm sure your pedicure is lovely).

UCM · 17/07/2007 23:11

OK MrsScavo, we (my DH & I are in the place you are in last year), this was just to get DS a place in the Nursery. Thankfully he has been accepted, but and it's a huge but, we are not Catholic and never will be. They only take 30 children each year into the school (remember this is only nursery) and I was willing to go to church every Sunday so DS could be baptised. This is a United Reformed Church, so Godlite really. We have been several times but recently recieved the criteria for him being admitted to the school itself. He will be under criteria number 8. My CM told me that lots of children under school age are cared for by CM/carers who can't get them to the nursery, but will apply for the school so we are bolloxed and have to buy all of the farking uniform for nursery.

UCM · 18/07/2007 02:14

MsScavo, I expected a response!

alisonmc · 18/07/2007 10:32

HI Mrs Scavo,

My DS will be attending a local Primary Catholic School from Sept 07 in Year 3. When we went to view the school we were advised by HT that to meet the admissions criteria, DS had to be Catholic, baptised and would have receive Holy Communion in Year 3. DS is Catholic and baptised - DH is Catholic and I am Anglican. The HT did explain that if your child meets the criteria - baptised Catholic and approved by Parish Priest then the chances were greater for admission than other non-denomination children. As it happened 10 children applied for the 1 open place at his school and DS was approved basically because he met most of the criteria.

I don't know how strict other schools are - but most have to keep the Catholic ethos of the school alive otherwise the school itself would not be Catholic.

DS is looking forward to starting at his new school in Sept as it is a truly wonderful school.

Good luck with your application for DS - just say that you would be keen to support the ethos of the school and that DS is looking forward to starting his career at the school.

Original poster
MrsScavo · 18/07/2007 20:30

UCM - I'd gone to bed.

Well, it all went very well. I think the HT had already figured out we wern't Catholic DS has been offered a place though, if we want it . On leaving the school, DS commented about the HT "He's a nice man!" When I asked him if I should fill out the application form he said "Definately"

This is from the boy who has refused to go to school for the last term.

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