C of E school

[MarleneH]

Hi all

my DD didn’t get first choice of a catholic school (we are baptised catholics, however not so much practising catholics, we don’t really go to church unless a special mass, christmas etc) so I sent her to the next school I was offered which happened to be c of e.

i am happy for her to follow a Christian way of life, as catholics are Christian’s and im also happy to attend the schools church on special occasions I.e Easter Christmas etc.

do c of e make any sacraments? Catholics make 7 sacraments, do c of e make the same sacraments or is it all different?

thanks
Marl x

Most C of E schools, will do a prayer before lunch, the assembly may have Christian messaged weaved into it, plus some faith songs, have a link with the local church, and then partake in celebrating the usual Christian festivals. Quite a lot of children attending won't be brought up in a Christian household, though others of course will or may practice a different religion altogether.

I attended both a C of E primary & secondary school and haven't heard of anything to do with the 7 sacraments. But I also didn't pay much attention to the religious side of school growing up as an atheist myself.

Most C of E schools are not faith schools in the way that Catholic schools are. Very, very few (often VA schools) admit pupils based upon faith.

My children are also baptised Catholic and attended a C of E school. There was very little collective worship (some, but nothing like my Catholic schooling) and certainly no sacraments.

Is it a VA of VC? It could be more religious if VA.

Than you so much for your reply
do you mind me asking if your children done their sacraments with school or separate? Or not at all?

do you know what sacraments c of e do? Catholics do 7 - trying to figure out how many c of e do?
thanks x

Does the CofE school ask children to be churchgoers in their admissions policy? If not, they will do what they need to get through SIAMS inspection but not do too much to annoy the children who have no/different faith

My children haven't but can do their first holy communion through lessons at the local church. It would be completely separate from the school.

I don't think CofE do any sacraments? Maybe baptism, I got my children baptised in a Catholic Church.

When I did my Confirmation in my teens it was through the Church and not my Catholic school.

A C of E school may do a prayer before lunch, a simple Christian song, prayer or story at assembly, the local vicar May visit the school occasionally, there might be a visit to the local church for harvest festival or carols at Christmas- this sort of thing.

The basic Christian message will be the same- I think if you are concerned about the teaching about the sacraments then go and have a chat with the local C of E vicar, I am sure they will be able to explain things to you and put your mind at rest.

At the c of e school that I work at, the catholic children have their catholic specific sacraments organised out of school by their parents same as the Muslim and Jewish children who attend. We do not prepare them for their first communion, for example. In terms of the Christian element of the day, this will vary between schools so you should ask them.

I think you need to view your religious requirements and the children's educational needs as two entirely separate things.

As others have said, C of E schools in England vary widely in how deep they observe; some are very observant, others barely at all. Many will have large numbers of children who are not C of E, depending on their admissions criteria.

However, C of E doesn't have, for example, a first communion, or confirmation. I agree with SoupDragon; I think you need to assume you will need to support your children externally if you want them to do these.

Thank you all ☺️

@MarleneH

www.churchofengland.org/our-faith/what-we-believe/eucharist#na

Bottom of the page under ‘what is a sacrament’ there’s a box thing you can expand which says what the CofE sacraments are.

My dads side of the family are catholic. My mothers CofE. I’m CofE and went to a catholic primary and CofE secondary. Funnily I’ve ended up at neither but have appreciation of both. Honestly, there’s not a lot of difference other than the order of doing things and the emphasis put on something in CofE won’t be the same emphasis in Catholicism and vice versa.

CofE school will NOT prepare your child for sacraments.
Things like first Holy Communion (something done about age 8? (Sorry if this is wrong) in the catholic Christ) isn’t done until confirmation in CofE (about age 10? onwards for CofE).

There’s also a difference in how the sacraments are viewed (less important (wrong word, as definitely important, but it’s less of a big thing/less emphasis if that makes sense) in CofE compared to catholic)

CofE school will have less faith based things compared to catholic school but there will still be prayer, hymns, church services, normal Christian services and the school with have Christian themes and values like kindness and forgiveness. Plus maybe a bible story/reading of the week. RE lessons will also be general Christian based with a splattering of other major religions where catholic school will be catholic based and learning about sacraments and catholic theology.

As PP have said, you will have to separate your child’s school education and home religion. Great experience though to see what other people believe and see the differences and similarities.