Help! Has anyone gone to New Hall (Chelmsford) but isn't religious? We need to decide if we accept an offer tonight.

[december2020]

DC has been offered a place at New Hall (Chelmsford).
We need to decide what we do tonight to let the school know.

Acutely aware it is a religious school (and we knew this from the start), so no surprises here). We are not religious and as the deadline has started looming I've been wondering what the divide may be by not being religious.

Has anyone had kids who went to New Hall but wasn't religious? How did you find it?

Keen to hear every experience as we make our final decision tonight.
I feel so certain on it in every other aspect.

Hopeful bump

Hi, I was just wondering what you decided in the end?

We are considering New Hall for our son. We visited the school and were impressed with the facilities and the teachers however we are also atheist so the only concern is the religious aspect.

Whilst our ethics and morals all align pretty much with the Christian/Catholic religion I wouldn't want religion to be heavily pushed onto my son and I want him to learn about all religions and philosophies. I wouldn't want my son not to fit in due to not being Catholic.

Its interesting that you you were offered a place I wasn't even sure that my son would be accepted.

We ended up sending him to New Hall, it is his first year and in pre-prep, but he has really thrived so far and seems to have made loads of friends who he’s busy waving to or playing with before the school gates even open. So not being religious definitely hasn’t hindered him so far.

From what I’ve understood it’s a much smaller percentage of children who are Catholic or Christian in attendance and the majority are either non religious or from a different religion.

Like you, we’re not religious (and on the application did state not religious for the religion box - I I don’t remember the exact term, I’m also pretty sure atheist was an option too) - so have been very transparent on that fact.

You will have to accept there will be an aspect of religion on a weekly basis in school as it’s still a catholic school. I’m still getting used to that aspect but it’s been ok so far. :)

It’s really changed over the years, it was once run by Nuns but it’s much broader and multicultural now.

I wouldn’t consider New Hall as a religious school. Are you looking for a boarding in the area? I’d prefer Felsted personally

Thanks thats good to know. Glad he is doing well and enjoying it. The school overall seems a wonderful place with very enthusiastic staff.

We would be looking to start in year 6, moving from a nearby primary school.

Thanks everyone else for your input. We are not looking to board, the location is very convenient for us which is the main reason we are considering it.