Sending non catholic child to catholic school - Glasgow

[naemates]

DS is still pretty young, but I'm thinking ahead - mostly as I've no idea how schools work here. Assuming we have a choice, the two nearest schools are a pretty sad looking non denominational school and a much more pleasant looking Catholic school. We are not religious, but nor are we from Glasgow and since many of the schools here are Catholic, I'm assuming it's not that weird for non catholics to go to Catholic school? My non religious mum worked for her local church for a while, and I feel this would be similar to that, respecting beliefs while not having to pretend to believe? Am I miles out and being daft?

How will your child feel if they are gay?

I can remember starting school in Glasgow in the 70s and not understanding why I could not go to the same school as the girls next door
I knew we went to a different church on Sunday and that seemed fine, but not going to the same school seemed silly
My views have not changed in the following 50 years

No schools in Glasgow or Scotland are non/denominational. They either have visits occasionally from priests or vicars. The so-called non denominational are Church of Scotland. For example Notre Dame (an excellent school) has catholics, Protestants, atheist, Jewish and Muslim kids and an excellent success rate.. The religion is not hammered in and the existence of other religions and mutual respect is taught.

Also. We still unfortunately have a huge anti -Irish sentiment in the uk. And that sadly extends to kids in catholic schools.

I worked in a school joined onto a Catholic school. There were no entry requirements and pupils could play together in the playground. I can't see any issues with joining. If you think it's a better school go for it.

My partner went to a catholic school and around 1/4 of the pupils weren’t catholic (Muslim, Protestant, Sikh, no religion at all) however Catholic schools WILL prioritise Catholic pupils, if it’s oversubscribed they pick Catholic pupils who are baptised locally before anyone else.

Like PP, partners Catholic school was attached to a regular school (and also a special needs school). However the pupils had different lunch halls, assembley halls and break times. They don’t always mix the children due to available space more than anything. In the old days (70s) kids would fight based on religion- my dad went to a regular school and got beaten up by the Catholic boys- but that’s really not a thing anymore.

Well during my teacher training , and it wasn’t that long ago, a head teacher in a Glasgow school told me if she knew I wasn’t Catholic she wouldn’t have allowed me in the school for my placement , so I’m not sure how it would be any easier for a pupil!
Just to say my mother is Catholic but father isn’t so we were not brought up in the catholic faith but obviously have family who were. There are still some very sad entrenched attitudes even today in the West of Scotland.

That’s really sad. I’m based in Livingston, partner is based in Dalkeith, and many non Catholic pupils attend the Catholic schools where we are, although they do prioritise the Catholic pupils before the others if the waiting lists are long. That head teacher sounds stuck in the dark ages. But I suppose rules may be different elsewhere.

Infact most Catholic schools have teachers of all faiths nowadays, so I’d probably be reporting her for how rude she was.

I'm also in Scotland. in my area you have to be practising catholic to get a place at the local catholic primary.

Also agree with pps re sectarian issues.

I'm a catholic with a baptised DS but I chose not to send him to a catholic primary. The indoctrination and belief that the only true religion is catholicism and lack of interest in other religions doesn't sit well with me. Of course the curriculum is different than it was years ago but I'd not want my child exposed to any level of that. School is for teaching imo not an opportunity to brainwash.

Even if you can choose to remove your child from certain aspects of the catholic parts of the things they do at school i don't think highlighting your child as 'different' is going to help them

@summerscomingsoon There are no schools in Scotland that you ‘need’ to be a Catholic to get into.

Some can prioritise Catholic children if they will go over capacity, but no schools are solely for Catholics.