Catholic schools for non Catholics

[EmmsR]

our daughter is going to our local Catholic school in sept. We are Christian. The relatives are not exactly happy (very anti faith schools) - one has mentioned the guilt which is gradually piled onto kids in Catholic schools (I'm assuming she means sin,confession, hail Marys and all of that) . I didnt get that impression AT ALL when I visited. It was a lovely welcoming atmosphere. Also I dont think they will be learning about other religions as the RE isnt inspected by OFSTED but by the diocese? Is that right? Any views?

we think we've made the right choice but I'm just getting some facts together....

Catholic schools are a bit light on guilt since scary nuns stopped teaching in them!

And yes they do learn about other religions in catholic schools. An extract from my DCs school website outlines what will be taught "students study some of the major world faiths: Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism, in addition to examining the similarities and differences between the major branches of Christianity (Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox)"

RE is inspected by OFSTED but with an additional inspection by the diocese on top of that.

Our 2 dds are at an all girls catholic comprehensive school (we're C o f E) and receive a broad, well-rounded education. There's been no 'guilt', confession etc. In fact, many of the girls are from a wide range of other faiths and they're all respected and valued. HTH

I went to an all-girls catholic school (I'm still under 40, so not THAT long ago). My niece is about to start there in September. We are a practising catholic family.

We were taught about all the other major world faiths (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism) as well as other Christian religions. R.E. lessons covered the agnostic and atheist viewpoints too.

Preparation for Confirmation was done by the diocese, outside of school hours. The school has a chapel attached which of course is used for masses and reconciliation services. Non-catholics at the school could choose whether to attend these services or not. If not, they had a study period.

The school is actually a former convent - the head mistress was a nun in my day. There are no nuns on the teaching staff now. Having said that, I didn't find the school to be in-your-face 'catholic' the whole time. One girl in my year got pregnant - she told our head mistress first. Her own daughter went to the same school:-)

HTH.

Personally, I wouldn't send my children to a RC school, but I am an atheist

I think RC secondary schools are generally more palatable for non-Catholics, than primary, simply because your child is that much older and can begin to balance the RC church beliefs with your beliefs and her own beliefs and make a bit more sense of it all. Its primary that I would worry about, where it is nothing more than indoctrination, imo.

You should look at the school individual, though. Some RC schools are less religious than others, iykwim.

inidividually. awful typos, sorry

Thanks guys - all really helpful x

My DC all go to the local Catholic comprehensive school. Religion is really not rammed down their throats. They do learn about other religions. They do, however, say a quick prayer before many lessons and have school Masses at least once every term and class ones maybe the same. We're very happy with it, but I am an atm non-practising Catholic.

There are 2 great programmes at the moment on BBC iplayer called 'Catholic' - one about priests and one about children (they are primary aged though) . It was really informative - the Catholic school they are at is in a village so no racial mix and no muslim kids etc but none the less interesting. They do all cross themselves at any opportunity though and I don't know why really...

It strikes me how active priests are in the community at all times - amazing really and also the communion thing is amazing - if it actually becomes the body and blood of Jesus does it still taste like bread and wine?

It does. Too spooky if it turned into the real stuff.

We're an active anglican family and would have sent our kids to an RC school. Unfortunately the area is such that all the catholic schools re over subscribed anyway with baptised catholic kids from catholic feeder schools.

I suspect how "catholic" the school is depends on the religious mix of the kids, for instance the only C of E secondary anywhere near us (which we could have probably got places at with a letter from the bishop!) is actually very much majority Muslim/other faiths simply because it is also the local school for the area it is in.

We sent our DS to a catholic school (we are Methodist/CofE) and he had a very, very happy time there. We were positively welcomed into the school, it had a lovely,caring environment and DS took part in may of the religious celebrations. If you have been offered a space (an assuming no catholic children are 'missing out' on the space) I would accept it if I was you.

yes we've accepted - low birth rate this intake apparently. Even though we were way down on the list in terms of catagories - even though we are christian we were classed as 'other' with 'looked after children', children with SEN, baptised Catholics, siblings and children from catholic feeder schools all coming before us...amazing we got in. Im educating myself on Catholicism though - the hail Marys, crossing self etc - and confession to a priest is different to what I know so I'm trying to understand it so i can explain to to daughter. there will be lots of kids from the catholic feeder schools and all this will be second nature to them, but to my daughter, really new - she knows the bible well though and about prayer and worship though...

Also the first communion thing - she's been having bread and wine for ages and understands it but i expect she may not be able to in Catholic mass - explaining that one might be tricky...

Thankyou all so much for the insights BTW - really helpful x

My two attend a catholic prep school which accepts kids of all religions.

Very welcoming, lovely ethos and whilst the kids are taught worship, attend mass etc (they are C of E) they love it and it has all become the accepted norm/second nature to them.

Wish you kids all the best in their new school

PF

EmmsR - children understand more than you think, my DS happily takes communion at our 'non-conformist' services but fully appreciates (as I do) that he cannot take communion in a Catholic service.

EmmsR - your questions are really good and positive and it is good your DC is happy at the school and it is really nice that your are "educating" yourself on Catholicism. If you want to understand it and its power/peace embrace it as your are doing - Catholicism is about the heart as well as the head, and of course the soul

Yes Jumjum you are so right there - and the heart and soul is what we sensed when we went to visit x

I received a catholic education as are my children currenltly. An RC education teaches respect for others, humanity and discipline amongst other qualities. My experience of RC schools has been one where you felt welcome and cared for. Your child will be in good hands. DC's headmaster calls himself a shepherd and the pupils his flock, can't think of a nicer description really :)

I love this thread because for once it's not anti-catholic!

When a school's admission policy says Baptised Catholic children, does this include communion certificate or just baptism certificate?

Usually just baptism @MrsDThaskala

@EmmsR there was a thread on this topic a couple of weeks ago too: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/secondary/4179135-Attending-a-Catholic-School-as-a-non-practicing-Catholic

Hiya. Thanks, I saw the thread. But this is more that we aren't Catholic but other Christian and baptised, but other is further down the list in criteria. Wondering what chances we have further down the list.