Anyone got a child at a Catholic secondary whilst having no religion themselves?

[BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz]

Couple of school options around us are Catholic schools. They have mass and use the biblical teachings throughout relevant parts of the day. We are not religious ourselves, but don't have any issue with these elements peppering the school day, as the schools offer excellent educational and pastoral facilities.

I wondered whether anyone is in this situation with their non religious dc at Catholic schools and wondered what your child thinks about it, whether it is a negative for them?

My children attend primary and secondary Catholic Schools in Ireland. To be honest the Catholic religion is not practised apart from Holy Communion and Confirmation. There are no prayers during the day. When I attended secondary school we said a prayer before each class. Other religions are more widely taught in my children's school now. Sure they don't even have a nativity play anymore and it's Ireland 😵

Ah ok that's good!

It depends on the school OP.

On Holy Days, they will have Mass. At my children's primary school, they also had Mass every Friday.

You need to ask the school.

Round my way you wouldn't have a hope of getting into a Catholic school unless you can prove your family has been catholic for generations (well not quite, but certainly have to have proof of very regular mass attendance, early baptism, and commitment to the life of the church in the form of cleaning/flower arranging/visiting etc).
And they really are catholic - one of my DDs friends goes to one and was moaning because she had got a detention for not having her bible with her when stopped in the corridor by a teacher!

There's been other threads on this, so if you search you might find them, e.g. here: www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/1046471-Catholic-State-Secondary-Schools-are-they-very-Catholic?

I was a non-Catholic who went to a Catholic school. I found it a little intimidating at first but, on evI found my feet it was very interesting and helped me develop my critical thinking skills. Being in a minority can be a formative experience, and I think the Catholic girls benefited from having a few non-Catholic voices in the class, to give alternative viewpoints.

Had no issues with DD going to a Catholic secondary, her school has mass in the school chapel on holy days and at the end of each term, they say prayers in assembly and a lot of the Christmas & Easter events & celebrations are based largely around the religious aspects as expected.
DD actually really enjoyed observing the different traditions and being a part of it all.

The question may be academic - the Catholic schools here are heavily oversubscribed and you don't have a hope of getting in unless the child is baptised Catholic.

Bit different, but we’re agnostic and sent our children to a very religious CofE school.

The children find it boring and awkward in the weekly chapel, or when the school talks in lessons / assemblies about Jesus as if he’s historical fact, but my children have had to learn young not to argue with people who hold different beliefs, and that’s no bad skill to have. I explained it to the youngest that just as you don’t tell other children there is no tooth fairy or that Santa is a metaphor, you also don’t argue with people who believe in God or that boys can change into girls, when these issues come up, just change the subject or stay quiet.

I don’t know what the school thinks, they’ve never asked our beliefs apart from on the application form. I think as long as the children are well behaved and work hard they don’t care what we believe.

I'm fiercely atheist but my DS went to a catholic school for 6th form. It was a very inclusive school with lots of pupils from other faiths and non believers too.
He had to go to the masses but never really said much about them. I don't think there was much religion in the actual lessons. He certainly didn't get converted or become a believer!

Thankfully the school we are considering has taken children at the bottom of its oversubscription criteria for the last couple of years so we have a (albeit tiny) chance. Enough to justify popping it on the form, content that if we get option 2 or 3 instead these are perfectly acceptable choices.

Near us, the Catholic secondary is far, far easier to get into the C of E one, and is known for being much more laid back and less 'churchy'. So it really depends on the school.

Me. Ds is in y7 at an all boys Catholic school in SE London. We are not Catholic or if any faith at all.

It was a tough one for us tbh. The school is great, and there are a minority of boys of other faiths there and a smaller minority of no faith who just live near the school, like us. Lots of the ethics around Catholicism that are discussed on assemblies etc are actually great - kindness, humility, care etc. All good. I have a few concerns around the pshe teachings and if/how that is taught. But you have to bear in mind that kids learn from their families too, not just school.

Happy to discuss further.

My DC goes to a Roman Catholic secondary school. When they have Mass they all the other non religious students sit quietly with the those who are religious. Whilst they are expected to be respectful they are not expected to pray unless they want to.

I'd check out the school and ask questions.

I went to an RC school and it was a nightmare, we had prayers at the start and end of the day, the angelus at 12.00, mass on a Friday.

RC teaching was in just about every lesson, we actually had a timetabled 'hymns' class. The ethos was very much about us becoming good RC women who cared for their families.

My brother was also in an RC school and only got 'RC lite' IMHO.