Application to RC Secondary

[fedupofbuilders]

As the parent of someone applying for Sep 2023 start, is it worth applying to RC Secondaries when they have 'Catholic Teachers Certificate' as a desirable?
My dc attended a faith based school but is not a practicising Catholic. At the moment approx 50% of the advertised posts in their subect are for Catholic schools.
Thank you

I’m not sure if I follow your meaning but I think you are saying that your DC is applying for teaching posts?

It’s worth applying. Most schools aren’t in a position to be too picky about good candidates and I know that Catholic schools have an absolute nightmare recruiting for the senior roles where practising Catholicism is an essential requirement.

The one exception, however, is if your DC’s subject is RE, where Catholic schools often (not always) prefer to have a Catholic in post. FWIW you don’t actually have to be Catholic to do the CCRS if they think they might want to work in Catholic schools in the long term.

Thank you - that is very helpful

I have never found my Catholic Teachers Certificate useful. May be different for Primary.

In my experience cheap NQTs preferred for RE … even if out of subject.

Obviously different for leadership roles.

I think you just need to convince them you’re not going to actively undermine the schools catholic ethos

I teach at a Catholic secondary and frankly finding a teacher with a pulse is challenging enough, so your dd shouldn't be put off. Even 90% of our RE department and at least one deputy head aren't Catholic.

At interview you just need to express support for upholding the Catholic ethos of the school.

You don't need to be a catholic to work in a catholic school or to have a certificate - as another poster said you just have to support the catholic ethos of the school and make this clear at interview. Have worked in 2 catholic schools.

My daughter is not a Catholic but teaches in a Catholic secondary school. It's her first job as a teacher and she started in September.

Thank you everyone.
DC will include local RC schools in her search but perhaps exclude those who require a parish priest as a referee.

It is useful if you are teaching RS at secondary level. Primary like teachers to have it, but in reality you don't need it for day to day RS teaching. If you have a theology degree or a level that covers most of it. I did it after I got the job and enjoyed the process.