RCS & CofE schools Post Reply

[happyvale]

To all mums:

we have an 18 months old boy currently going to nursery and thinking already about primary schools.
We would like to apply for 2 RCS which are 5 and 10 minutes walk from where we live in central London but at the same time make an application for a CofE school to make sure we eventually get into one.
Does anyone know whether this is possible or if the priests will actually think we are doing this only out of interest?
We are actually religious from Catholic backgrounds but we do not mind whether the school is RC or CofE but we often go to Sunday mass at RC.
PLEASE HELP!

[papinian]

Were you raised in the U.K.? I ask because from what you write, you seem to have the impression that you apply separately to different schools.

For state primary school applications you pick six schools in order of preference. Those schools can be faith schools (CoE, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish) or community schools (non-faith). You can certainly put down Catholic primary schools 1 and 2 and a CoE school 3. Catholic schools give preference to Catholic pupils. This means baptism (preference often for those baptised within 6 months of birth) and Mass attendance (often in particular parish church). If you are thinking of two Catholic schools I would suggest checking out their admission criteria now and also seeing how places can be allocated in previous years. Same for CoE primary school. Most CoE primary schools give preference to CoE children (although sometimes for only a portion of the places) and may then give preference to those practising a Christian faith ahead of those without any faith.

None of the schools will know what other schools you have put down in your list of six preferences. When you get a reference from Catholic priest to submit with your application that will go to the Catholic schools. I think you might run into issues if you tried to claim that your child is both Catholic (for Catholic schools) and CoE (for CoE school), but you're not suggesting that you'd do that.

I think that generally most of those involved in Catholic education would see a CoE school as preferable to a non-faith school for educating a Catholic child. I'm Catholic, not CoE, so I can't say whether it's the same the other way around.

[happyvale]

Dear PAPINIAN first of all thank you so much for your helpful reply.
We are italian and until recently never been much involved with english education.
I am not sure I do understand the application process properly.
I can pick 6 schools, fine, but do I submit one different application for every single school or do I ONLY submit one application with 6 school names on it? And if so, to whom am I supposed to hand it?

From what I have been able to see from their websites, every school has different application forms and references to download so...

With regards to the faith schools...we are Catholic and will not be lying about that of course, the only problem now seem to be the distance from each school.

I am sooo frustrated I had no idea the system was so competitive!

[Sherlika]

Hello, I am catholic and my son goes to a catholic School. You can Apple for any school, six in total, but read each school's admission criteria!!! This is very important!

Catholic schools will give priority to Catholic children and whose parents attend mass regularly. You will need a priest reference. So, ho to church on Sundays and make yourself well known to the priest. It is annoying, but you have to do that if you want.

[Sherlika]

Sorry about the auto-correct nonsense! I meant to say 'apply' and not 'Apple'

[sandraletitia]

I was Admissions Governor a while ago at a local C of E primary School before the local authority took over the process but what I can tell you and it may still apply, every year we had applications from RC families where their priest refused to write the reference, the form was left blank. I assume the families never knew.

[asdfghjjkl]

For the Catholic schools (especially if they are over-subscribed and tough to get into...which is most of them) they will likely want to see 5 years history of commitment. So if you haven't been in the UK for 5 years, you may need to contact your parish in Italy.

I am American and I had a few extra hoops to jump through to establish history with the church and get the kids into Catholics. I am utterly delighted at their education, secondary school options, and the massively increased community that comes with the union between parish and school. It is worth the hassle and effort.

The schools don't know where else you apply, so don't worry about what they will think! I know Catholics who have their kids at CofE schools.

Good luck!

[happyvale]

5 years???!!! OMG how can I prove that? We have been in UK for 12 years now but used to go, not regularly, to different parishes while moving from house to house!
I am now known by a new priest but at the time of the application he would have known me for about 18 months.
Should I perhaps ask for references from my Italian parish? I was like 20 when I left but maybe this could help...could this help sandraletitia?

[asdfghjjkl]

Oh no! I didn't mean to freak you out!

If you have been here 5 years and your priest knows you, you should be fine. Just talk to him and let him know your intentions - there is no reason for him to deny you the reference form. It isn't that the church/schools are so narky, they are just so oversubscribed, they have to set criteria that helps them make the cut off points and ensure the integrity of their eduction. The RC schools tend to be at the top of the tables, (especially high schools) so there are many many people who would love to send their kids, but could care less about the church. Lots of people feign their commitment to get in.

You will be fine!