How far do I go to get Fe2O3Baby into the nearest school?

by Fe2O3Girl 15 Replies latest jw friends

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  stillajwexelder

  he is a lovely baby haematite Rachel
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  XJW4EVR

  I resent being manipulated into attending services in order to get a place at the nearest school to our home. But, they are making up the rules, so if they want to play that game to get atheist bums on seats, it isn't my fault. But they will get away with it as long as the majority of secular parents play their game

  I don't think it's a "game." It's their school, and therefore they have the right to set their own rules for entrance. If you, and enough of other like-minded parents, don't like it then start your own school with athiest values.

  XJW, of the "these sorts of posts cheese me off" class.
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  JWdaughter

  You have a good amount of time to decide if that is really the best school for your baby. Someone mentioned about the foster kids, etc. That is definitely a consideration IMO.I am not from England, don't know how it works, but churches have various standards for 'membership'. You might want to see what this one's criteria are. It may simply be a registered member, which doesn't take any commitment really in some churches.

  Beautiful baby!! Enjoy him now, there you are rushing him into school!! You need to cherish every minute with him.
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  Sad emo

  I'm totally stumped as to why looked after/fostered children is the number 1 criteria for a church school - in fact why it is classed as a criteria at all. Criteria 2 looks odd as well - only children of Church leaders? That would be virtually zero. Normally the other 4 are the main criteria (but with no 2 for ALL children with church connection), possibly with 'known to a Christian church of another denomination' in addition.

  Also, if the school isn't oversubscribed, you should have no problem getting the little one in anyway. But if you want to try get further up the list, maybe you could go and see the vicar, say you're undecided about your beliefs due to your past but would like your child to have the oppotunity to be properly introduced to Christianity. Can't guarantee it would improve things but at least he'll know you've been involved in some kind of moral belief system - and you're being open, honest and a responsible, caring parent.
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  Fe2O3Girl

  Thanks for your feedback XJW4EVR

  It's their school, and therefore they have the right to set their own rules for entrance.

  I know. That is why I stated in my initial post:

  As it is a church aided school, the church has a right to a say in the running and ethos of the school.

  It just happens to be the nearest primary school to my home, and seems to be a nice school. I am sorry that it offends you that I care about my child's education.

  I wouldn't read too much into the "cared for children" criteria. I suspect that they have to make that the number one criteria to ensure that fostered or in care children are not excluded. I had a look over the OFSTED reports for churchy school and other state primary schools nearby, and it seems that although they all get very good reports, the next nearest school gets a really excellent report. It is a similar distance, but not quite as easy to walk to (dark windy hilly lane). It has given me something to think about. The entrance criteria could all be changed in four years time anyway.
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  nelly136

  my daughters last primary had an excellent write up in ofsted, alas it was way outdated and had changed heads at least twice since the report was written

  the catholic schools round here have an excellent reputation for education and do accept non denomination but getting a place in one of those means you have to get your kid down on their list very very early and it still doesnt guarantee you a slot.

  i would have happily overlooked the RE bit to get my kids into one of those but i couldnt get them in.