Primary school choices

I am amazed apricot that parents are expected to contribute towards school even though it is a faith school.It goes against everything I expect from the LEA who I thought maintained these schools.Am I wrong?

Well I certainly prefer the Scottish ( and apparently similar Swiss systems). Mrs T didn't bring her influence to bear here as far as education Is concerned and we don't pretend that it's ok to 'buy your way' indirectly into state schools.

I have been fortunate to live in places in England where my kids just went to the nearest school (or the one in whose catchment area they lived in if they were near a catchment border), as I and my siblings did when we went to school.

The same in Scotland. When DH was house-hunting in Scotland and I wasn't because I was still in England, my main requirement other than it be livable in was that the primary school, which we could assume Minibags would get a place in, should be within walking distance – just over a mile as it happened and she managed fine from five and a half.

I agree, mcem. Not giving siblings priority so that younger sibs can go to the same school as theirs elder brothers and sisters is just potty. It sounds as if the system in some parts of England needs a good, sensible overhaul.

Perhaps more schools are needed too?

I do understand the maths penstemmon but wonder if a staggered intake might add some flexibility perhaps moving the oldest up to Y2 Pus when did children start school at 4? Purs went at 5 or "rising five" i.e. in the term when they turned 5. DGC3 is due at the end of August so in a few years could be starting school aged 4+ a couple of days. I lnow DGS is keen to go to "big echool" he will be 4+4 months.so young!

Oh Soutra! 4 and a couple of days! Here the youngest they can possibly go is 4.5. My DGS will be one of the oldest in his class at 5.5 in August. One start date is fine as far as I'm concerned. There will be no problem next year as little sis will turn 5 in July and will also automatically go to the catchment area school. As it is she has another full year part-time in nursery.

* Soutra* my oldest GS started full time education just 4 days after his 4th birthday. He is an end of August birthday. It was far too young.

My second GS started school at 4 and three weeks. He was young for his age though quite tall which worked to his advantage. Reception class is little more than an extension of the pre-school curriculum. They do pre-reading and pre-numeracy activities. The said GS is now in Y4 and doing all right but has needed a lot of home input, especially in maths. He's a first rate reader - can read anything and everything.

soutra sorry I was not trying to be snotty..all I meant was that under the current system where schools have a set admission number for each year group it will not make any difference what term a child starts..it won't increase the number of available places. The official age for starting school is the term after the chil'd 5ht birthday. However most schools offer places to children for the September of the academic year they turn 5. As i have said before it is not the starting age that is the problem but what is on offer when they get there!

Penstemmon that makes much more sense to me, so why do I often hear people refer to them starting in the term after their 4th birthdays? Don't just mean here on GN. Are there regional variations? Surely if they started at the official starting age there wouldn't be the same pressure on school places. Why do schools offer the option if it only causes problems?

it is to do with funding too! Schools get paid based on the number of children 'on roll' on and around 17 January.

If the funding system was not based on 'bums on seats' on a set date but on published admission numbers schools may be more flexible with admission dates. Schools could have budget adjusted in May if it has not been full.

So many unnecessary pressures on staff too! Was it really so bad when LEAs held more financial power and handled co-ordination? I don't think many of us in Scotland would choose to take on such unwieldy and potentially unfair systems.

Apricot I am astonished. If this is really true then the law is being broken. I've never heard if anything like this in my life.

Yes, strange and ... wrong imho. Although I do know people who baptised their little ones, attended Church for a year or two and did a bit of fundraising, etc- to get the kids into their local CofE school.

Apricot I can sort of understand why a church school would expect parents to show that they have a commitment to the faith if they are so keen on getting their children into that school, but expecting them to pay is a different matter.

Parental choice is an urban myth. I agree with others who say we'd all benefit from a government/local councils brave enough to say so. It's better for children to go to schools near where they live so they can walk there, and make friends locally.
I am unnerved by the growth in free/faith based schools.

I expect it's suggested as a 'voluntary contribution' !!

I may be misunderstanding Apricot's post, but isn't the contribution to the church rather than the school?

Church/faith schools should not be tolerated.

I agree Aka. I think church and state should be separated as they are here.

Agree Mamie and Aka- I despair of the divisive nature of UK schooling, which is getting worse rather than better- as is shown with the current situation in Birmingham.

The situation in France is actually a bit 'hypocritical' as there are 1000s of minor very cheap Catholic private schools.

I agree wholeheartedly, Aka. If parents wish their children to be indoctrinated, school is not the place for it.

I moved to London after graduating and worked in County Hall for the ILEA. My section dealt with the additional accommodation needed for raising the school leaving age. It was only then that I became aware of the existence of voluntary aided schools. There were always RC schools at home but I'd never come across schools particularly for C of E or Jewish pupils. Then I discovered that funding was quite different and that some dictatorial priests and parish office-bearers had enormous power over spending. It was an interesting time for me but being so involved in schools made me realise I'd rather be in teaching than educational admin.
I do believe these schools are divisive and would go so far as to say that I think religious teaching should be by parents and faith communities. There is however a place for teaching the facts about different world faiths in an effort to encourage understanding and tolerance.

Agreed Anno and mcem. However, my point above, was that many people I know are NOT religious, but yet 'pretended' to be, baptism and Church attendance- for the sole purpose of getting their kids into a Church school- and will then pay lip service for the duration.

Sil and bil also bought a small house in the catchment area of a 'good' school near my niece, and she pretended to live in it (2-3 nights a week) and attended Church, until the girls were both in said school. They then sold it for a good profit to someone doing the same... (put 'good' as we all have different views as to what makes a good school).
Don't think she's ever been to Church again since, apart from Christmas service with the school.