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Some interchurch parents have reported that they have been confused by the regulations surrounding admission to church schools. It is important to note that school admissions policies are not decided at a national level but are set at a local level so that they can take into account the specific needs of their communities.
Whilst all admissions policies must conform to the Government's Admissions Code and have regard to the school's Trust deed, the key issue in determining who is responsible for actually setting these policies is the governance arrangement for the school.
To get into a Catholic school, you don’t necessarily have to be a Catholic. As is the case with most schools, decisions about who gets in are highly dependent on how popular the school is with parents. Catholic schools will always prioritise Catholic pupils in their admissions policies, and if they have space after Catholic applicants have been allocated places, other applicants will be offered a place based on other criteria.
In 90% of cases Catholic schools can cater for the local Catholic demand and in these instances, parents only need to provide a baptism certificate as proof of Catholicism. In the handful of cases where Catholic schools are oversubscribed with Catholics, Catholic practice is taken into account.
Interchurch families who also worship in the church of the other partner and who wish their child to have a place in a Catholic school should speak with their Catholic priest early to ensure that he understands their position and that it can be taken into account if a certificate of Catholic practice is required. Information about certificates of Catholic Practice can be downloaded from the Catholic Education Service website here:
https://www.catholiceducation.org.uk/guidance-for-schools/admissions
Church of England schools do not necessarily have a policy of prioritising applications on the basis of church membership or practice. If you have any queries about a school's specific admissions policy you should begin by contacting your diocesan education office. The Church of England website also contains more general information about admissions policies:
https://www.churchofengland.org/about/education-and-schools/church-schools-and-academies
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