Demand for church schools soaring
Fresh evidence emerged today of the growing competition for places in some of London's most successful faith schools.
In the most extreme examples, more than three children are fighting for each place at church primary schools. An Evening Standard survey showed rising demand for places in the Church of England and Roman Catholic schools, which dominate league tables of state primary schools.
Our survey of 20 faith primary schools, all of which feature regularly at the top of local exam league tables, showed 18 were over-subscribed. Two or more children are battling over each place at one third of the schools.
At two of them - Monken Hadley CofE Primary School in Barnet and St Paul's CofE Primary
School in Camden - each place has attracted more than three applications.
Overall, 1,276 children are vying for the 767 places available at the start of the next school year. Church education authorities say parental commitment to faith schools is one of the keys to their continuing success.
Parents need to demonstrate a longterm connection with their local church to win a place for their child and, according to headteachers, this later translates into consistent support for school staff.
Tom Peryer, director of education for the Church of England Diocese for London, said: "The top 10 primary schools in most boroughs include at least six or seven church schools so it is natural that these schools are oversubscribed.
"There is also a feeling church schools are more likely to provide a grounding in core values, that children there are taught right from wrong in a way that they may not be in other schools. Parents feel comfortable with a smaller, cosier school."
But the demand for places has raised fresh doubts about parents' efforts to prove the faith commitment necessary to secure a place for their child, epitomised by the new saying "on your knees to avoid the fees".
According to one poll, seven out of 10 headteachers say they believe parents lie about their faith in their school applications. One headteacher of a Roman Catholic school told how a parent offered a bribe of £5,000 in a bid to secure a place. Madeline Brading, head of Our Lady of Victories Roman
Catholic Primary in Kensington, claimed this was just the latest in a string of similar incidents.
Mr Peryer acknowledged that growing pressure on admissions meant lying about religion is on the rise. "I don't doubt the practice does go on. There will be some parents who start going to church more often than they normally would. But it's very hard to prove. 'Do you think this person is hypocritical?' is clearly not a question we're going to ask a bishop."
