Catholic School Provision in England and Wales

OONA STANNARD, CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR CATHOLIC EDUCATION SERVICE FOR ENGLAND AND WALES, APRIL 2008 (www.cesew.org.uk)

Notes

Draft data from 2007 CES census.

CES phase categories are based on EduBase definitions; please refer to EduBase’s Glossary of Terms at http://www.edubase.gov.uk/

Primary: this category includes preparatory and middle deemed primary schools. It covers Key Stage 1 and 2.

Secondary: this category includes middle deemed secondary schools and covers Key Stage 3, 4 and 5.The figures for primary and secondary include independent.

No. of Schools and Colleges

No. of Pupils (Catholic and other)

No. of Teachers (Catholic and other)

No. of Teachers (Catholic / %)

Catholic Primary Schools 1,856 438,857 23,030 15,660 (over 60%)

Catholic Secondary Schools 392 345,216 23,874 11,287 ( approx. 50%)

Catholic Independent Schools 145 44,632 5,333 2,053 (approx. 50%)

Joint Schools 13




The freedom to choose an education in line with parents’ religious beliefs is a human right (European Convention On Human Rights 1950, Articles 2 and 9).


History has taught us that the provision of schools with a religious character is an enormous benefit to the most disadvantaged in society and in particular, to migrants.


Catholic schools contribute to the promotion of community cohesion; they are part of the solution, not the problem.


Educational standards in Catholic schools are high. They add most value, for example, for lower attaining pupils and for the socially disadvantaged. (Quality and Performance; A Survey of Education in Catholic Schools (2006), CES)


- The right to live out your faith publically is an equalities issue.

- You would not expect other equalities issues like disability or race to be relegated to private space only so this should not be suggested for faith or religion.

- Equality and sameness are different.


- Religious Education; Non-Statutory Framework, DfES 2004- The Education and Inspections Act, 2007- Launch of ‘Faith in the System’, DCSF, Sept 2007- Teacher union motions hostile to faith schools, 2007- School Admissions Code, DfES, 2007- DCSF enquiry into compliance with School Admissions

Code, March 2008- Education Select Committee hearing – interviewing

Bishops, March 2008

Recent Milestones (Positive and Negative) in Recent Milestones (Positive and Negative) in the Public Debate on Catholic Schools:the Public Debate on Catholic Schools:


30 October 2006 11:42

Powerful lobby that forced Johnson to think againBy Robert Verhaik

Published 28 October 2006

As political capitulations go it was about as humiliating as any politician can remember.

Lord Baker, the former Conservative education secretary, described the rethink on forcing faith schools to accept pupils from other religious or non-religious backgrounds “as the fastest U-turn in British political history”. Lord Baker was in no doubt that it was the Catholic Church’s campaign against the proposal which had persuaded the Cabinet to change its mind.

Johnson’s deputy bid hit by school U-turnGaby Hinsliff, political editorSunday October 29 2006

Observer

Alan Johnson’s bid for Labour’s deputy leadership was badly damaged yesterday as it emerged his U-turn on faith schools was driven by MPs worried about their seats.

We seek to work with government and not to work We seek to work with government and not to work against them or individuals but media reporting is out of against them or individuals but media reporting is out of our control.....our control.....


16 April 20067 09:56

Teachers call for ban on new faith schools amid segregation fearsBy Richard Garner, Education Editor

Published 14 April 2007

Teachers’ leaders have demanded a ban on all new faith schools, warning any increase in could lead to greater segregation.

April 14, 2007

Faith schools cause conflict, union saysAlexandra Frean

Teachers’ have voted that no more faith schools should be set up, claiming that they cause social conflict.

The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers agreed that it was an “inappropriate use of taxpayers’ money” to fund faith schools that, by their nature, had “exclusive and discriminatory philosophies”. But, in a heated debate at the union’s conference in Belfast, they stopped short of a previous commitment to an entirely secular system.


March 25, 2008

Preachers ‘should visit all schools’Alexandra Frean, Educational Editor

Union calls for end to single-faith schools-NUT plan reflects concern over faith segregation-Heads ‘should make space for private prayers’

Polly Curtis, education editorTuesday March 25, 2008

The CES has described these recent teacher union The CES has described these recent teacher union developments as a smoke screendevelopments as a smoke screen


Regular communications with Catholic Parliamentarians Regular communications with Catholic Parliamentarians have proved importanthave proved important


Collaborative Action During the Passage of the Education and Inspections Bill Proportionate; a major challenge so treated as such

• Press statements from Archbishop Chairman of CES and from Chief Executive and Director of CES.• Briefings to diocesan officers and schools.• Letters to Chairs of Governors, to parents, and to Headteachers.• Episcopal letter read in parishes.• Briefing and key facts to Catholic community to aid lobbying.• Briefings and meetings with Catholic Parliamentarians, and others.• Meetings with Ministers and officials; constructive, CES suggesting ways forward.... Always trying to be part of the solution.

• *** Letter of thanks to parishes following successful outcome.OONA STANNARD, CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND DIRECTOR CATHOLIC EDUCATION SERVICE FOR ENGLAND AND WALES, APRIL 2008 (www.cesew.org.uk)

For the Future? Trying to Win Hearts and Minds (Promoting and Securing Catholic Education)

• Continued diligence in scrutinising proposed legislation and regulation (The CES has a solicitor on staff)• Maintaining strong links with government and its agencies.• Working in partnerships in England and Wales and beyond.• Constantly briefing relevant parties, e.g. Commissioning research and expert publications.• Annual CES census of all schools.• Celebrating the good news of Catholic schools, e.g. Annual parliamentary reception.• Seeking innovative opportunities, e.g. Working to support other faith school providers, etc.


Documents

Catholic School Provision in England and Wales