After months of extensive briefing since the publication of the Education White Paper in October, the Bishops of England and Wales met following the publication of the Education Bill (28th Feb 2006). They came together with their advisers to consider their initial response to the Bill.

“The Symposium has provided us with a firm foundation from which to continue our negotiations and lobbying in response to the Bill,” said Oona Stannard, CES Chief Executive and Director.  “Naturally we are very exercised by the notion of Trust or Foundation Schools. They offer us significant challenges, as well as potential opportunities.  I hear clearly from my diocesan colleagues their strong wish that we preserve the rights enshrined in VA status, e.g. governance, ethos, religious education and inspection.”

“This conference was an important moment in Catholic Education,“ said Dr Bernadette Porter, CBE, Adviser to the Archbishop of Southwark. “We were able to reflect honestly and clearly on the role we have to play in society, our contribution to social inclusion in a multicultural, pluralistic society and our shared response to the Education Bill currently being debated in Parliament.”

“This debate must go on,” The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham, reinforced. “Diocesan Education Officers meet next week and will reflect further on the lead given by the Bishops. The importance of Church Schools and Religious Education has been stressed yet again. Social cohesion will never be achieved by a population that is religiously illiterate.”

Every diocese and archdiocese in England and Wales was represented and the Apostolic Nuncio attended the day.  The Symposium was opened by His Eminence Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor and chaired by Archbishop Vincent Nichols.  Presentations were made by Bishop Kieran Conry, Bishop Edwin Regan, Bishop John Rawsthorne, Oona Stannard, CES Chief Executive and Director, and Sarah Billington, CES Legal Adviser.

ENDS

For further information, please contact Peter Walsh, CES Policy and Briefings Manager, e. pwalsh@cesew.org.uk, t. 0207 901 4854