PRESS STATEMENT

For immediate release – 1 September 2006

Catholic Education Service “robustly opposes” quotas for ‘non-faith places’ in schools with a religious character, says Chief Executive

The topic of admissions to schools with a religious character is exciting much current interest but not always with the benefit of facts.  The debate is likely to become more voluble as Lord Kenneth Baker proposes an amendment on admissions to schools with a religious character, along with other possible changes to the Government’s code on admissions, during the continued passage of the Education and Inspection Bill.

To set the record straight, the Catholic Church of England and Wales shares an interest in making admission procedures as fair and transparent as possible for all.  Canon Law expects Catholic parents to provide their child with a Catholic education wherever possible.  As a universal Church our Catholic community is made up of people from all races and cultures, therefore already creating diverse school communities.  A look at Catholic schools today shows that they are communities in which we already have a higher proportion of pupils overall from minority ethnic groups than is the case nationally for maintained schools.  Recent immigrants and refugees number frequently in our schools both Catholic children and others. 

Furthermore the Church also gives a high priority to educating the poorest and the most needy as well as giving a priority to offering places for looked after children.  Indeed, the social profile of our schools is virtually the same as in other maintained schools as judged by free school meal levels. 

We have a long and successful tradition of educating the marginalised. Where are the successors of the poor Catholic immigrants of the nineteenth Century?  They are now ranked amongst the most successful professionals and public servants.  Where are the eastern European workers’ children and where are the refugees?  They are in our Catholic schools.

Catholic schools are built on the legacy of their forbearers, their financial contributions, their expertise, and their building of community.  From that rich inheritance we expect only that we be able to continue to give first preference to Catholic children when our school places are insufficient in number to meet the demand from all.  Where places are available, we welcome those of other denominations or faiths, or none.  It is spurious to suggest that to take away a religious community’s right to firstly educate its own children and to instead give preference to others, for example, by introducing a 30% non-faith quota for Church schools, would aid social cohesion.  Instead it would undermine and threaten existing harmonious relationships.   It would risk setting up more resentment than it would resolve.  I am confident that I speak for the Catholic community across England and Wales when I say that we will robustly oppose any steps to introduce quotas for ‘non-faith places’ in our schools.  We will react similarly strongly against any other actions that inhibit our legitimate right to give fair preference to Catholics in cases of over subscription to Catholic schools.

Oona Stannard

Chief Executive and Director

ENDS

For more information please contact Laura McCann, Policy and Briefing Officer:       t: 0207 901 4854 e: lmccann@cesew.org.uk, w. www.cesew.org.uk.

Notes for editors:

• The Lord Baker of Dorking proposed amendment 146A on 18 July during day three of the House of Lords Committee Stage debate regarding the Education and Inspections Bill (2006).  The amendment was not moved, but it is expected that it will be reintroduced at Report Stage in mid-October.  The wording of amendment 146A was as follows:

‘After section 72(2) of SSFA [School Standards and Framework Act] 1998 (further provisions relating to new schools) there is inserted –

“(2A) No proposal may be made for a new school which has a religious character to make arrangements in respect of the admission of pupils unless the condition in subsection (2B) is satisfied.

(2B) The condition is that at least 30 per cent of pupils admitted to the school are not practising the religion of the school.”’

• Canon Law is the ecclesiastical law of the Catholic Church.  In the Code of Canon Law:

Parents, and those who take their place, have both the obligation and the right to educate their children.  Catholic parents have also the duty and the right to choose those means and institutes which, in their local circumstances can best promote the catholic education of their children.’  (Can.793).