16^th April 2007

The NASUWT and “faith schools”

The CES understands from press reports that the annual conference of The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT) has voted in favour of a ban on all new “faith schools” and for an inquiry into the effects of ending state funding of all existing schools with a religious character.  Although the NASUWT has yet to make a statement, reports from the conference regurgitate tired and inaccurate arguments suggesting by implication that Catholic schools indoctrinate young people.  This is the antithesis of the meaning of education and is certainly not what goes on in Catholic schools. 

The Press Association has repeated hackneyed jibes suggesting that Catholic schools only do well because of the social background of their pupils.  This couldn’t be further from the truth: independent data from Ofsted shows that in comparison with other schools, Catholic schools actually do better in terms of results as free school meal levels increase (the typical measure of disadvantage).  In other words, Catholic schools add even more value to the education of disadvantaged pupils.

Objective data collected by Ofsted and DfES clearly shows that Catholic schools are ethnically very diverse, socially mixed (for example free school meal levels mirror national averages) and our admission arrangements are fair, objective and well publicised.  It is also the case nationally that 30% of pupils in Catholic schools are from backgrounds other than Catholic. 

The NASUWT must not forget that parents choosing a Catholic education for their child(ren) are taxpayers too.  There are no grounds, therefore, to suggest that public funding of Catholic schools is unfair.  The 10% contribution (worth around £25 million a year) from the Catholic community towards the capital costs of its school buildings shows a high level of commitment to its schools, whether for Catholics or Catholics and others.

Our schools have been in the vanguard of seeking to promote community cohesion.  I asked Education Minister Lord Adonis early in autumn 2006 to make community cohesion part of Ofsted’s school inspection criteria; a point which was later raised in the House of Lords by others and included in the Education and Inspections Act.  I have surveyed all our schools to review current practice in promoting community cohesion and the data from the first 300 replies makes it very clear, as we would expect, that there is much good practice upon which to build.  Promoting community cohesion has to be a high priority for all schools.

Attacks on Church schools are unwarranted and distract us all from the very important business of working to ensure that all children and young people, in whatever type of school, get a first class education that meets all their needs and fully develops their potential.

The Church is rightly proud of its Catholic schools, their staff and what they contribute to society.  Our 35,000 teaching staff are at the heart of this success and I am deeply perturbed at the number of professional associations, including the NASUWT, that disregard the contribution that these teachers and our schools make, not only to the well-being of individual pupils, but also to the well-being of society.  The ill-informed remarks about Church schools are a slur on the many union members who work in Catholic schools.  I urge all teachers in Catholic schools to take up this matter directly with their union or professional association and to speak up against the hostility to Church schools.

I will be seeking a meeting with Chris Keates, NASUWT General Secretary, in order to discuss the NASUWT’s move for an inquiry and to share with her the reality of Catholic education. 

Oona Stannard

Chief Executive and Director