The Catholic Education Service has called on the government to rethink substantial parts of its schools White Paper. In its submission to the Education and Skills Select Committee, the CES says that the White Paper is ‘unlikely’ to increase social justice, and that the Paper’s focus on admissions and parental involvement is “of no relevance” to much of the country. The submission adds that introducing additional competition into the system – as the White Paper envisages – ‘will damage or destroy excellent partnerships between schools’.

Other important areas include:

• Trust schools: The CES is pleased that ‘the government has recognised the success of voluntary aided schools’ and is modelling Trust schools on their governance arrangements. But this will be insufficient to ensure Trust schools are able to achieve the same success and positive ethos as Catholic schools, the majority of which have voluntary aided status.
• Admissions: Whilst welcoming the fact that the White Paper reaffirms the rights of governing bodies to be their own admissions authorities, the CES is concerned that the White Paper appears to be widening the scope and strength of the admissions Code of Practice. The government must ensure that those advising parents about their choice of school are genuinely ‘independent and unbiased’. The new Schools Commissioner should be knowledgeable about the voluntary aided sector and clearly accountable for his decisions.
• Transport: The CES welcomes the proposals to widen access to school transport, but calls for the offer to Catholic families to include a Catholic school, and for local authorities not to withdraw more generous transport provision where it is available.

The CES also welcomes the government’s continued emphasis on personalised learning for all children, and urges the DfES to ensure schools are able to group children as they think best. The evidence concludes, “We believe that these well-grounded and sensible proposals are likely to be the lasting positive impact of this White Paper, rather than a further round of structural reform.”

For further information, please contact Peter Walsh, pwalsh@cesew.org.uk, 0207 901 4854