29th October 2008
Catholic schools and the use of the Connexions Service
As the educational agency of the Catholic bishops of England and Wales, the Catholic Education Service for England and Wales (CESEW) unequivocally promotes the teachings of the Catholic Church in all matters. We fully uphold, for example, the Church’s teachings on the sanctity of life and its precious nature and we actively oppose abortion.
We are therefore shocked to learn that seriously inaccurate and misleading allegations are being promulgated asserting that the CESEW is promoting abortion to our schools. The assertion is made in the context of the Connexions Service working with Catholic schools.
The Connexions Service will be coming to an end nationally, but in the years since it was set up, it has been the national means of providing such support as careers advice to young people as well as guidance to those at risk of opting out of learning. As the Connexions Service came into being, the CESEW provided guidance to both the Connexions Service and to Catholic schools to help to ensure that the Connexions Service’s Personal Advisors worked within the Catholic ethos of our schools, upholding our Catholic values. Schools make their values clear to the Connexions Services and provide the necessary safeguards to ensure that these are upheld in work at the school. A protocol is established between the school and the Connexions Service to facilitate the collaborative work between every Catholic school and the Connexions Service.
The governing bodies and staff of Catholic schools take seriously their responsibility to ensure that those who work with their pupils and students are aware of the school’s expectations and do not promote actions that go against the Church’s teachings.
The present wrongful accusations about Catholic schools do nothing to help the important cause of protecting life in all its fullness. Instead, they divert precious resources from the vital task of providing or upholding sound Catholic education.
ENDS
Oona Stannard
Chief Executive and Director
Catholic Education Service for England and Wales
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