The 2007 CESEW Census digest has been published and provides a comprehensive analysis of the 2007 data.  If our colleagues throughout schools, dioceses and the wider Church find this publication helpful, and resources permit, it is our intention to publish a further Digest year on year. 

Robust data is critical to educational debate, to politics and to so many other aspects of society and daily life.  Our data help to provide a clear picture of Catholic schools, the pupils and students therein, and the staff and leadership team.  We are confident that this will prove invaluable in setting the record straight about Catholic schools and sixth form colleges and that it will continue to provide the necessary data to underpin policy decisions and also be of interest to researchers.

Whilst many of the questions in the CESEW annual census remain constant from year to year, we have the opportunity to ask particular questions relevant to the moment.  From the census reported upon, you will see, for example, that withdrawal from collective worship, the qualifications of staff teaching religious education and school uniform have been new features of the data collection.

There can be no denying that although the annual census is a vital part of securing and promoting Catholic education nationally, it is also a complex and time consuming project, not only for the CESEW but also for our diocesan colleagues and schools.  We would, therefore, like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved for their unwavering support of the census and their hard work in ensuring its completion.  I would also like to pay particular thanks to the Census Working Group for their continued help and support.  The expertise and constructive comments of Dr Sandra McNally, Deputy Director of the Centre for the Economics of Education at the London School of Economics, have also been much appreciated. 

If you would like to purchase a copy of the 2007 Digest, you can download an order form by clicking here.

If you would like to provide feedback to inform our thinking for future years.  Please email general@cesew.org.uk or telephone on 020 7901 1900.