Faith schools urged to reach out

Catholic schools should challenge the views of those critics who claim they are an “inward looking cult” and build on the momentum they now have, following the Government’s decision to remove the 50 per cent cap on faith-based admissions for free schools and new academies, the General Secretary of the Catholic Independent Schools’ Conference (CISC), Raymond Friel, has said.

He also highlighted the “public benefit” of Catholic schools in the independent sector, in terms of the professional expertise and support they can provide to other schools. CISC represents 135 schools with over 40,000 students in Britain and Ireland and it is currently working on its official response to the Prime Minster, Theresa May’s proposals.

“The Prime Minister has recognised the very strong work we [Catholic education] have done as a sector and we have to speak strongly about the values-based education we provide,” Mr Friel said. CISC is aiming to build on the success of its schools by forming more associations with schools in the state sector. “There can be a mutual benefit there and we can help each other. CISC can bring considerable expertise in marketing, business and quality of teaching”, he added.

He said his own appointment was a “powerful statement” of the intention to deepen the connections between the two sectors, as he had previously worked as a headteacher at the voluntary-aided St Gregory’s Catholic College in Bath.

Meanwhile, the British Humanist Association has criticised the Government’s plans, warning that allowing schools to choose all pupils on religious grounds “will lead to increased ethnic and religious segregation across England”.