'Future of Catholic education reliant on institutions like Leeds Trinity'

Dr Gerald Grace

Professor Gerald Grace has said that Catholic institutions like Leeds Trinity University have a big role to play in the future development of Catholic education.

Speaking at Leeds Trinity. Professor Grace, who has pioneered Catholic Education Studies internationally for over 20 years, said that producing excellent academic results and subsequent employability figures is only part of the total mission and purpose of Catholic education.

He said: "Leeds Trinity is a very high achieving university and I would like to congratulate them on their success, but whilst this confirms that the parable of talent is certainly being fulfilled, and with great distinction, there are other mission objectives and commitments for such an institution.

"The role we need institutions like Leeds Trinity to play is to engage in new and innovative thinking about how the challenges for Catholic education can be responded to. Every Catholic Higher Educational Institution in the world should be assisting the development of the field of Catholic Education Studies, so we can understand in greater depth what is distinctive about our mission and what, therefore, we need to be responding to any external attack."

Addressing a crowd of university students and lecturers, as well as attendees from local schools and parishes, Professor Grace highlighted the threats to Catholic education and discussed the ground-breaking document, The Catholic School, which was published in 1977. He argues that what we learnt in 1977 must still be applied today:

"Post-Vatican II, Catholic education has undergone significant changes to create openness and engagement with the contemporary world. The eight key points summarised in The Catholic School are still as relevant, if not more so, today to create a more open and engaging church.

"I was delighted to hear that Leeds Trinity's Catholic heritage is reinforced in its key ambitions to accept staff and students of all faiths and none, to encourage students to be their best and not the best, and to develop the whole-being through vocation as well as education. This is certainly an institution that is not only proud of its faith foundation, but is also guided by it."

Liz McGuire, Lecturer in Religious Studies Secondary Education at Leeds Trinity, said:

"We're exceptionally proud of our heritage here at Leeds Trinity and work hard to strengthen partnerships with Catholic schools around Leeds; giving our teachers the opportunity to practice in Catholic schools and develop professionalism through Initial Teacher Education and Continued Professional Development (CPD) courses. We also do extensive work through our Schools Partnership network including regular concerts on campus."

Leeds Trinity was originally established as two Catholic teacher training colleges 1966, Trinity College and All Saints College. Over the last 50 years, the Institute has evolved and developed to become an acclaimed university with a diverse education offer, but its Catholic faith foundation remains central to its activities.

Professor Grace visited Leeds Trinity as part of its 50th Anniversary Chaplaincy lecture series on Wednesday 28 September. He is the Director of the Centre of Research and Development in Catholic Education at St Mary's University, Twickenham, which like Leeds Trinity is one of three UK universities with a Catholic foundation.