LONDON - 4 September 2006 - 660 words
CES
opposes quotas for 'non-faith school places' in religious schools
The Catholic Education Service has expressed its firm opposition
to a proposal calling for 'non-faith places' in schools with a
religious character.
In a statement issued at the weekend, CES chief executive Oona Stannard, said:
"The topic of admissions to schools
with a religious character is exciting much current interest but
not always with the benefit of facts. The debate is likely to
become more voluble as Lord Kenneth Baker proposes an amendment
on admissions to schools with a religious character, along with
other possible changes to the Government's code on admissions,
during the continued passage of the Education and Inspection Bill.
"To set the record straight, the Catholic Church of England
and Wales shares an interest in making admission procedures as
fair and transparent as possible for all. Canon Law expects Catholic
parents to provide their child with a Catholic education wherever
possible. As a universal Church our Catholic community is made
up of people from all races and cultures, therefore already creating
diverse school communities. A look at Catholic schools today shows
that they are communities in which we already have a higher proportion
of pupils overall from minority ethnic groups than is the case
nationally for maintained schools. Recent immigrants and refugees
number frequently in our schools both Catholic children and others.'
"Furthermore the Church also gives
a high priority to educating the poorest and the most needy as
well as giving a priority to offering places for looked after
children. Indeed, the social profile of our schools is virtually
the same as in other maintained schools as judged by free school
meal levels.
"We have a long and successful tradition of educating the
marginalised. Where are the successors of the poor Catholic immigrants
of the nineteenth Century? They are now ranked amongst the most
successful professionals and public servants. Where are the eastern
European workers' children and where are the refugees? They are
in our Catholic schools.
"Catholic schools are built on the legacy of their forbearers,
their financial contributions, their expertise, and their building
of community. From that rich inheritance we expect only that we
be able to continue to give first preference to Catholic children
when our school places are insufficient in number to meet the
demand from all. Where places are available, we welcome those
of other denominations or faiths, or none. It is spurious to suggest
that to take away a religious community's right to firstly educate
its own children and to instead give preference to others, for
example, by introducing a 30% non-faith quota for Church schools,
would aid social cohesion. Instead it would undermine and threaten
existing harmonious relationships. It would risk setting up more
resentment than it would resolve. I am confident that I speak
for the Catholic community across England and Wales when I say
that we will robustly oppose any steps to introduce quotas for
'non-faith places' in our schools. We will react similarly strongly
against any other actions that inhibit our legitimate right to
give fair preference to Catholics in cases of over subscription
to Catholic schools."
The Lord Baker of Dorking proposed amendment 146A on 18 July during
day three of the House of Lords Committee Stage debate regarding
the Education and Inspections Bill (2006). The amendment was not
moved, but it is expected that it will be reintroduced at Report
Stage in mid-October. The wording of amendment 146A was as follows:
'After section 72(2) of SSFA [School Standards
and Framework Act] 1998 (further provisions relating to new schools)
there is inserted
"(2A) No proposal may be made for a new school which has
a religious character to make arrangements in respect of the admission
of pupils unless the condition in subsection (2B) is satisfied.
(2B) The condition is that at least 30 per cent of pupils admitted
to the school are not practising the religion of the school."'
Source: CES
© Independent Catholic
News 2006
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