'Scrap the Cap' campaign heads to No 10

James Somerville-Meikle outside No 10

The Catholic Union was back in No 10 Downing Street this week to talk about the future of Catholic schools.

Deputy Director, James Somerville-Meikle, together with Paul Barber, Director of the Catholic Education Service, met the Prime Minister's education adviser to discuss the faith-based admissions cap on new free schools.

Last year, the Catholic Union launched a new campaign to 'Scrap the Cap' and allow Catholic free schools to open. Over 1,000 people signed an open letter to the Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, asking her to finally lift the cap.

The meeting in No 10 is the latest stage in the campaign and builds on previous meetings with officials and Special Advisers and a meeting with the Education Secretary at the end of last year.

James and Paul highlighted the benefits of lifting the cap, which would allow the Catholic Church to take part in the free school programme which was launched in 2010. Lifting the cap would not just allow new schools to be built, but permit existing schools to convert to academies.

They stressed that Catholic schools are already some of the most diverse in the country, with nearly half of pupils from an ethnic minority background.

The campaign continues…

LINKS

Catholic Union: https://catholicunion.org.uk/
Catholic Union launches campaign to Scrap the Cap: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/47474