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Catholic schools in the United Kingdom

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In the United Kingdom, there are many 'local authority maintained' (i.e. state funded) Roman Catholic schools. These are theoretically open to pupils of all faiths or none, although if the school is over-subscribed priority will be given to Roman Catholic children.

History

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During the Reformation, Catholic schools were created on the European continent for the training of children of Catholic families from Britain. During the 18th century, colleges for the training of priests were created in Scotland, such as in Scalan and Lismore Seminary. After the Re-establishment of the English hierarchy and the Scottish hierarchy new schools were created. After the Education Act 1918 in Scotland and the Education Act 1944 in England and Wales, state-funded Catholic schools were built.[1][2] Nevertheless, today there has been some controversy over Roman Catholic schools. Some Labour backbenchers would like to see them closed along with all other faith-based schools, and this was the official policy of the Scottish Green Party at the 2007 Scottish Parliament election. Some local authorities – such as in Lanarkshire – have chosen to build so-called "shared campuses" where a Roman Catholic and non-denominational school share grounds, a building, and facilities such as canteen, sport halls etc., but lessons are taught separately. This policy has had mixed success – although supporters say it reduces the risk of "us and them" sectarianism, some shared campuses have suffered disruptions on opening.[3] At one stage the Scottish Catholic Church even considered legal action against North Lanarkshire Council to stop another "shared campus" being built.[4]

In Northern Ireland, Roman Catholic schools are state-funded and organised and run by the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS).[5]

England and Wales

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The Catholic Education Service provides the central co-ordination under the Bishops' Conference for Catholic schools in England and Wales. In England and Wales, Catholic schools come under the jurisdiction of their local diocese who can inspect the religious education and acts of worship of the school under Section 48 of the Education Act 2005. Many schools were also founded by religious orders who continue to maintain a presence, property ownership or trusteeship of their schools.[6]

In England and Wales are joint Anglican and Catholic schools. These include primary schools such as: All Saints, Cambridge; The Bishops’ School, Chelmsford; Emmaus School, Liverpool; The Faith School, Liverpool; St John’s Sunderland; Christ the King, Macclesfield. There is a joint middle school: St Edward’s Royal Free School, Windsor.  Joint secondary schools and academies include: St Cuthbert Mayne School, Torquay; St Augustine, Taunton; St Bede, Cambridge; St Bede, Redhill; St Michael, Barnsley; St Edward, Poole; St Francis Xavier High School, Richmond, North Yorkshire; Emmaus, Sheffield; Holy Family College, Heywood, Rochdale; Christ’s College, Cheltenham; St Francis of Assisi, Liverpool; St Chad’s, Runcorn. In 2006, the first joint Church in Wales and Catholic school was opened in Wales: St Joseph’s, Wrexham.[7]

Scotland

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After the Education Act 1918, many state-funded Scottish Catholic schools were started. Nevertheless, there exist Catholic independent schools such as St Aloysius' College, Glasgow, Fernhill School, Rutherglen, and Kilgraston School. During the Scottish Reformation, while there were no Catholic seminaries in England and Wales, there was a number of Scottish seminaries before the restoration of the Scottish Catholic hierarchy. Notable Scottish Catholic schools today include:

Aberdeen
Dumfries and Galloway
Dundee
East Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
East Renfrewshire
Edinburgh
Fife
Glasgow
Inverclyde
Midlothian
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Perth and Kinross
Renfrewshire
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
Stirling
West Dunbartonshire
West Lothian

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Williamson, Clifford (2016). The History of Catholic Intellectual Life in Scotland, 1918–1965. London: Palgrave, Macmillan. p. 55. ISBN 9781137333476. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  2. ^ McCormack, Maeve (7 May 2011). "The continuing tradition of Catholic education". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Church examining schools decision". BBC News. 15 September 2004. Retrieved 12 December 2005.
  4. ^ "Council dampens campus fears". BBC News. 22 January 2004. Retrieved 12 December 2005.
  5. ^ Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (Northern Ireland) (retrieved 19 June 2007)
  6. ^ "About Us". Roe UK. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  7. ^ "Joint Anglican-Roman Catholic Schools". Churches Together in England. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
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