Andy Drozdziak
The Catholic Union has welcomed the news that the lifting of a 50 per cent cap on faith-based admissions to new free schools is being ‘seriously considered’ by the Government.
The 50 percent cap on faith-based admissions applies to oversubscribed free schools with a religious character in England. Introduced by the Coalition Government in 2010, the cap has made it impossible for new Catholic free schools to open as the policy is incompatible with Church law.
The Catholic Union, along with the Catholic Education Service and Catholic MPs, have been calling for the policy to be reversed since it was first introduced. The 2017 Conservative manifesto committed to lifting the cap, but this was never achieved. At the time, Catholic MP Sir Edward Leigh called the cap ‘a source of huge frustration to the Catholic community in this country.’
Now it seems that the Government is actively reviewing proposals to allow faith-based schools to reject applications from children who do not share their beliefs.
James Somerville-Meikle, Deputy Director of the Catholic Union, said: “Our campaign to “Scrap the Cap” on new religious free schools was in the papers over the weekend.
“The proposal to lift the cap, which would finally allow Catholic free schools in England to open, is now being seriously considered by people in Government.”
Mr Somerville-Meikle thanked the 1,000 people who signed an open letter to Education Secretary Gillian Keegan calling for the cap to be lifted, adding that the move would go some way to ‘allowing more young people to benefit from a Catholic education.’
The letter was presented to Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, in person last year and was mentioned in the Sunday Times coverage. Gillian Keegan is understood to be in favour of changing the law.
According to the Catholic Education Service, the Catholic Church is the country’s largest provider of secondary schools and second-largest of primary schools, along with four universities. Catholic education is also the largest charitable activity of the Church in this country.
James Somerville-Meikle encouraged Catholic supporters to not rest on their laurels but to continue to campaign for the removal the cap, calling it ‘a really important moment in the campaign.’ He suggested contacting local MPs about the campaign and to keep praying.
Picture: The Catholic Union’s letter was presented to Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, in person last year