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Written question asked by Alexander Stafford (Conservative) on Friday, 17 February 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 21 February 2023. It was answered by Nick Gibb (Conservative) on Friday, 24 February 2023 on behalf of the Department for Education.

Church Schools: Regional Planning and Development

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential role of catholic schools in levelling up.

Answer

The Department supports schools with a religious character. They add to the diversity of the school system, they are popular with parents both with and without a faith, and they typically deliver high standards of education for their pupils. They also have an important role to play in supporting levelling up, by providing high quality school places throughout the country.

The Department recognises that some groups, including the Catholic Church, feel unable to participate in the free schools programme because of the 50% cap on faith admissions.

The Department is committed to ensuring that all providers of schools with a religious character remain able to open new schools once all schools are in academy trusts and, as such, will continue to keep the 50% cap under review. The Department regularly discusses the matter with groups who provide schools with a religious character, including the Catholic Church.

There are two mainstream Catholic schools in the Rother Valley Constituency, 296 in London and 1,955 in England.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
147090
Session
2022-23
Grouped for answer
Yes
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Catholicism Church schools Regional planning and development
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk