Following Catholic emancipation, one of the first bodies to be set up was the Catholic Education Service (CES) in 1847. Education has always been vital to the life and work of the Church. Without Catholic education, the Church would not exist as we know it.
In the 175 years that have passed, the CES has helped establish one of the most favourable settlements for Catholic education anywhere in Western Europe. It has allowed our schools to thrive and become some of the best in the country. But there are always fresh challenges.
The faith-based admissions cap on new free schools in England is perhaps one of the biggest challenges in recent times. It has prevented the Catholic community from taking part in the free school programme, as the cap contravenes Canon Law.
It has also put Catholic schools under a cloud by painting them as a risk that needs to be managed rather than as an asset to the communities they serve.
This week the Catholic Union has launched a new campaign to “scrap the cap” with an open letter to the Education Secretary. With your help, we can give Catholic education a bright future for the next 175 years. Sign the letter here.