Scottish Catholic Observer

A Falkirk council consultation into plans to reserve school places for Baptised children at Catholic schools has found 63 percent of people are in favour of the move.

The council said that demand for places at denominational schools are ‘at a level that can no longer be met,’ despite the opening of St Bernadette’s Primary, Stenhousemuir, in 2012.

The council, which is legally required to offer Catholic education, now plans to reserve places at its Catholic schools for children with a Baptismal certificate, with non-Catholic pupils having to submit a placing request for denominational schools in their catchment area.

The consultation took place over an eight week period in May and June and 104 individuals responded, with 100 percent of school staff members, 56 percent of parents and 57 percent of other respondents supporting the proposals, giving a total of 63 percent in favour.

St Andrew’s and Edinburgh Archdiocese said the proposals were a ‘fair and necessary initiative which will protect the rights of Catholic families to a Catholic education.’ One community council opposed the plans, as did the Scottish Secular Society, who said the council ‘should not be seeking to expedite religious discrimination because a child’s parents have differing faiths, or indeed no faith.’

Michael McGrath (above), director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service, applauded Falkirk Council for taking efforts to address the problem of over-subscription in Catholic schools.

“Clearly, if places in a Catholic school are short, priority has to be given to Catholic children living in the area,” he said. “In the longer term, the council may need to consider whether its total provision of Catholic school places has to be increased to meet the needs of the local population.”

The proposals will be discussed by councillors at a meeting on November 11.

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