Catholic Schools in Scotland Michael McGrath Director, Scottish Catholic Education Service

Contents Context Urban myths Political attitudes New challenges New opportunities

Catholicism in Scotland Scotland: a Protestant society 2001 National Census - 66% Christian –43% Church of Scotland; 16% Catholic; 7% other Christian –2% Muslim, Jewish. Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu –28% “no religion” 800,000 Catholics; 8 Dioceses Patterns of immigration

Catholic schools in Scotland Established as parish schools 1918 Education Act “transferred” schools 394 “denominational” Catholic Schools –329 Primary; 55 Secondary –7 SEN; 3 Independent –open to all 124,000 students = 21% school population Managed by education authorities Church governance: staffing & curriculum

Ghetto mentality Historical persecution –education –housing –employment Sectarian attitudes “Keep your head down”

Catholic schools: some Urban myths divisive breeding grounds for sectarianism schools for Catholics places of indoctrination socially & academically selective

Political Attitudes Scottish Labour Party – “as long as parents support Catholic schools” Conservatives - support choice of faith schools Liberal Democrats - opposed Greens – pro abolition Scottish Nationalist Party - ?

Cardinal Winning Lecture “It’s time to celebrate Catholic education.”

Faith in a Secular world Aggressive secular opposition Faith portrayed as dangerous Is Rationalism itself irrational? irrationalintolerantmoralisticfundamentalistevangelical

A Dictatorship of relativism "To have a clear faith according to the creed of the Church, is often labelled as fundamentalism. While relativism, that is, allowing oneself to be carried about with every wind of 'doctrine,' seems to be the only attitude that is fashionable. A dictatorship of relativism is being constituted that recognizes nothing as absolute and which only leaves the 'I' and its whims as the ultimate measure." (Cardinal Ratzinger)

Equality Legislation Approval of “religious belief and character” Exemptions to UK Equality Act: –admissions –religious education curriculum –chaplaincy –liturgical celebrations Atheist sir in job bias fight

Politics of Sexual Health Sexual Health Strategy –shared values? –concerns –Love? Policy of critical engagement

Today the word “love” is so tarnished, so spoiled and abused, that one is almost afraid to pronounce it with one’s lips... We cannot simply abandon it, we must take it up again, purify it and give back to it its original splendour. Deus Caritas Est

School Provision Modernisation of School Estate Shared campus provision –autonomous schools –staff, curriculum, resources –Facilities: catering, sports –some shared activities “the way forward”?

A Curriculum for Excellence

Values Wisdom Justice Compassion Integrity values & virtues taught and experienced articulated and shared

Strategies in Scotland Engage critically with national agendas Demonstrate added value Highlight parental choice Promote distinctiveness of provision

A Distinctive Vision

Mission of the Catholic school to develop as a community of faith and learning, providing the highest quality of education, and offering formation through the promotion of Gospel values, through celebration and worship, and through service to the common good.