June |
STATEMENT BY THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF NORTHERN IRELAND
“While some have sought to claim the support of the Catholic Bishops for their approach to the current debate, we have scrupulously avoided endorsing the perspective of any political party or any specific structures to replace the 11+.” – The Northern Bishops. Following the most recent meeting of the Irish Bishops’ Conference in Maynooth, the Catholic Bishops of Northern Ireland issued the following statement in response to the debate about academic selection, the changes proposed for education under the review of public administration and the intention of some primary schools to use independent academic assessment tools to replace the 11+ test. In their ‘end of school year’ statement the Bishops highlight the following points: • “It is vital that all those with the best interests of children at heart reach agreement on outstanding issues as quickly as possible. Uncertainty and instability affects children and undermines the work of teachers and schools.” • “An education system which produces excellent academic results for some pupils up to A-level but has nearly half our 16 year olds leaving school with less than 5 GCSE A*-C grades cannot be considered either equitable or a success in Christian terms.” • “The term ‘catholic’ means universal. Thus, a school calling itself ‘Catholic’ cannot act in isolation from other Catholic schools or from the educational community as a whole.” • “It is specifically the Trustees who have ultimate responsibility for making and agreeing specific proposals for Catholic education with the statutory authorities.” • “Traditional distinctions between grammar and other types of schools are becoming increasingly meaningless. The 11+ selection system does however unfairly advantage grammar schools in terms of enrolment and sustainability.” • “We wish to state our clear opposition to the introduction of independent academic assessment tools by schools as a temporary or future means of pupil selection.”
As Trustees of the family of just over 500 Catholic schools in Northern Ireland we are acutely aware that all schools here are facing a period of major change and uncertainty. We share the disappointment of many parents, teachers and others that, as another school year ends key aspects of the proposed changes remain unclear. It is vital that all those with the best interests of children at heart reach agreement on outstanding issues as quickly as possible. Uncertainty and instability affects children and undermines the work of teachers and schools. We had shared the hope with others that devolution would bring the opportunity to build on the excellent reputation of schools here and enhance the opportunities provided for every child. We believe this is still possible with a determination to resolve outstanding issues in an atmosphere of respectful engagement and a shared concern for the best interests of children. We come to this debate from the perspective of a long established, evolving and distinctive philosophy of Catholic education based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the inherent dignity of every child, made in God’s image and likeness. Catholic schools exist across the world and are valued by parents from a wide range of religious and other backgrounds. They provide a holistic and values-based approach to education which is open to all and promotes tolerance and respect for diversity as a basic aim. Parents have a right to choose a Catholic education as part of their fundamental human right to freedom of conscience and religion. We do not ask for any privileges, only for the right to make our uniquely successful contribution to our public education system. Academic selection Some five years ago we said that we should move to election of schools by parents and away from selection of pupils by schools. While we pay tribute to the excellent reputation and tradition that many schools have developed over the years, at the same time we should not lose sight of the fact that publicly funded schools together exist to serve the whole of society and its communities, not just their own interests. Schools are to be evaluated as good schools when they provide a range of opportunities for all children and are responsive to the particular gifts of every child. Thus we believe that: Review of Public Administration We continue to engage with the Department to ensure that the rights of parents who choose Catholic schools are adequately recognised and supported and that the rights of Trustees are sufficiently represented and ensured in any future process of management and planning. We are glad to be able to offer that level of co-ordination and vision which have enabled Catholic schools to lead the field in so many areas of education in NI. It is a fundamental principle of Catholic education that Catholic schools exist as a family of schools acting in solidarity with each other and in the interests of the common good. We believe the new Trustee Support Body will help to develop and strengthen this principle in reality and will enable the family of Catholic schools to cooperate more effectively with all other sectors and educational bodies. We reiterate the conviction that the network of Catholic schools is not just a loose alliance of independent schools. The term ‘catholic’ means universal. Thus, a school calling itself ‘Catholic’ cannot act in isolation from other Catholic schools or from the educational community as a whole. The impact of any proposed developments on neighbouring schools cannot be peripheral but are part of the responsibility and concern of every Catholic school. As Trustees we deeply appreciate the role of parents, teachers, principals and Boards of Governors in developing the family of excellent Catholic schools. We recognise that it will not always be easy to find agreed ways forward that will provide equality of opportunity for all our young people, whatever their talents and needs. However, in the last analysis, it is specifically the Trustees who have ultimate responsibility for making and agreeing specific proposals for Catholic education with the statutory authorities. We are committed to acting only in ways that serve the common good. As we face the uncertainties of the future with others in the education community in Northern Ireland, we believe it is only by planning together and with Gospel values to the forefront of our minds that we will continue to provide an effective and sustainable provision of explicitly faith-based schools into the future. Independent assessment tests |
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