Don't jump at new government funding, Church urges English Catholic schools

June 18, 2010

The Catholic Education Service in England is advising administrators of Catholic schools that they should resist the government’s campaign to reorganize themselves as “academy” schools with public funding. The Catholic Education Service reminded the Catholic-school chiefs that although the government currently supplied 90% of their funding, the remaining 10% gives them a measure of independence. The government’s new plans for “academy” schools leave many questions about independence unanswered, the Service noted in a letter to 2,000 schools.

The funding opportunities may initially seem attractive to schools but remember there is, as yet, little precise detail on this and the payment of our 10% to capital costs at present buys our sector a degree of valuable independence along the lines of "he who pays the piper calls the tune.”

 

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Further information:

• Catholic Church warns schools against academy status (BBC)