Catholics fight to stop secular academy
Plans for a secular academy on the site of a Catholic college are being challenged by the Archdiocese of Liverpool.
The local authority in Croxteth and Norris Green is looking to reorganise schooling in the area after a decline in demand for places. There are currently three secondary schools in the area, two Catholic — one for boys and one for girls — and one community school. The Council plans to close the Catholic boys’ school and the community school and replace them with a £20 million college that will not have a ‘religious ethos.’ The Authority says it is anxious to ensure that families not wanting a “faith ethos” will not be deprived of choice.
But the Catholic hierarchy says it won’t accept such a plan and wants the money spent on upgrading Catholic provision. The final decision will be taken by the schools minister, Lord Adonis, who is a well-known advocate of religion in schools.
27 June 2008
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Guardian, 21 August 2008
Yorkshire Post, 21 August 2008
Telegraph, 21 August 2008
The fact that this case was won while another case – that of 16- year old Lydia Playfoot and her claim in 2007 to want to wear a “chastity ring” in school – was thrown out of court seems in itself to be discriminatory.
Government transitional safeguards to protect the jobs and promotion prospects of head teachers and teachers already in post in Voluntary Controlled faith schools breach natural justice and are discriminatory, says the National Secular Society.