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A Parliamentary Reception to celebrate Catholic Education in England and Wales took place in the Palace of Westminster on 10 February. The Catholic Education Service, Diocesan Schools Commissioners and Trust CEOs were represented at the event, which was also by more than 30 MPs and Peers from across the political spectrum, and Bishop Marcus Stock, the Catholic Bishop of Leeds.

Arundel & Brighton diocesan Director of Education, Julie Oldroyd, who took part in the event, reported afterwards that: "there was the opportunity to meet and talk with MPs from our respective dioceses and we were joined by the Secretary of State, The Right Hon Bridget Phillipson, who was present for Bishop Marcus Stock’s address in which he affirmed the role of the 2,100 Catholic schools educating over 850,000 pupils."

During the event, Julie was pleased to meet with with local MPs Zoe Franklin, MP for Guildford; Peter Lamb, Crawley; Ben Spencer, Runneymede and Weybridge, and Joss Edwards, Parliamentary Assistant to Alison Griffiths, MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton.

The celebration was hosted by Mike Kane, Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, and organised by the Catholic Education Service (CES). Mr Kane said it was good to see so many advocates in Parliament for Catholic education, and that families valued the importance of the emphasis on dignity and respect taught in Catholic schools.  

The keynote address was given by the Rt Rev Marcus Stock, Bishop of Leeds, Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Middlesbrough, and Chairman of the CES. He spoke of the long-standing partnership between the Catholic education sector and Parliamentarians of all parties and faith backgrounds. Bishop Marcus said:

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“We share a concern for the flourishing of children and young people, for social mobility, and for the strengthening of local communities.

“Catholic education is, at its best, a quiet but steady presence, which is rooted in service, attentive to the needs of the most vulnerable, and committed to forming young people not only for employment, but for responsible citizenship and shared life in our society.”  

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There are 2,135 Catholic schools and colleges in England and Wales, educating more than 850,000 students, making the Catholic Church the largest single provider of secondary education and second largest of primary education in the country. There are also four Catholic universities in England.

Our own diocese is home to 62 state-funded schools, comprising fifty-one primary schools and eleven secondary schools, as well as ten independent schools and one independent non-maintained specialist school.

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Source: Catholic Education Service