Catholic schools' heads claim discrimination (From Worcester News)

Catholic schools' heads claim discrimination

10:00am Tuesday 10th November 2009

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By Claire Fry »

HEADTEACHERS of Catholic schools in Worcester have backed an MP’s claim they are being discriminated against when it comes to funding.

Your Worcester News reported last week how Worcester’s Labour MP Mike Foster had accused Worcestershire County Council of religious discrimination against the schools.

He made the claims after obtaining figures showing that Catholic schools had not received any 106 section funding – money given to the council by developers as part of the planning permission system – in the last five years.

But despite the council denying the allegations, headteachers say they still believe this to be true.

Sean Devlin, head of the Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College in Timberdine Avenue, said: “We do feel discriminated against. I have raised this on two occasions with the schools forum, a body which meets once a term to discuss everything to do with education funding – and we still haven’t had any good answers as to why. We have pushed for it. We aren’t able to apply for it, the procedure is so complex.”

Hilary Rowlands, headteacher at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Primary School in Pershore, called for more transparency on money allocation. “It does seem to be the case that it isn’t clear how some schools get the money and others don’t. It is strange that no Catholic schools have got it,” she said.

Mike Painter, headteacher at St George’s Catholic Primary School in Thorneloe Walk, said: “We want to see fair funding for all schools and transparency in the way decisions are made and the way that people are notified that the money is available.”

Mr Foster said he still believed there was discrimination. “It is inconceivable that £2 million coming into Worcestershire and not a single penny has come from homes where a child will be going to a Catholic school. It is just unfortunate that this is children’s education that is involved, and children going to Catholic schools are not benefiting from the money.”

Councillor Liz Eyre, cabinet member for children and young people rejected the claims. “This isn’t a Catholic issue, this is a voluntary aided schools issue. This covers Church of England schools, Catholic schools and Endowed schools,” she said.

Coun Eyre said the council would be presenting schools with evidence that the system was fair at the next forum in December.