Catholic schools and colleges were honoured at a parliamentary reception in February to mark their contribution to education in England and Wales. The event was hosted by Mike Kane MP and was attended by more than 30 members of both the Commons and Lords, including Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson MP and some of her predecessors – and Bishop Marcus Stock, Chairman of the Catholic Education Service. Flavio Vettese, Director of Education and Maria Shepherd, Deputy Director of Education, represented the Diocese of Brentwood at the event.
With 2,135 Catholic schools and colleges in England and Wales, educating over 800,000 pupils, the Catholic Church is the largest provider of secondary education and the second largest provider of primary education in the country. There are also four Catholic universities in England.
Catholic education is widely recognised for its significant national impact, with its strong emphasis on dignity, respect, service and community. Catholic schools play an important role in supporting vulnerable pupils, promoting social mobility and preparing young people for employment, responsible citizenship and active participation in society. Recently, this has been recognised by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (centre with Bishop Marcus Stock) who has written to several diocesan schools which have shown strong attainment in supporting disadvantaged students, recognising their significant achievements.
The event highlighted the continuing partnership between the Church and Parliament in supporting education and this national recognition has reinforced the role of Catholic education in supporting communities and society. The event gave the Diocese of Brentwood and other dioceses a welcome opportunity to celebrate their mission. Brentwood’s Education Director Flavio Vettese commented: “It is very positive to see the well-deserved recognition of our Catholic schools. We are very proud of the high quality, inclusive education we offer across the whole of the diocese.”