Religiously segregated schools: FOI release

Information requested

1. Why is a separate system of education necessary?
2.  Please tell me if there are any schools in Scotland which represent any other religious faith.
3. Is a Catholic school more successful than a secular school and if so, why is it more successful?
4. If denominational schools are inclusive please give me the statistics which support this. e.g. Please tell me the religious and non religious backgrounds of my local R.C. secondary school, St Thomas Of Aquin"s R.C. High School, Edinburgh and my local Primary School St. Peter's, Edinburgh.
5. If R.C. schools provide a choice for Catholic parents what choice is provided for the 38.8% of parents who identify as Christian or the other smaller groups of Muslim parents?
6. Can non-Catholic teachers apply for promoted posts in R.C. schools? Can Catholic teachers apply for promoted posts in non-Catholic schools?

Response

Some of the information you have requested is already available to you and links to the information have been provided in the below breakdown. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the websites listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

• In relation to question one, the information you have requested is already reasonably accessible to you. Although as previously stated denominational, or faith schools, have been part of the state schools sector since the Education (Scotland) Act 1918 allowed such schools, which until then had been independent schools, to transfer to local authority control. In accordance with Section 16 of the 1980 Act, local authorities may establish a denominational school for any denomination or faith if they are satisfied that such a school is required, either in response to representations made to them by any church or denominational body acting on behalf of parents, or on their own initiative. You can access the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 here: Education (Scotland) Act 1980 (legislation.gov.uk)
• In relation to question two Data on the different denominational schools is available on the schools contact list data: School contact details - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Number of publicly funded schools [note 1] in Scotland by religious denomination, as of April 2022
Denomination	No. of schools
Non-denominational	2,079
Roman Catholic	358
Inter-denominational	7
Episcopalian	3
Jewish	1
Total	2,461
Note 1: Including both Local Authority and Grant Aided schools

• In relation to question three, in this instance we have interpreted “successful” as attainment as attainment data is one of the measures used to assess schools in Scotland. Data on attainment by school is available on the School Information Dashboard at the following link: School information dashboard | My school | Parentzone Scotland | Education Scotland’
• In relation to question where you requested the religious and non religious backgrounds of your local R.C. secondary school, St Thomas Of Aquin’s R.C. High School, Edinburgh and your local Primary School St. Peter's, Edinburgh. The Scottish Government does not have the information you have asked for as local authorities in Scotland have a statutory responsibility for the provision of education in their area as we do not collect data on the religion of pupils from specific schools. This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested. However, you may wish to contact your local Council who may hold this information and may be able to help you. They have their own Freedom of Information Process, details of which can be found on their website and at this link - Freedom of Information FOI – The City of Edinburgh Council
• In relation to question 5 “If R.C. schools provide a choice for Catholic parents what choice is provided for the 38.8% of parents who identify as Christian or the other smaller groups of Muslim parents?”. Data on the different denominational schools is available on the schools contact list data where you can view the choices available to all parents: School contact details - gov.scot (www.gov.scot). You may also wish to refer to the register of independent schools in Scotland which can be found here: Independent schools in Scotland: register - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
• In relation to question 6 “Can non-Catholic teachers apply for promoted posts in R.C. schools? Can Catholic teachers apply for promoted posts in non-Catholic schools?”. The responsibility for the appointment of teachers to posts in a denominational schools rests with local authorities. In accordance with Section 21 of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 and other legislation, all teachers in denominational schools must be fully qualified and registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland. They also require to be approved as regards their religious belief and character by representatives of the church or denominational body in whose faith the school operates. The process for applying for approval to take up a post in a denominational school, and the means by which it is granted, is a matter the relevant church or denominational body. You may be interested to see the guidelines produced by the Scottish Catholic Education Service at https://sces.org.uk/church-approval/ as these set out the procedures for church approval of teachers applying for posts in Catholic schools. Information on the recruitment for nondenominational schools and other faith schools can be requested from the relevant local authority. You may wish to contact your local Council who may hold this information and may be able to help you. They have their own Freedom of Information Process, details of which can be found on their website and at this link - Freedom of Information FOI – The City of Edinburgh Council

This information is being provided to you as additional outwith FOI(S)A official response:

Tackling Sectarianism

In relation to point 7, we condemn all threatening, offensive or bigoted behaviour wherever it takes place. In their report, The Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland were clear from their work on denominational schooling, they concluded that ‘The debate around schools in Scotland can quickly degenerate into sterile or emotive conversations about the importance of religious diversity in education versus the importance of single-provider education. We do not believe that sectarianism stems from, or is the responsibility of, denominational schooling, or, specifically, Catholic schools, nor that sectarianism would be eradicated by closing such institutions.’ You can access this report at the following archived link: [ARCHIVED CONTENT] Advisory Group on Tackling Sectarianism in Scotland (nrscotland.gov.uk)

GME

The Scottish Government is working alongside local authorities and other educational bodies to overcome the shortfall between primary and secondary provision for Gaelic medium education (GME). This includes working with teacher training institutes such as the University of Strathclyde and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig to increase the number of Gaelic medium teachers as well as supporting distance learning services such as Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s eSgoil. The Scottish Languages Bill is currently progressing through the Scottish Parliament. Among its aims is the establishment of a new strategic approach to Gaelic education. This will work towards meeting the expectation of GME parents across Scotland that their children can receive a comprehensive 3-18 schooling through Gaelic.

Annex A

Section 17(1)
An exemption under section 17(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested as this information is not held by the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government does not collect religious data of pupils in specific schools.
Section 25(1)
An exemption under section 25(1) of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. In this instance, the information is available at the links provided above.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.