Ofsted inspectors are “unfairly influenced” by “inaccurate presumptions about Catholic schools”, according to the Catholic Education Service.
The complaint was made in a written submission from the CES to the House of Commons education committee.
The CES said that simply being a religious school was becoming a “red flag” to the inspection body.
“We are concerned about the lack of consistency in inspection outcomes and believe that more guidance is needed to support inspectors,” the CES said.
“There is evidence that some inspection teams are starting with inaccurate presumptions about Catholic schools which are unfairly influencing their inspection,” the statement continued, adding: “There sometimes appears to be a starting presumption that Catholic schools will be less good at dealing with certain issues, for example homophobic bullying”.
The CES submission said that “it does sometimes appear that Ofsted probe more thoroughly in Catholic schools than they do in other non-denominational schools even when the evidence points towards a Catholic school performing well in this area”.
It continued: “We are anxious that simply having a religious character may in itself become a red flag for Ofsted, which would be grossly unfair.”
A spokesman for the CES said its main concern with Ofsted was a “lack of consistency in their inspections” and with “individual inspectors overstepping the line”. Its report said: “Inspections can be unduly influenced by the character of either the lead inspector or the robustness of the headteacher.” The CES cited the case of St Benedict’s in Bury St Edmunds. Inspectors said the school had not “prepared students for life in modern Britain” but later withdrew this criticism.
Bill targeting legal highs ‘may outlaw church incense’
Incense used in churches could become illegal as an “unintended consequence” of a Bill outlawing “legal highs”, according to a cathedrals body.
The Psychoactive Substances Bill would make it a criminal offence to sell “any substance intended for human consumption that is capable of producing a psychoactive effect”.
Two ecclesiastical bodies have expressed concern about the Bill. The Association of English Cathedrals said last week “that the term ‘psychoactive substances’ … can be interpreted so broadly that it risks criminalising the use of incense in cathedrals, churches and other places of worship as, we assume, an unintended consequence of the Bill’s drafting”.
The Churches’ Legislation Advisory Service, whose members include the Catholic Church, said: “We cannot for one moment believe that [it] is the intention of the Government to make the use of incense in religious worship illegal. “We would urge that, for the avoidance of doubt, a specific exemption for the use of incense in places of worship be inserted into … the Bill.”
Comedian made a papal knight
Comedian Jimmy Cricket has been awarded a papal knighthood for his services to charity. “I do what I love. If I can raise money by entertaining people, sure it’s not hard work. To get an honour for doing something that you love is quite a blessing,” he said. The comic’s real name is James Joseph Mulgrew. One of his sons, Frankie, is a priest.
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