Contact Details
Address: Catholic Education Service, 39 Eccleston Square, London, SW1V 1BX
Telephone: 0207 901 1900

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Journalists' enquiries: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - out of hours send text message to 07780131319

Leadership Team
The Right Reverend Marcus Stock Chairman
Paul Barber Director
Catherine Bryan Assistant Director (Education) 
Christine Fischer Assistant Director and Head of Legal
Philip Robinson Chief Inspector, Catholic Schools Inspectorate

Catholic Schools Inspectorate
Jane Goring Project Lead

Education Team
Maureen Glackin Religious Education Adviser
Angela Keller Education Adviser for Wales
Arthur Naylor Education Adviser for Higher Education
Robert Rushworth CES Census Lead
Eileen Williams Projects Manager and PA to Director

Legal Team
Keri Goddard Senior Solicitor
Jacqui Callcut Solicitor

Public Affairs Team
Marie Southall Director of Partnerships and Public Affairs
Tom Burke Partnership and Public Affairs Manager 
James Willsher Communications Manager 
Elena Attfield Partnership and Public Affairs Officer  

Elizabeth Jellie Partnership and Public Affairs Officer 

Management Committee
The Right Reverend Marcus Stock Bishop of Leeds
The Right Reverend Mark Davies Bishop of Shrewsbury
The Right Reverend Philip Egan Bishop of Portsmouth
Kate Griffin 
The Right Reverend John Sherrington Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster
Monsignor Canon John Weatherill
The Right Reverend Alan Williams Bishop of Brentwood

There are more than 29,000 schools in England and Wales. Within the state-funded sector, all Catholic schools are either voluntary aided schools or academies (academies do not apply in Wales).  

How many Catholic schools are there?

There are 2,087 Catholic schools in England and 82 Catholic schools in Wales. Catholic schools make up 9% of the national total of state funded schools. The Catholic Church is the largest provider of secondary education and the second largest provider of primary education in the country.

How many pupils attend Catholic schools?

There are just over 850,000 pupils in Catholic schools. These pupils are educated in a culture of inclusion, tolerance and mutual respect, providing pupils with a collection of values that enable them to play a full part in British society in service of the common good.

Do Catholic schools use admissions to select children from affluent backgrounds?

Like all schools, Catholic schools have over-subscription criteria in order to fairly determine school places. Church teaching places a duty on Catholic schools to care for the poor and educate those who are socially, academically, physically or emotionally disadvantaged. This is reflected through the pupil populations in Catholic schools.

Catholic schools serve a wide range of diverse and disadvantaged communities, many of whom come from the new and old migrant communities. Catholic schools educate 50% more pupils from the most deprived backgrounds than the state sector. Just under a fifth of all pupils in Catholic statutory education meet the highest national deprivation criteria, compared to a 12.8% England average. Similarly, a quarter fewer pupils from the more affluent areas attend Catholic schools.

Do Catholic schools serve their local community?

On average, Catholic schools have catchment areas ten times larger than community schools. This means their pupil population sometimes does not directly mirror the local community immediately surrounding the school. A larger catchment area increases social mixing and children from different communities and areas are brought together. Pupils from ethnic minorities make up 45.5% of the Catholic school population, compared to an England state school average of 37.4% — for Wales the Catholic figure is 35.6%, and the Welsh average 14.3%. 

Are Catholic schools only for Catholic children?

Catholic schools welcome children from families from a range of faith backgrounds: 40% of pupils at Catholic schools are of other faiths or none. Catholic schools educate more than 348,894 non-Catholics and have a track record of supporting minority religions as they integrate into the local community.

Do Catholic schools teach the national curriculum?

All Catholic voluntary aided schools teach the national curriculum including evolution and reproduction in science. Catholic schools do not teach creationism as to do so would be against the teaching of the Catholic Church.

Do Catholic schools teach about other faiths?

Yes. Catholic schools are obliged to follow guidance from the Catholic Bishops' Conference which states that Religious Education must provide pupils with a basis of knowledge and theological understanding of the Catholic faith and an awareness of the faith and traditions of other religions in order to respect and understand them.

Do Catholic schools teach Relationship and Sex Education (RSE)

In accordance with guidance from the Department for Education, Catholic schools teach Relationship and Sex Education in an age-appropriate way. Moreover, the Catholic sector is the only education provider to have a comprehensive model RSE curriculum for ages 3 to 19.

How are Catholic schools and academies accountable?

Catholic schools and academies have the same accountability to the local authority/Department for Education/Welsh Government as non-Catholic schools and academies. In addition to this, they are also subject to an extra inspection regime to provide accountability to their diocesan bishop that high academic standards and the Catholic life of the school are maintained.

Who funds Catholic schools?

The school buildings and land of Catholic schools are owned by the Catholic Church. The Church provides these premises, at no charge, to enable the state to fulfil its obligation to provide education for the population. The day to day running costs of Catholic schools are funded by the state in the same way that all schools are funded (either through local authority or DfE funding agreements). The Church covers 10% of the capital costs for the maintenance of the premises in all voluntary aided schools.

Through this arrangement the Catholic Church saves the taxpayer tens of millions of pounds a year.

Do you have to be Catholic to teach in a Catholic school?

More than 40% of teachers in Catholic schools in England and Wales are Catholic. Catholic schools value and respect all staff members regardless of backgrounds or beliefs and promote and support the vocation of teaching.

For certain leadership positions (e.g. Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and Head of Religious Education) there is a requirement that the position be filled by a practising Catholic in order to maintain the Catholic ethos of the school. This is in line with the Equalities Act 2010.

1. Introduction

1.1 The Catholic Education Service ("we" or "us") is committed to preserving the privacy of all visitors to this website.

1.2 This policy explains what personal information we collect from users of this website and how we use that information from time to time. This policy should be read in conjunction with our Website Terms and Conditions.

2. Information collection

We ask for personal information from you in a number of circumstances:

2.1 when you contact us to request information or services;

2.2 when you register for our newsletters;

2.3 when you use interactive services via this website;

3. Use of the information we collect

Your personal information will enable us to provide you with access to all parts of our website and will be used as follows:

3.1 to provide information you have requested and deal with any queries or requests you have;

3.2 to keep you up to date with our news and services;

3.3 to make information available to appropriate third parties where necessary;

3.4 to ensure that content from our website is presented in the most effective manner for you and your computer.

4. Disclosure of information

4.1 We may disclose personal information to third parties in connection with the purposes explained above.

4.2 We may disclose personal information as part of a due legal process or as otherwise permitted or required by law. Some of these third parties may be located outside of the European Economic Area.

5. Cookies and IP addresses

5.1 Similar to other websites, our website utilises a standard technology to collect information about how our website is used by individual computers connected to the internet. Information is gathered through cookies and Web server logs which allow us to monitor website traffic and to personalise the content of the site for you.

5.2 Browsers are usually set to accept cookies. However, if you would prefer not to receive cookies, you may alter the configuration of your browser to refuse cookies. If you choose to have your browser refuse cookies, it is possible that some areas of our site will not function as effectively when viewed by the users. A cookie cannot retrieve any other data from your hard drive or pass on computer viruses.

6. Security

We employ security measures which aim to protect the information provided by you from access by unauthorised persons and against unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction or damage.

7. Accessing and updating your information

8.1 You are entitled to see a copy of the personal information that we have collected online and that we maintain (about you). If you wish to do this, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We may charge a small fee to meet out costs in providing you with these details.

8. Contact

All comments, queries and other requests relating to our use of your information should be addressed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by post to 39 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1BX.

This Website is operated by the Catholic Education Service (the "CES" or "we" or "us"). These terms govern your use of this website including your use of any materials, information and services which may be made available to you from this website.

By using the website you accept and agree to be bound by these terms. If you do not agree to these terms, please refrain from using the website.

We may amend these terms at any time by posting such changes on the website. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with these terms and ensure that you are aware of any changes. Your continued use of this website following the posting of any such changes will constitute your acceptance of the revised terms.

1. Disclaimer

1.1 We have used all reasonable care and skill in collating, creating and publishing the information on this website but we make no guarantee or warranty as to the accuracy of this information or that this information will meet individual requirements.

1.2 This website is provided for information and guidance only.

1.3 Whilst this website and the materials published or posted on this website are available to be accessed anywhere in the world, we make no guarantee, promise or representation that any information, guidance or service provided from this website is suitable for use in any country outside the United Kingdom. Users who access this website from locations outside the United Kingdom do so at their own risk.

1.4 You acknowledge and agree that we will not be liable to you or any person for any claims, losses or damages (whether direct, indirect or consequential) that may arise from your use of this website or any materials or information published on this website, except to the extent that such liability cannot be excluded by law.

1.5 To the extent permitted by law, we expressly exclude all conditions, warranties and other terms which might otherwise be implied by statute, common law or the law of equity.

1.6 This disclaimer, together with these terms shall be governed by English law. You agree to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales in respect of any disputes which may arise in connection with this website.

2. Access to the Website

Access to this website is permitted on a temporary basis and we reserve the right to withdraw, amend or restrict access to any part of this website without notice. We shall not be liable if for any reason this website, or any other site to which it links, is not available for any reason.

3. Links

3.1 This website may contain links to third party websites. These links are provided for convenience only and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept any responsibility for these websites, nor for any materials or information available from those sites.

3.2 You may create hypertext link to this website ("Link") provided you do so in a way that is fair and legal, does not damage our reputation or take advantage of it. When creating a Link you must comply with the following conditions:

3.2.1 you will not create or use the Link for any unlawful or fraudulent purposes;

3.2.2 you will not copy or use any trade marks, logos or other proprietary marks contained within this website to create a Link; and

3.2.3 you will not establish a Link in such a way as to suggest any form of association, approval or endorsement on the CES’s part where none exists.

3.3 We reserve the right to withdraw linking permission without notice and we do not guarantee continued operation of this website in its current form and specific page URL's may change at any time without notice.

4. Rights and use of the website

4.1 The CES and our licensors retain all rights, title and interest in and to this website and the information and materials published or posted on this site. These works are protected by intellectual property rights and your use is strictly restricted as set out in these terms.

4.2 You may access and print or download extracts of information and materials contained on this website ("Materials") for your own personal reference or for other genuine purposes connected with the Church and/or charitable causes, but you may not (and shall not allow others to):

4.2.1 use the Materials for any business-related purposes whatsoever;

4.2.2 sell, transfer, sub-licence, distribute, reproduce, modify, alter or create derivative works from the Materials; or

4.2.3 remove or alter any proprietary notices from or embedded within the Materials.

4.3 You shall not (nor allow others to):

4.3.1 breach or attempt to breach the security of this website;

4.3.2 modify, decompile, reverse engineer, decrypt, circumvent or otherwise interfere with or alter this website, any software or code that forms part of this website or any of the Materials;

4.3.3 use this website in any way which may cause the website or access to the website to be interrupted, damaged or impaired; or

4.3.4 use this website to knowingly transmit any data, or send or upload any material that contains viruses, trojans, worms, logic-bombs or any other harmful programs or similar computer code designed to adversely affect the operation of any computer software or hardware.

4.4 The trade marks, graphics and logos used on or in connection with this website belong to the CES and our licensors. You are granted no rights to use such marks and any unauthorised use is strictly prohibited.

4.5 All rights not expressly granted in these terms are reserved to the CES and our licensors.

5. Privacy

Any information you submit through this website will be used in accordance with our privacy policy.

6. Interactive Services

6.1 We may from time to time provide interactive services on the website, including, without limitation chat rooms, bulletin boards, social media and/or blogs (together "Interactive Services").

6.2 We are under no obligation to oversee, monitor or moderate any of the Interactive Services on the website, and we expressly exclude our liability for any loss or damage arising from your use of such service, whether the service is moderated or not. We reserve the right to delete, take-down or suspend access to any content transmitted to or published via the Interactive Services at any time.

6.3 You must be over the age of 18 to access and use our Interactive Services.

6.4 You may only use the Interactive Services for lawful purposes. You may not use such services to transmit or publish any content which:

6.4.1 is malicious, defamatory, obscene, racist, discriminatory or designed to offend or to cause annoyance or harassment;

6.4.2 is illegal, abusive, threatening, indecent, pornographic or menacing;

6.4.3 promotes sexually explicit material, violence or illegal activity of any kind;

6.4.4 infringes third party's intellectual property rights or confidence or privacy rights;

6.4.5 consists of political announcements, commercial solicitation or advertising, chain letters, mass mailings or spam; or

6.4.6 contains software viruses or any other computer code, files, or programs designed to interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of this website or any computer software or hardware.

6.5 When using the Interactive Services or dealing with this website you may not use a false email address, impersonate any other person or entity or mislead the website or other users as to the origin of any electronic communications or content.

6.6 All material which you contribute to the website through the Interactive Services must be accurate (where they state facts) or genuinely held (where they state opinions).

6.7 You acknowledge and agree that any material you submit or contribute to the website may be used, published, copied, distributed and disclosed to third parties by or on behalf of the CES. All content submitted to us via this website will be subject to the Content Submission Terms and Conditions.

6.8 We cannot guarantee that any material you contribute to the website will be secure or free from interception from third parties.

6.9 We will endeavour to remove any content available through the Interactive Services which causes or is likely to cause offence as soon as reasonably practical after we have been made aware of this. If you wish to make a complaint with regard to any content, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

7. Suspension and termination

We will determine, in our discretion, whether there has been a breach of these terms through your use of the website. In the event of any suspected breach, we may take such action as we deem appropriate.

8. Invalidity

8.1 If any of these terms are found by any court or administrative body of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the other terms which shall remain in full force and effect.

8.2 If any of these terms are found to be invalid or unenforceable but would cease to be invalid or unenforceable if some part of the provision were deleted, the provision in question shall apply with such modification as may be necessary to make such provision valid and enforceable.

9. Variations

We may revise these terms at any time by amending the website. You are expected to check this page from time to time to take notice of any changes we have made, as they are binding on you. Some of the provisions contained in these terms may also be superseded by provisions or notices published elsewhere on the website.

10. Entire agreement

These terms, together with our contact details and privacy policy, set out the whole of our agreement relating to your access to and use of this website.

11. Waiver

Our failure to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

12. Contact details

If you require any further information, please contact the Catholic Education Service, 020 7901 1900, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 39 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1BX.

Thank you for visiting our website.