PARENTS who want their children to attend popular denominational schools in a Scottish council area will need to be able to prove they are bona fide Catholics.
In the event of over-subscription to such schools, priority will be given to those who can provide proof of adherence to the faith, in line with a new policy proposed by Inverclyde Council in the west of Scotland.
The move has been prompted by applications to the school from outside the normal catchment area, resulting in over-subscription, and it is hoped the plan will protect school places for bona fide Catholic families.
A consultation began this week, on September 19, to review the council’s placing request policy.
A council statement says that in the case of denominational schools "pupils who can demonstrate an affinity with the religious ethos of the school and can provide documentary evidence of this in the form of a certificate of baptism into the Catholic faith” will be given the highest priority.
Inverclyde Council’s education and communities convener, Councillor Terry Loughran, said: “It is important that we hear the views of parents and young people about criteria in place when examining placing requests and in the exceptional circumstances where a school is at capacity.
“I would urge parents and carers to review the proposal and to let the council know their views on this consultation.”
The Inverclyde area has a substantial number of Catholics, many from an Irish background.
George Barbour, head of Corporate Communications, told The Irish Post: “It would be fair to say that a significant proportion of Inverclyde’s population are Irish or have Irish roots.”
If the proposals become statutory policy, Inverclyde will become the second Scottish council to make such a move.
East Renfrewshire Council, also in the west of Scotland and with a similar population profile, embarked on a similar consultation after overcrowding at St Ninian's High School, in Giffnock, on the outskirts of Glasgow.
St Ninian's has a high reputation and places are much sought after by Catholic families, as well as those of others faiths or no faith.
Former pupils at St Ninians include the Irish football international Aiden McGeady.
