Group invites Catholic primary schools to consider changes in patronage

CATHOLIC primary schools are to be asked to consider if they might hand control to another patron — though both the timeframe and the number of schools which might change hands remain unclear.

The Catholic Schools Partnership (CSP) is asking all 2,800-plus primary schools under the patronage of the local Catholic bishop to reflect on their identity and priorities with parents, pupils, staff, management and the local community.

The CSP, set up by the Catholic bishops and religious orders in 2009, wants the exercise carried out in the current school year “to prepare the way for a change in patronage where that would be appropriate”.