A Catholic education must:
- encourage the formation and growth to maturity of the whole human person;
- enable physical, moral and intellectual talents to be developed harmoniously;
- teach all to know and live the mystery of salvation;
- assist all to work towards their eternal destiny;
- promote the common good of society;
- ensure that all develop a greater sense of responsibility and a right use of freedom; and provide formation for every person to take an active part in social life.
Admission policies in Catholic schools are a key element in preserving and developing the distinctive religious character of Catholic schools.
Catholic schools are established and maintained as part of the education system, in which the Catholic community undertakes a responsibility to provide for the education of Catholic children in schools whose philosophy, recruitment, admission of pupils, delivery of the curriculum and daily life are determined by the distinctive Catholic ethos of their faith community. As part of the diocesan community of parishes and schools, no school should act for its own perceived interests alone.
In the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth, the Bishop expects all Catholic schools to give first priority to Catholic applicants.
It is the responsibility of Catholic schools, in co-operation with each other and other admission authorities, and with the assistance of the diocese, to ensure that the maximum number of Catholic children are able to take advantage of a Catholic education provided at a local Catholic school. Catholic schools should therefore:
- work with each other to draw up admission policies which ensure that places are provided equitably for all local Catholic communities (including Eastern Catholic Churches and ethnic chaplaincies); and
- co-ordinate their admission arrangements to maximise parental satisfaction with their choice of Catholic school.
