Pupils’ performance ‘no different’ at faith schools

EDUCATING children in religious schools makes no difference to their exam performance, new research suggests.

Think-tank IPPR Scotland said a religious ethos had no apparent impact on pupils’ educational outcomes.

Almost all Scotland’s state-run faith schools are Catholic, educating 20 per cent of pupils.

As part of the report, titled Autonomy In The Right Place, the IPPR looked at the two main school types – denominational and non-denominational – to consider their effect on attainment.

Its found 45.37 per cent of pupils in religious schools get three Highers or more compared to 45.96 per cent in non-religious schools.

A total of 58.81 per cent of pupils in religious schools meet literacy and numeracy targets, compared to 59.64 per cent in non-religious schools.

Russell Gunson, director of IPPR Scotland, said: ‘Once you take account of intake, there is no evidence to suggest that denominational schools, or non-denominational schools see better school performance or attainment.

‘It may or may not be the case different school types add value in other ways, but on the issue of pupil attainment, the hard evidence shows a religious ethos, in itself, doesn’t make a difference.’

Last night, the Catholic Church in Scotland declined to comment on the findings.

The IPPR’s research is contradicted by an earlier study carried out by Professor Anthony Finn, an academic and former chief executive of the General Teaching Council for Scotland. He analysed patterns of attendance and achievement in Catholic schools.

His research in 2014 suggested that Catholic schools generally perform very well and are popular in the communities they serve.

Professor Finn said at the time: ‘I have suggested strongly that we should become more positive in talking about Catholic education, stressing its value and its values.’

There are 370 state-funded denominational schools, including 51 secondaries. Some 366 of the schools are Catholic, one is Jewish and three are Episcopalian.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Faith-based education has made a vital contribution to Scottish society and the right of parents to make that choice for their children remains an important part of our school system.’

The IPPR report also analysed reforms most likely to have a positive effect on attainment with recommendations including devolving powers to schools and new parent and pupil councils which it says ‘could bring greater accountability to schools’.

Education Secretary John Swinney said ministers ‘will now study the report in detail as we take forward our reform programme’.