Memorandum 31
Submission from the Catholic Education
Service for England and Wales
INQUIRY INTO
STUDENTS AND
UNIVERSITIES
Summary
1. The diversity of higher education provision
in England and Wales is a major strength of the system because
it enables students to choose the type of higher education institution
(HEI) in which they want to study. Church colleges, including
Catholic HEIs form an important part of this diversity.
2. Church colleges enable students to elect to
study within an institution whose mission and structures are informed
by the Christian faith and values. This is particularly important
for students preparing for careers such as teaching and social
work or studying for degrees in theology. Church colleges make
a notable contribution to the supply of teachers and educational
leaders in both the community and faith based sectors. However,
church colleges also appeal to students of other faiths and none.
3. It is important that funding arrangements
do not militate against small institutions or unreasonably reduce
choice and diversity by the impact of funding mechanisms.
4. The introduction of the policy on ELQs has
had implications for those studying for Ministry and, although
data has yet to be collected, we suspect on other aspects of student
recruitment and study.
5. Chaplaincies form an important part of
student and staff support. They contribute to the unique character
and experience in many HEIs, whether of a religious foundation
or otherwise.
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Catholic Church has a long tradition
of involvement in the provision of higher education in England.
A Catholic higher education foundation is understood as an academic
institution which in a rigorous and critical fashion assists in
the advancement of human dignity and cultural heritage through
research, teaching and services offered to local, national and
international communities. Ex Corde Ecclesiae 1990 para
12: quoted in The Canon Law Society of Great Britain and Ireland
The Canon Law: Letter and Spirit, p 442)
1.2 There are three Catholic HEIs in England.
They are:
— Newman University College which has an
excellent record for the quality of its courses and consistently
has one of the best graduate employment rates of UK colleges and
universities. In recent years very positive inspection reports
have been received from the QAA and OFSTED, including an "outstanding"
grade, for its latest inspection. The relatively small class sizes
at Newman enables an interactive teaching style and the staff
to student ratio enables students to have individual attention
and support.
— St Mary's University College, Twickenham
with over 3,000 students has a strong academic record with an
excellent track record of placing graduates in good employment
or appropriate postgraduate study. It offers a range of foundation,
undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across a wide variety
of subject areas, as well as short vocational courses. Research
and postgraduate study attract students from all over the country.
St Mary's has also been numbered in the top universities in student
satisfaction surveys.
— Leeds, Trinity and All Saints is a Higher
Education Institution with just under 3,000 students. It received
a glowing report from its latest Quality Assurance Agency Institutional
Audit Report (2003). It has "good" Ofsted scores for
its primary teacher-training programmes. 100% of newly qualified
Primary Education teachers surveyed who trained there rated their
training as very good or good (TDA NQT Survey 2007). According
to the National Student Survey (2006) Leeds Trinity history students
are officially the "most satisfied" history students
in the country. 95% of all graduates from Leeds Trinity are in
employment or further study within six months of leaving and the
college came top in the "best for jobs" Sunday Times
list.
1.3 Additionally there are a number of HEIs
which are joint institutions with other providers or which have
other clear Catholic connections or foundations. These include:
1.4 Catholic HEIs play a pivotal role in
training teachers for Catholic schools and providing ongoing professional
development. They also have a strong focus and good track record
in providing courses related to community care, such as youth
ministry, youth work, counselling and health. Students at Catholic
HEIs come from diverse backgrounds. For example about 25% of the
Newman students are Catholic and about 11% of its students are
Asian.
The widening participation agenda has been successfully
embraced by all Catholic HEIs and Newman is a good example of
a college whose ethos and personal support makes it attractive
to women of diverse ethnic backgrounds and non-traditional entrants
of HE.
2. DIVERSITY
AND CHOICE
2.1 (See 1.4) The variety of higher education
institutions in England and Wales is an important aspect of provision.
Because of the different types of institutions students can elect
to study in a context that best fits their needs. Church colleges
which include Catholic, Anglican and Methodist colleges enable
students to study at an institution which is informed by respect
for religious beliefs and values. This makes them attractive to
many beyond the Catholic sector and also helps in promoting community
cohesion.
The Catholic HEIs have also demonstrated a positive
impact on diversity and choice in the way in which they have been
in the vanguard of foundation degrees, often recruiting from under-represented
groups. Catholic HEIs play an important role in preparing teachers
to teach in Catholic schools.
2.2 The three Catholic HEIs are relatively
small institutions. As in the case of Newman College, this means
that they can offer students interactive and individualised teaching.
It is important that funding for HEIs takes account of the needs
of small institutions.
3. ELQS
3.1 The Government's policy on not funding
qualifications for those students who already possess an equivalent
qualification will increase the cost of degrees for some
students preparing for Ministry or lay service in the Church.
HEFCE has been very helpful in facilitating the development of
alternative routes, such as Foundation Degrees but there remains
some concern about this issue.
4. CHAPLAINCIES
4.1 Chaplaincies are an important part of
student support. In the Catholic colleges and in the older established
universities there may be a separate Catholic chaplaincy or a
Catholic (ordained or lay) working in an ecumenical or inter-faith
chaplaincy. They provide students with advice and support on a
variety of issues and also support staff. 4.2 The Church of
England supported by many of the main faith communities in the
UK, published on 15 January 2008, a report into the work of university
and college chaplains, Faiths in Higher Education Chaplaincy.
Among a range of insights and recommendations, it calls on Higher
Education Institutions and the Government to continue to invest
in chaplaincies to help them further their significant contribution
to social cohesion. http://www.cofe.anglican.org/info/education/hefe/he/faithsinhe/fihecrep.pdf
December 2008
| 
