MP Backs Catholic School

9.23.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 13th Sep 2004

MP Vincent Cable has written to the Council's Cabinet Member for Education, Cllr Samuel, to pledge his support for the Council's policy of providing a Catholic Secondary School in the borough.

"I think this is an issue we can approach on a consensus, non-partisan basis. There are substantial numbers of Catholic parents who want their children to have a denominational upbringing in a local borough school. At the moment they do not have the choice and go out of borough.

"There is a longstanding commitment by both of the major parties in the borough to respect parental preferences in respect of faith schools and this is reflected in the support for Catholic primaries including the expanded St James' in Twickenham, as well as C of E schools. The ethos of these schools is inclusive and tolerant and I have no fear that the policy is divisive.

"There is a genuine problem about finding a site; but that is a planning issue and doesn't detract from the principle."