Catholic Education Service

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The Catholic Education Service (CES) is an agency of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales and a member of the Bishops’ Department for Catholic Education and Formation and the Department to Support Evangelisation. The CES’ mission is to promote and support Catholic education. In England and Wales the Catholic Education Service negotiates, on behalf of all Catholic bishops, with Government, and other national bodies on legal, administrative, and religious education matters in order to promote Catholic interests in education; safeguard Catholic interests in education; and contribute to Christian perspectives within educational debate at national level. It liaises with national Catholic bodies to promote the catechetical policies of the Bishops' Conference.

In liaison with representatives of those working in Catholic education across England and Wales, the CES advises the Bishops on educational matters and promotes the educational policies of the Bishops' Conference.

The CES works closely with the Church of England's Board of Education and with the Free Churches' Council to promote Christian interests in education by making joint representation to Government on educational issues.

The CES maintains links with Catholic education bodies in Scotland, Ireland and mainland Europe and elsewhere in the world to inform and promote Catholic educational policies.

Trustees: The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham;

The Most Reverend Peter Smith, Archbishop of Cardiff.

Management Committee:

The Right Reverend Peter Doyle, Bishop of Northampton;

The Right Reverend George Stack, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster;

The Right Reverend Monsignor Andrew Summersgill;

Mr J Gibbs;

Mr John Taylor;

Mrs Kate Griffin;

Ms O M Stannard (Director).

Chairman: The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham.

Chief Executive and Director: Ms O M Stannard.

History

The CES has its roots in the Catholic Poor School Committee founded in 1847. At this time with the restoration of the Catholic hierarchy the work of the Committee focused on primary education and there was an expectation among the clergy that where finances would not permit the building of both a church and a school, building a school should take precedence, thus serving as the focal point and place of worship for the local Catholic community until a church could also be built. The Secondary Education Council was added and in 1905 the Catholic Education Council (CEC) for England and Wales was established. In December 1848, Her Majesty’s first Inspector for Roman Catholic schools was appointed, and members of the Committee were assiduous in pointing out the agreement that they could veto the nomination of Catholic inspectors. Although the responsibilities did not change with the CEC’s development into the CES in 1991, the ways in which these would be achieved did change and continue to evolve in order to respond to contemporary needs.