By their fruits you will know them: distinctive features of Catholic education

Abstract

There is an increasing body of evidence, and public acknowledgement, for the notion that Catholic schools, particularly in the secondary sector, are more academically and socially effective than other institutions serving similar populations. However, beyond the Catholic community there seems to be little debate about possible causal factors. This article draws on recent doctoral research undertaken at Warwick University and seeks to describe some of the factors that might contribute to their apparent high levels of effectiveness. It speculates that the nature of the Catholic community, its history, culture and the social cohesion that it is able to generate in its schools may be major contributory factors.

Keywords:

• Catholic
• culture
• community
• control
• effectiveness
• academic

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Andrew B. Morris

The contents of this article are the personal views of the author and must not be taken as the official view of the Archdiocese of Birmingham.