Catholic schools are “more relevant than ever”, Scotland’s leading historian has told Tes Scotland on the 100th anniversary of their entry into the state sector.

However, others remain sceptical that Catholic schools are capable of adapting to societal changes such as the demand for education that is inclusive of LGBT young people.

Historian Sir Tom Devine (pictured above) told Tes Scotland that Catholic schools were “more relevant than ever” because challenges such as “gross materialism” and “the extraordinary seduction of the mass media” make a “values-based education” all the more important.

He added: “Changes in society make the purpose of Catholic schools greater because these schools are not simply about education. They are not just about the academic development of the child. They are also about the spiritual development of the child.”

Figures uncovered by Tes Scotland show that rolls have held up better in Catholic schools than non-denominational schools, and Sir Tom believes the increasing diversity of their pupil population is “an enormous vote of confidence from the public”.

He added: “It is more significant than any opinion poll that non-Catholic - and non-Christian - parents are prepared to [put their children into Catholic schools].”

Sir Tom spoke as Catholic schools since the landmark 1918 Education Act that brought them into the state sector, and spoke of a “remarkable story, from the poverty and marginalisation of the Irish Catholic community in the early part of the 20th century to where Catholic education stands now”.

Anachronistic education

However, Tes Scotland has previously reported the concerns of LGBT activists who attended Catholic schools and said that little was done to tackle homophobia, and that schools were continuing to promote anachronistic sex education that does not help pupils to deal with issues of sexuality.

Jordan Daly, co-founder of the Time for Inclusive Education campaign, which wants “LGBT-inclusive education” in all schools, has written on such issues (“The LGBT bullying rife in schools endangers pupils”). This week, he said that his campaign has been working with the Scottish Catholic Education Service and some progress is being made.

Cara Spence, a member of LGBT Youth Scotland’s leadership team, said LGBT-inclusive work in Catholic schools was “absolutely possible”, and that there is not only a moral obligation for schools to be inclusive but also a legal one. She added: “A small number of Catholic schools have taken steps to be LGBT-inclusive”.

Father Michael McMahon, who advises schools on religious education, told last week’s annual conference in Edinburgh of the Catholic Headteachers’ Association of Scotland that the Church is more concerned with compassion, sensitivity and the elimination of discrimination than “what people do in bed”.

“There is absolutely no dichotomy between being a good Catholic and being part of the LGBTIQ community,” said Father McMahon. However, he added: “If the [sexual] act is not ordered towards creation, then it is not procreative and therefore it is not a legitimate expression of sexuality, as far as we are concerned.”

This is an edited version of an article in the 18 May edition of Tes Scotland. Subscribers can read the full article here. To subscribe, click here. This week’s Tes magazine is available at all good newsagents. To download the digital edition, Android users can click here and iOS users can click here.