Catholic sixth form colleges face new and tough competition

by Crislina Odone THE PRINCIPALS of Catholic sixth form colleges discussed the problems facing Catholic education for 16-19 year olds at a meeting last week.
Bishop James Hannigan of Menevia, Chairman of the Catholic Education Council, and Mr Michael Bovill, secondary advisor to the Council, attended the principals' conference, which took place last Monday at Upholland.
The discussion focussed on the rapidly expanding educational trend of county Tertiary Colleges, and on what impact the establishment of these colleges would have.
The Catholic principals voiced their fears that the tertiary colleges (which fall under the Further Education category) will provide stiff competition for their own colleges, which already face a crisis period due to falling rolls, the availability of' a wider range of courses for 16-19 year olds, and a declining number of baptisms.
"How can we hope to match them?" asked Mr .1 L Lipscomb, principal of St Dominic's, a Catholic sixth form college in Harrow-on-the-Hill. "A different set of regulations applies to the tertiary college: whereas we fall in the 'school' 'category, they can operate under 'further education' regulations, which grants them, especially in terms of finance, an advantage. They can afford more staff, better equipment, bigger facilities. Moreover, we can only offer vocational courses with the backing of local authorities." Mr Lipscomb admitted that the introduction of the tei tier college trend,. has "raised insecurities" amongst Catholic educationalists.
The Friday conference, according to Mr Bovill from the Catholic Educational Council, focused also on the possible alternative solutions to the inevitable competition from the tertiary colleges: "the desire of the principals for an exact legal position to be established came over loud and clear."
Although, as Mr Bovill points out, Catholic sixth form colleges could make the transition to the tertiary college system, without encountering great legal difficulties, the financial implications of such a transformation would represent an important obstacle.