Prayer can make a difference

Sir, - Robert Canning tries to dismiss the study which shows that when comparing non-denominational schools with denominational (in Scotland Catholic schools) there was a difference in exam performance in favour of the faith school.

As the catchment areas were the same for both schools, the comparison was like for like.

The ethos of the Catholic school was identified as the main difference.

He questions selective admission procedures, implying Catholic schools only admit brighter pupils.

I worked as an assistant head of a Catholic school serving what we know now as an area of deprivation.

Parents can, by law, access a Catholic school through an agreed procedure. I never refused any access to any pupil where the parent’s wishes were paramount.

Faith schools spend more time on religious observance than nondenominational ones.

The fact that less time would, therefore, be available for the examinable curriculum makes the performance of the faith school even more impressive.

Mr Canning supports removal of RO as it is an “inappropriate use of public funds”. Faith schools represent good value for money because of their performance in exams and RO is an identifiable factor within the ethos of the Catholic school with improved exam performance.

Parents like choice when it comes to schools. They can also choose more or less RO if this is the most important factor.

Regarding Mr Canning’s belief that RO is “a nuisance for the non-Christian pupil”, I trust he has considered that a non-believer can join in prayer to ask God to help them to believe. Catholics ask this of God daily.

Philip Kearns. 47 Grove Road, Dundee.