Fee paying school scraps free school plans over faith cap

From the Liverpool Echo: (St Mary’s College) has scrapped plans to become a free school after a clash with the Archdiocese of Liverpool... (which)refused to back its application because of the Government’s decision to impose a 50% cap on the number of pupils admitted to free schools on the basis of their faith.'

Private school's bid to become a free school discouraged by catholic church

(UPDATE: May 2014 BBC reports free school bid abandoned due to church pressure.)
From the Independent: St Mary's College in Crosby, Merseyside, is seeking to become a free schools... 'However, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Liverpool has come out against the plan because the Government insists on a cap of 50 per cent on the number of faith pupils admitted to any free school... (it) said: 'It would be extraordinary, if not contrary to Canon Law... to set up a school or allow a school designated as Catholic to be set up, which turned away Catholic pupils on the grounds that they are Catholic.'

Fee paying school considers converting to free school

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/incoming/merseyside-catholic-college-unveils-plans-6294814


St Mary’s College, in Crosby, founded by the Christian Brothers in 1919, has announced plans to consult with stakeholders on whether it should bid to the government to change from fee-paying and become a free school throughout its four-18 age range.