Denominational schools today

In 2002/03, there were 411 Catholic State schools, 3 Independent Catholic schools and 4 independent Catholic schools for pupils with special needs, as well as a number of Episcopalian schools. There are also now a number of denominational schools which are not Christian. In East Renfrewshire there is a state school which is Jewish and there have been private Muslim schools in Glasgow and Dundee. There is one Catholic teacher-education institution, the Faculty of Education (formerly St Andrew's College) which is part of the University of Glasgow.

Today, the issue of denominational schools is still debated. There are those who believe that the existence of Catholic schools helps to maintain sectarianism in Scotland. However, no research evidence has ever backed this claim. In fact, research has shown (Paterson, 2000) that pupils from poorer social circumstances do better within Catholic schools than in non-denominational schools. Paterson concludes in the Journal of Education and Christian Belief (2000) that 'there is no evidence at all that Catholic schools create bigotry, division or exclusive communities'.