A recent law prohibiting Catholic schools from prioritising the enrolment of local children of the same faith is emerging as a “stumbling block” for parents as schools consider changing their patronage.

That’s according to the body representing Catholic schools in the process.

The Catholic Education Partnership (CSP) – established as a single voice for Catholic schools – said the Government’s decision in 2018 to remove the right of Catholic schools to give preference on the basis of religion in their admission policies is a “discriminatory law, solely directed at Catholics, and no other faiths”.

The group said Catholic parents believe keeping the “status quo” in relation to the patronage of schools is their best option unless they can be guaranteed priority access to a school of their faith.

The CSP said that, as part of that process, Catholic parents have expressed a concern that if their community consents to the transfer of a Catholic school to another patron, they cannot be sure that they can secure enrolment for their child in the remaining Catholic schools.