---
title: "Publicly funded, but not for all? Call to review Flintshire schools as Catholic super school planned"
date: "2026-05-11T15:49:46+01:00"
modified: "2026-05-11T17:03:45+01:00"
url: "https://humanists.uk/2026/05/11/publicly-funded-but-not-for-all-call-to-review-flintshire-schools-as-catholic-super-school-planned/"
post_id: 190266
categories: ["News", "Wales"]
---

# Publicly funded, but not for all? Call to review Flintshire schools as Catholic super school planned

![](https://i0.wp.com/humanists.uk/wp-content/uploads/Group-of-childrne-at-Ethnic-Diversity-in-Schools.webp?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)Plans for a new Catholic super-school could soon be revived despite overwhelming public opposition. Wales Humanists has called for a full review of school provision in Flintshire to make sure it reflects the needs and beliefs of the local population, following reports that proposals could be resurrected as early as next week.

The proposed plans would see four Catholic schools closed and replaced with a single 3-18 Catholic school in Flint, backed by Flintshire County Council, the Diocese of Wrexham, and the previous Welsh Government. Public consultations previously found significant opposition to the proposals, with concerns raised about long travel distances for pupils, safeguarding, environmental impacts, and the loss of local schools.

The debate also raises wider questions about whether the school system reflects modern Wales. The Catholic Dioceses report the [number of Catholics in Wales to be approximately 7% ](https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dcard.html)of the population. Based on the 2021 Census, Christianity overall fell below half the population for the first time, at 43.6%. At the same time, the number of people reporting “No religion” increased sharply, especially in younger age groups.

A recent Humanists UK report [highlighted](https://humanists.uk/2025/07/22/listed-all-the-faith-schools-in-wales-that-discriminate-against-children-in-care/) that many faith schools in Wales, including two of those that are part of this plan, continue to discriminate against looked after children in admissions, despite legal requirements intended to prioritise vulnerable children for school places.

If public money is being invested in new school buildings and major restructuring, then local authorities should ask whether expanding religiously selective education is really the right direction for Wales in 2026. The priority should be excellent local community schools that bring children together, not systems that divide them by religion.

**Wales Humanists Policy and Campaigns Manager Kathy Riddick commented:**

> ‘These proposals highlight the need for Flintshire, and all areas of Wales, to review whether its school provision genuinely reflects the communities it serves today. Faith schools are overwhelmingly state-funded, yet many retain the right to discriminate in admissions, employment and governance on religious grounds.
> 
> ‘In modern Wales, where beliefs are increasingly diverse and large numbers of people have no religion, councils should prioritise inclusive local schools open equally to all children and staff, regardless of background or belief.’

#### Notes

For further comment or information, media should contact Wales Humanists Policy and Campaigns Manager Kathy Riddick at <kathy@humanists.uk> or phone 029 2168 3532.

Read more about our work on [admissions discrimination against children in care](https://humanists.uk/2024/12/05/almost-half-of-welsh-catholic-schools-discriminate-against-children-in-care/)

Read more about our work on [faith schools](https://humanists.uk/campaigns-old/schools-and-education/faith-schools/)

Read more about the [Census results in Wales ](https://humanists.uk/2023/01/30/2021-census-most-people-in-wales-under-74-tick-no-religion/)

Wales Humanists is part of Humanists UK. Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people. Powered by over 150,000 members and supporters, we advance free thinking and promote humanism to create a tolerant society where rational thinking and kindness prevail. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all.