The debate surrounding Catholic schools in Scotland is back. A former senior police officer, a famous football commentator and prominent figures in the media have called for the abolition of the Catholic state sector as part of the fight against sectarianism.  

It all began in September, when Tom Wood, who served as deputy chief constable of Lothian and Borders Police, argued that sectarianism could not be defeated simply by banning marches by Republicans and Loyalists. “We also need to look at the roots of the problem and question what divides us,” he said.  “And if we do that then we simply cannot escape questioning our system of religiously segregated education.”