CATHOLIC school pupils in Radstock, Midsomer Norton and the wider Somerset area are significantly more ethnically diverse than the national average, according to a new report.

Nearly half (49.9%) of the 20,749 pupils in state-funded Catholic schools in the area are from ethnic minority backgrounds, while for all state schools in England the figure is 38.7%. A total of 49% of the area’s Catholic school pupils are not of the faith, and from among these 5.7% are Muslim, and 2.2% are Hindu.

There are 64 Catholic schools in Clifton Diocese as a whole, including two independents, two schools for students with special educational needs and disabilities, and a sixth form college.

Fifteen of these schools are in Somerset, including Downside Catholic Secondary School in Radstock, and in Bath: St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School, St Gregory’s Catholic College, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, and St John’s Catholic Primary School. Other Catholic schools in the county are located in places such as Frome, Nailsea, Wincanton, Yeovil, Burnham-on-Sea, Bridgwater, Wells, Weston-super-Mare, Taunton, and Portishead.

One distinctive feature of Catholic education is that 10% of curriculum time is allocated to Religious Education, which includes the study of other major world religions and world views. This emphasis is believed to contribute to their appeal among families from ethnic minority and non-Catholic backgrounds.

Mary Cox, director of schools and colleges for Clifton Diocese, said: “Catholic schools in Somerset are clearly popular with pupils from a wide range of backgrounds. This is partly due to a respect for faith, including other faiths, and which is supportive of community cohesion across the country.”

According to the government’s Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI), Catholic schools also educate 51.5% more pupils from the most deprived backgrounds than the average for state-funded schools.