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 Religious schools have been around for centuries, in fact it was unusual for secular schools to exist prior to the nineteenth century. Historically speaking, the most common reason for anyone to receive an education was because they were going to be taking holy orders after graduating, and thus their education always had a strongly ecclesiastical focus. As such, it is not surprising that there were a great many Catholic schools in the United Kingdom prior to the English Reformation. These academies would lecture in Latin, as well as the other important court language (French). It was also possible to study the Biblical languages, such as Hebrew and Greek, as well as undertaking a concentrated study of mathematics, history, philosophy and the classics. The heaviest emphasis was of course placed on theology, an understanding of the Bible, and (depending on the school) the best way to minister one's congregation.
Following the Reformation, the Catholic education system found it increasingly difficult to operate in the UK. This was due to the persecution of Catholics brought about by the Reformation, which discouraged Catholic services, churches and any outwards display of power. The Catholic educational tradition continued, albeit in a much more covert manner, and was reintroduced as an 'acceptable' religion in the early nineteenth century. It was at this point that Catholic schools and colleges began to re-establish themselves as a legitimate place of both ecclesiastical and secular study. This tradition has continued on into modern times, and today Catholic schools in the UK number into the thousands.
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