The concordat further provides for the clergy being paid by the government and Roman Catholic pupils in public schools can receive religious instruction according to diocesan guide lines.

Catholic pupils in Glenrothes attend St Andrew's High School in neighbouring Kirkcaldy.

After the Catholic pupils transferred to St. Mary School from the public school, there was only one pupil remaining at the public school.

"We take this religion business seriously," said Mr. Coyle, who checks to make sure Catholic pupils have gone to church and drafts some to be altar boys.

Given that adolescent Catholic pupils come from a variety of differing faith backgrounds, and bring to the R.E.

Contemporary convent schools are usually not restricted to Catholic pupils.

Practicing Catholic pupils may choose to actively participate in spiritual activities such as Bible studies and the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes.

If there is a shortfall of Catholic school provision in an area, it has never been accepted that Catholic pupils should have to go to non-Catholic schools.

The Church had received from the Concordat more teachers, more school buildings and more places for Catholic pupils.

These were the first Catholic pupils in the area not to sit the 11 plus examination.