In recent years, the social benefits (or otherwise) of faith-based schools within the state-maintained system have become a matter for public discussion. Following the introduction of a new statutory duty placed on the governing bodies of maintained schools in England under section 38 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 to promote community cohesion, inspectors from the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted) have been required since September 2008 to make judgements on how well schools meet their new responsibilities. The published data from the first three full years of inspections show the Catholic sector, in both primary and secondary phases, to be more effective in this aspect of their work than other maintained schools. The significance of the findings is explored and areas for further research suggested.