The Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops of Portsmouth have combined forces to back a new school which will attract young people of both faiths.Portsmouth Catholic Bishop Crispian Hollis and Portsmouth Church of England Bishop Kenneth Stevenson have laid out their plans for the Joint Church of England and Catholic College in the Isle of Wight.
It is an unusual move for the two faiths to work so closely together on a project.
A joint statement from the bishops about the new interdenominational school said: 'We are pleased to accept and adopt the joint ethos statement, foundational principles and key strategic issues.
'We have further decided that the college will be called Christ the King College.'
Portsmouth Church of England Diocese director of education Tony Blackshaw said: 'This is an exciting proposal and it would be a great witness to the Christian faith we share to have an ecumenical Christian school on the island.'
The new school has come about following a merger between Trinity Church of England and Archbishop King RC middle schools in Carisbrooke Park, Newport.
They already share the same head and are now set to become the island's first faith secondary school.
Headteacher Pat Goodhead said: 'As head of both schools, I can see there are far more similarities than differences between the two.
'The schools have already benefited from sharing ideas and resources and working together. They are already highly successful and highly regarded schools.
'If we can develop that sense of tolerance, respect and understanding of different denominations, while at the same time maintaining the distinctive Roman Catholic and Anglican ethos of both schools, that will be a wonderful achievement.
'It will also be a witness to the wider island community that we can work together and explore our differences where we have them.'
The bishops' statement added that youngsters from both faiths would be able to take communion at the college.
They said: 'The eucharist will be celebrated in either the Catholic or the Church of England tradition.
'The children belonging to the tradition being celebrated will be able to receive the eucharist, provided they have made their first communion. All others will be invited to receive a blessing.'
Priority for places at the school will be given to Catholics or those applying from Catholic first schools for 50 per cent of denominational places.
The same will apply to youngsters who are members of the Church of England or who come from C of E first schools for the other 50 per cent of denominational places.
The bishops have agreed that the school's head of religious education must be a practising member of the Church of England or the Catholic Church. All other members of RE must be practising members of Christian communities too.
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(Source: TN)