History has been made in the North East with the opening of England's first state school and catholic school under the same roof. Highfield Community Primary and St Joseph's Primary share a plush new building perched overlooking the Derwent Valley in Gateshead. Guests gathered in the £55m building in Whinfield Way, Rowlands Gill, yesterday to celebrate a joint official unveiling. Pupils of all ages from both schools kicked off by performing songs and dances, including favourites Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and It's A Bright Bright Day. Youngsters performed songs from the Wizard of Oz dressed as the well-known characters, Scarecrow, Tin Man and the Lion. Then youngsters from both schools took to the stage, with the light blue uniforms of St Joseph's and the navy and gold of Highfield Community Primary mingling. They rounded off with a song called Together to rousing applause. At the end, Coun Michael McNestry, chairman of governors, told everyone: "Having two schools on one site caused some eyebrows to be raised and I know of all the hard work that has gone in to achieve this." Each school has a separate gate and car park, they share the same entrance and reception, but with their own school secretaries. From the reception, pupils turn right for Highfield Community Primary and left to go to St Joseph's. Although each school has dedicated, separate, classrooms they share some facilities such as IT resources. Steven Thompson, headteacher of Highfield Primary, and Anne Parkin, head of St Joseph's buried separate time capsules to mark the unique event. Mr Thompson said: "It a fantastic state-of-the-art building and since April 16 everyone has worked very hard and everyone has integrated well. It is the only building in England shared by a state and Catholic school. It is fantastic and the kids get on really well." The Rt Rev Kevin Dunn, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, and Gateshead Mayor David Lynn unveiled a plaque to mark the event. Coun Lynn said: "This is a wonderful concept. When I first heard about it I couldn't believe it. "You were singing It's A Bright Bright Day, I think you have a bright, bright future." Rt Rev Dunn said it was a wonderful environment for the children's talents to grow. Your last song Together is so important and I am delighted on behalf of the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle to be building this partnership with the local authority to bring a vision to fruition." Symbolically, as blue balloons were released into the air, a red kite, one of almost 100 re-introduced to the region in the Derwent Valley after an absence of 150 years, soared overhead. The bird, with its distinctive five-foot wingspan and red forked tail, rode the thermals and investigated the balloons as they took to the skies. | 
Northumberland
