A PIONEERING project linking Tavistock College with an inner city school in Leicester has just been established. The aim is to provide West Devon students with a wider perspective on on different religious faiths.
Students in Tavistock are now able to e-mail their counterparts at the Sir Jonathan North Community College, a high school for girls with a higher than average percentage of Asian students representing Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism.
The Tavistock students, many of whom have little or no experience of living in a multi-faith community, will be able to share their views and learn about the beliefs and values of different faiths first hand.
Clare Raeburn, head of religious studies, said: 'Our students need to understand that Britain is a multi-faith society and that students in cities such as Exeter, Bristol and indeed Leicester, experience life among people of different faith and cultures and enjoy all the benefits that such diversity brings.'
Initially, the project has been set up to involve Muslim students in years 10 and 11.
Similar links are due to be established with a boys' school in Leicester at a later date.
Mrs Raeburn said: 'We are obviously very excited about the project and delighted with the enthusiasm of the Muslim students.
'I have plans to develop these links further, including the possibility of students using video conferencing and opportunities for student visits.'
Tavistock College also works to promote deeper understanding of Christian issues — young Christian volunteers spend time at the school, as do representatives of the local Catalyst organisation and a youth worker from Tavistock Methodist church.
John Simes, Tavistock College principal, said: 'These initiatives all reflect the college's commitment to what Ofsted would call its spiritual dimension.
'This is a difficult and sensitive area and I have been delighted with the support from local churches, and the hard work of colleagues in the religious studies department.'