CHILDREN at a church primary school in Birmingham have been learning all about other religions and cultures as part of a special inter-faith event.

Pupils at Corpus Christi Catholic Primary in Lyttleton Road, Stechford, have been embracing the world faiths of Islam, Buddhism, Judaism and Sikhism, as well as Christianity.

During the course of the week-long project, groups of children were able to visit independent Muslim primary school, Al-Hijrah, in Bordesley Green to watch a performance given by Year 4 pupils there.

The theme of the ‘Walk the Talk’ performance was about recognising our common humanity, celebrating diversity and respecting each other.

This was followed by a return visit by children from Al-Hirjah School, who spent last Friday morning at Corpus Christi during which the two sets of pupils came together in a multi-skills sporting competition.

The whole event concluded with a planting ceremony in Corpus Christi’s grounds, with a shrub representing each of the major world faiths.

Head teacher Barry Desmond said the aim was to symbolise common concern for the one planet that everyone shares.

He said: “We decided to hold an inter-faith week as part of a national event, which is the first of its kind across the country.

“It has involved children working with different faiths across the city, with a number of people coming into school to do assemblies, visit classes and work with children in lessons.

“The children have also visited different places of worship, such as temples.

“What we are trying to do is develop understanding and appreciation of all faiths and cultures so the children can take that into later life.”

He added: “Hopefully the week will offer the children and ourselves a great opportunity to broaden knowledge and understanding of world faiths, multicultural practices and traditions, while at the same time promote community cohesion both within our school and between our school and local communities.” The inter-faith week was opened by the Bishop of Aston, with further visitors ranging from bhangra and African dancers to traditional Mehndi artists.

Corpus Christi, which recently took delivery of around £30,000 of new playground equipment, also took the opportunity to raise money for the BBC’s Blue Peter Appeal in aid of children with cleft palates. This has involved turning unwanted shirts into surgical gowns.