A multicultural primary school has won national recognition for its teaching of religion.

Spring Grove Junior, Infant and Nursery School in Huddersfield has gained the National Religious Education Quality Mark’s highest accolade, the Gold Award.

Judges said that it had been earned for “embedding excellent, creative and innovative RE practice throughout the school and for recognition as outstanding in the wider community”.

Spring Grove is a culturally diverse school with children from many different ethnic backgrounds.

The last census recorded 17 different languages being spoken by children at the school.

Head teacher Mrs Hawa Bibi Laher said: “I believe that this diversity makes us special. Children learn about other cultures and religions thus enabling them to have respect and tolerance for all cultures and faiths.

“Religious education makes a powerful contribution to young people’s learning. It provides them with the chance to explore the big ideas about being human, of religion and belief, and their values and ways of living which are important to them.”

The school teaches RE according to the National Curriculum but in a fun and interesting manner. The youngsters learn about Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism and have the opportunity to visit mosques, churches, the gurdwara and the Buddhist temple.

RE subject leader Helen Rivers said: “As a multi-cultural and multi-faith school, we have always seen RE as an essential part of our curriculum.

“We are not afraid to ask big questions about life, and the ethos of our school ensures that it is a safe place to express opinions and to learn from others who might have a different point of view.”