Two single-sex Roman Catholic secondary schools in Bradford are a step closer to merging after the majority of parents backed the move.

The plans would see St Joseph’s Catholic girls school in Manningham and St Bede’s Catholic boys school in Heaton come together to become one of the biggest Catholic schools in the country, with almost 2,000 pupils.

Parents of existing and future pupils were asked what they thought of the idea in a consultation earlier this year.

Of the parents of children at the Catholic primary schools, 92 per cent supported the proposals, while 79 per cent of the secondaries’ pupils’ parents support it.

Because of this positive feedback, governors at the school have now approved the expansion, and parents were today sent a letter informing them of the progress. A public consultation asking the wider community for their views begins next week, with a final decision being made by Bradford Council’s executive in July.

If the plans go ahead, the new school would be called St Bede’s and St Joseph’s, and the first mixed-sex class will be the Year 7 pupils starting in September 2014. By 2018, the school will be fully mixed.

The two school buildings will remain, with St Joseph’s in Cunliffe Road being home to Years 7 to 9 and St Bede’s in Highgate, being where the older pupils are taught.

The move was considered because of fewer Catholics in the area – only 60 per cent of the current intake belong to the faith – and when the schools are merged, there will be fewer non-Catholic places available.

The merged school will admit 270 pupils a year, a reduction from the 352 currently admitted to the two schools each year.

The schools, each more than 100 years old, already share a board of governors, sixth form and executive headteacher, Paul Heitzman.

Mr Heitzman said: “The overwhelming majority of parents supported the plans. There was a lot of interest.

“We will need new facilities in St Joseph’s like changing facilities and boys toilets. The changes will be introduced gradually, and we will use both school sites.”

He feels the changes will reflect the increasing desire for children to be educated in a mixed-sex environment.

Simon Gallacher, is headteacher of St Anthony's Catholic Primary School, which is in the Bradford and Keighley Catholic Schools Partnership.

He said: “I think it is really going to enhance the work the partnership is already doing and be good for local Catholics.”