The Church of England's new £9 million secondary school in Bradford is to be called Immanuel Community College, it has been revealed.

The name was decided at a meeting of the newly-formed board of governors working to create a flagship school on the site of the old Thorn Garth Special School, in Thackley.

Flattened rubble surrounded by mature trees is all that remains of the old building.

But by September 2000 the new school will be built and ready for 1,400 pupils from the Greengates, Eccleshill North, Thorpe Edge and Idle areas.

It is one of three new-build secondary schools in the Bradford Schools Review and one of the two schools being created by the Church of England - as their first foray into secondary education in Bradford.

Bradford Archdeacon David Shreeve, current chairman of governors, said: "We had a long 'short list' of names and decided on Immanuel, using the alternative biblical spelling, because it means God With Us which will be very much the ethos of the school."

A new headteacher has also been appointed - Tim Cloke, who is deputy head of St John Cass's C of E School in Stepney, London, a secondary which has enjoyed much Ofsted success.

Mr Cloke, 50, who is married with three children, said: "My leadership will clearly be important but I will want to work in partnership with local churches, families and governors."

He said high educational achievement would be his primary goal followed closely by spiritual and cultural learning.

The Venerable David Shreeve, who will be replaced as chairman by Thorpe Edge vicar Reverend Colin Spivey on his imminent retirement, said both local and national candidates had been interviewed and that the 50 other staff at the school would be taken primarily from the local displaced workforce.

Plans being drawn up by Bradford architects Halliday Clarke will feature a large assembly hall and a chapel for pupils. The large field surrounded by mature trees will be retained for a sports field and there will be two sports halls, all of which will be used by the community.

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