St Mary’s Roman Catholic School will welcome children of different faiths, or no faith, to enrol in the new school year.

Based on Somerset Road in Douglas, the school is under the trusteeship of the Archdiocese of Liverpool and is paid for by the taxpayer.

The change is in line with the admission policy of the Archdiocese and means all applications will be considered equally from January 2021.

Donna Martin, the school’s head teacher, said: ’We recognise and celebrate the diversity of all children and want to provide a learning community that reflects our wider local, national and international communities whilst respecting our Catholic history and ethos.

’Providing such an inclusive environment helps children to grow up as tolerant, respectful individuals who recognise we all have a place of equal value within society.’

The school has recently undergone a £4.5m taxpayer-funded refurbishment that included the addition of new classrooms, improved disability access, and the extension of the main hall.

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It means the school, which currently has 229 pupils, will be able to accept up to 350 in the future.

From January parents who live within the schools’ catchment area will be able to apply to enrol their children as well as parents of Catholic children from any parish.

Minister for Education, Sport and Culture Dr Alex Allinson said: ’I welcome the progressive changes at St Mary’s. The recent refurbishment has expanded the facilities and learning opportunities for all the pupils who attend this fantastic school.’

The school’s catchment area includes the Roman Catholic parishes of the churches of St Anthony’s in Onchan, St Joseph’s in Willaston and St Mary’s of the Isle in Douglas.

Parents of children at the school told the Examiner that they were first informed of the change in admission policy by email on Monday morning just before the government made the decision public.