A PAIR of Keighley Catholic schools which are now led by one executive head teacher will be working together to help drive up standards.

Our Lady of Victories (OLV) and St Joseph's Primary schools have already begun collaborating on an online newspaper.

Each has its own school head, but since September both have been overseen by executive head teacher – John Devlin.

Mr Devlin, who had previously been OLV head for 10 years, said: "I'm very committed to Keighley's Catholic community, and this is a role that I'm sure will inspire me.

"I think the executive leadership will help us learn from each other, share best practice and raise standards at both schools.

"It is a positive move which enables the two schools to work together for the benefit of all our children.

"As executive head I'm now responsible for both schools' improvement, and the achievement, attainment and wellbeing of the pupils."

"I'm very much enjoying the role. I was raised in the Keighley Catholic community, and was educated at St Anne's Primary and Holy Family Catholic School.

"St Joseph's was actually the first school to employ and pay me, as I was a supply teacher there back in 1997. So it's a bit like I've come full circle."

He said the partnership was also a way of bringing the town's Catholics closer together, noting that the grounds of Cliffe Castle will host a celebration of Keighley's different Catholic communities next July.

Mr Devlin said one of the most notable examples so far of joint working by the two schools was their online newspaper, which is called The Fab Mag.

"A few years ago the school council at OLV asked me if they could have a school newspaper, and I suggested why not an online version?" he said.

"The newspaper had been going at OLV for a couple of years, but since the children from St Joseph's came on board that has really taken it to the next level.

"All the children involved with The Fab Mag have been given laptops to work on, stories to write and deadlines to meet.

"The newspaper is online now, and has created a real buzz amongst the children. They are writing with and for each other.

"The teaching staff at St Joseph's have been very supportive and have given a lot of time to this. I'm very excited about it all.

"This is the first of many things which we intend to work on together.

"We would like to launch a television station for St Joseph's school. OLV already has its own radio station."