TALKS are planned over the setting up of Scotland's first joint school campus for Catholic and Jewish primary pupils.

East Renfrewshire Council has drawn up the £9.5 million proposals because of the need to build a new Catholic primary in its area to satisfy increasing demand.

In addition, while the council already runs the Calderwood Lodge Primary Jewish school, it is inside the Glasgow council boundary and there have been calls to move it closer to the community it serves.

The proposals would see the new school built opposite Mearns Castle High, Newton Mearns, where Calderwood Lodge pupils already transfer to after primary.

A number of joint campus schools between Catholic and non-denominational schools have been built in Scotland, but this would be the first between two faith schools.

Some joint campus schools have proved controversial in the past, but East Renfrewshire officials say initial discussions between representatives of the two faiths involved have been positive.

Elaine Green, the council's education convener, said: "There is a pressing need for a second primary school for Catholic faith children in Newton Mearns.

"Also, our Jewish school community has for some time wanted to relocate to East Renfrewshire, where most of its pupils live.

"That is why we have decided to carry out this informal consultative exercise with groups of both faiths."

Paul Morron, president of the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council, described the suggestion as "bold and imaginative".

He said: "The positives are that we have the Jewish primary school moving to the very heart of the Jewish community, rather than parents and pupils having to travel some distance as they currently do, and we have the opportunity to take advantage of a modern new build facility.

"Clearly, there will have to be a lot of discussion within the Jewish community and between the two communities over the details of this proposal, but we feel it is very healthy that two denominational schools and their communities can work well together."

Reverend Thomas Boyle, a representative of the Catholic Church on East Renfrewshire Council's education committee, said the Church had always been wary of - and had often opposed shared campus proposals - but in this case it "made good sense".

He said: "Two schools from different religious traditions, each with their own ethos, head teacher and staff, both based on The Commandments, cannot but complement each other.

"The existence of distinct types of denominational schools allows parents the choice as to how they can have their children educated in conformity with their religious and philosophical convictions as set out in the European Convention On Human Rights and enshrined in our law in the Human Rights Act - we will always do our utmost to support such provision.

"This is a good idea that deserves proper consideration and our best endeavours in enquiring as to how we could make it work."

A council spokeswoman said: "There is a real need for a denom­inational school in Newton Mearns, with St Cadoc's the only one serving the area.

"East Renfrewshire Council has already made provision for a £9.5m school in the capital plan, and will soon be consulting with the public on a proposal to build the denominational primary on a site in Waterfoot Road.

"Now it will speak to members of the Catholic and Jewish faiths on the feasibility and affordability of this being a shared campus, should this school ultimately go ahead.

"Initial talks have been held with both groups in principle and have been very encouraging."

The council will consider the feedback from the consultations early next year before making its recommendation.