A Merseyside primary school that has built-in prayer rooms for Muslim pupils has been named the best primary in the country for including children of all backgrounds.
At Kingsley community primary school in Toxteth around 85 per cent of pupils are from an ethnic background.
The school celebrates difference and promotes inclusion and harmony has seen it become the first primary in the land to be awarded a prestigious gong.
The 230-pupil school won the Global Peace and Unity Primary School award for Excellence in Education – organised by satellite TV station The Islam Channel.
The school beat nominations from across the nation and was judged the winner in recognition of "its efforts in meeting the needs of Muslim students and helping to raise their achievement."
Its cultural diversity is there for all to see with pupils speaking 20 different languages ranging from Somali to Polish.
All faiths are looked at in Religious Education classes and all pupils are involved in religious festivals ranging from Eid to Christmas – with Muslim children joining non-Muslim cast members for this year’s Nativity.
The school also has international days which sees pupils don traditional dress and eat different foods.
But the school also strives to cater for individual beliefs and faiths
And its commitment includes Halal school dinners, a purpose built Wudhu prayer and wash room for Muslim pupils and separate Muslim and Christian assemblies.
Headteacher of the last four years, Elaine Rees said: "I am really pleased, we are the only primary school to have won this award for the way we integrate children.
"We call ourselves ‘The School of Culture’ and our school motto is ‘Learning Together, Respecting Each Other’ and we really promote belonging and friendship."