A new education boss is to oversee religious teaching at more than 150 Church of England schools in the combined dioceses of Bradford and Ripon and Leeds.

The newly-created position will see Clive Sedgewick at the helm of the joint department - the first time the two dioceses have joined forces.

The aim of the scheme is to improve religious teaching skills and create a stronger team of teachers and advisers.

Assistant director of education for Oxford diocese, Mr Sedgewick is looking forward to starting his "challenging and exciting" post in June.

"Church schools belong at the heart of the mission of any diocese as indicated in the Dearing report," said the 46-year-old.

"For church schools to remain at the centre of witness and presence in contemporary society they deserve and will need clear vision and effective pastoral and professional guidance from their Diocesan Boards of Education."

Chairman of Bradford's Education Board, Kelvin Newberry, said: "I am delighted that we have been able to appoint someone so experienced to the post and I very much look forward to working with Clive in the future."

As director, Mr Sedgewick will work with education specialists based in Harrogate with combined responsibility for church schools.

The decision to appoint a single director was taken for educational reasons.

His team is expected to include an assistant director, an administrator and schools RE advisers based at Hornbeam Park.

While seeking to collaborate together in individual projects where appropriate, there are no plans for other church departments to combine.

Ripon and Leeds Diocesan Secretary Philip Arundel said money was not the prime consideration for the joint approach.

He said: "This will be the first time the two dioceses have worked together in this way and the result would be a strong educational team with a wider range of skills."

Mr Sedgewick was educated at Loughborough University. He has worked in education throughout his career, first as a teacher then as a primary school head in East Anglia, before becoming Schools' Adviser to Oxford Diocesan Board of Education.