A LIFE-SIZE model of one of the North-East's early medieval saints yesterday took pride of place in a school named in his honour.

The Venerable Bede Church of England School took delivery of the specially-commissioned sculpture of the Northumbrian monk.

Artist Chris Maughan, born and brought up in Whickham, Gateshead, agreed to create his third Bede bust, 22 years after making his second.

Cast in resin, and treated to give it a bronze gloss, it shows the first English historian, in his early 40s, gazing towards heaven in contemplation.

The sculptor, now head of a Cambridge art college, returned to the region to visit the school's temporary site, in Ryhope, on the outskirts of Sunderland, to present the model to headteacher Dr Ed Yeates.

A first intake of 180 pupils will begin in the former Ryhope Village Primary School next month, transferring to the new site, near Tunstall Hills, on completion in September 2003.

By 2006 the eco-friendly £14m development, the region's first new secondary school this century, will reach its 900 capacity.

Dr Yeates said the bust will be transferred to the reception area of the new site next year, hopefully to stand alongside a virtual version of the Lindisfarne Gospels.

"Bede was at the forefront of education when he lived and worked in our area.

"Like Bede, our school will provide world-class learning opportunities for all our students."

Mr Maughan believes he has captured the essence of Bede, "as the man, as a scholar and as a man of God".

The local vicar, Canon David Meakin, chairman of school governors, described it as "brilliant".

He said it was similar to one presented by Mr Maughan to his father, the Reverend Canon David Meakin, on his retirement as Rector of Whickham.

The new school, a partnership between the Church of England's Durham Diocese and Sunderland Education Authority, aims to offer quality education while "encouraging the Christian message".