WELSH Government’s Education Secretary paid tribute to a rapidly improving Flintshire high school with a visit.

Kirsty Williams, AM, Cabinet Secretary for Education, visited St Richard Gwyn Catholic High School to mark the school’s recording breaking improvements.

The school came out of Estyn Special Measures in just four terms, a national record in terms of how quickly they have turned it around.

In the last two years, the school has achieved recording braking exam results and has moved well out of Estyn Special Measures, which prevented the school from appointing newly qualified teachers, such was the concern of their performance.

Mrs Williams’ was part of a national recognition of the school’s rapid improvements.

She met members of staff, governors and students, most notably having a highly informative question and answer session with the school council.

Mrs Williams also outlined her vision for the future of education in Wales.

Paul Heitzman, Headteacher, said: ‘’As a school we’re very proud to have welcomed Kirsty Williams on a visit to our St Richard Gwyn, and we’re honoured to receive national recognition for the changes the school have made.

‘’We’re very proud of exam results and the general performance of the school over the last couple of years.

“Mrs Williams was great and took a keen interest and our students who met her were a credit to the school.’’

Kirsty Williams said: ‘’It was a pleasure to visit St Richard Gwyn High School today and to find out more about the school’s journey of improvement.

“I was very impressed by the way the teachers and the students have really stepped up to the mark, and pulled together so that the school can reach its full potential.

‘’The work accomplished here at the school is a great example of partnership between the Council, schools and governing bodies.

“This partnership continues to support and improve education in the County and that is a great achievement.’’