Education Minister Kirsty Williams AM has praised Newtown High School for their "professionalism" and "enthusiasm" during a visit to see the progress being made while under special measures.

Ms Williams went on a tour around the school on March 6 where she met the award-winning Student Assembly for 'Most transparent council' by the School Council of Wales, the Sixth Form and Year 11 students before observing Year 8 participating in an Oriel Davies Gallery workshop.

“I want to thank everyone at Newtown High School for such a warm welcome," Ms Williams said.

"Everywhere I went, the enthusiasm and talent of staff and pupils was plain to see and I really enjoyed finding out more about the different work that’s going on right across the school. I was particularly impressed with the professionalism of the Student Assembly and their commitment to transparency and democracy.”

The Welsh Assembly Cabinet Minister also met a group of Year 11 students who were spending the day working on their Welsh Baccalaureate Individual Project.

Head of Welsh Baccalaureate Qualifications Ms G McCulloch said: “Our enrichment day was very successful, the students embraced the challenge and are investigating some very interesting topics. The Minister was delighted with the wide breadth and depth of the topics that the students had chosen.”

Ms Williams ended with the visit to Newtown High School observing Year 7 students designing, creating and making a pitch of product.