A SCHOOL near Malpas has received a visit from the the Minister for Education in Wales.

Kirsty Williams AM, visited members of The Maelor Church Schools Federation on Thursday, January 30, which includes Borderbrook Anglican Controlled School in Tallarn Green, as well as St Pauls VA School in Isycoed near Wrexham.

In January 2016 the two schools formed a federation, a formal and legal arrangement allowing them to share governance arrangements and have a single governing body.

Ms Williams met both staff and pupils in both schools and took the opportunity to answer questions from the children and acting headteacher Emma Jones showed the Education Minister around the schools.

Mrs Jones said: “We were delighted to welcome Kirsty Williams to our two schools today.

"She spent time talking to the children in both schools and they’ve had the opportunity to ask her questions too.

“Both schools in the federation are rural primary schools and we know Ms Williams is a strong advocate of the importance of schools as the heart of a rural community.”

In Borderbrook, Kirsty Williams attended Wednesday Worship which is led by the pupils. Afterwards she was asked questions, including who was the most famous person she had met.

The Maelor Church Schools Federation is supported by the Diocese of St Asaph. Its director of Education and Lifelong Learning, Rosalind Williams, accompanied the AM.

Mrs Williams said: “Federations have become an important opportunity for primary schools to remain open to serve their local community.

"The ability to share key roles, such as headteachers, governing bodies and policies significantly reduces the pressure on administration and budgets allowing all those who teach to focus on their passion for working with and emboldening the next generation.

"Today’s visit reinforced to us her commitment to the federated model and small rural schools.”