Bishop makes visit to new £23million faith school in Rhyl

The Bishop of Wrexham has been to see progress at the new £23million faith school in Rhyl.

The Right Rev Peter M Brignall met Amanda Preston, headteacher of Christ the Word Catholic School, and pupils on site and said he was ‘delighted’ with the progress.

Christ the Word Catholic School, which will replace Ysgol Mair and Blessed Edward Jones Catholic High School, is set to open in the autumn and will cater for 420 full time pupils aged 3-11 and 500 pupils aged 11-16.

It is funded in partnership by Denbighshire County Council and the Welsh Government through its 21st Century Schools Programme.

Kier Construction has been appointed by the Council as the main contractor for the new school, which will be part of the Diocese of Wrexham, and the build is progressing well.

Bishop Brignall said:

“It was with delight that I recently saw the stage to which the new Christ the Word School building had progressed over the last couple of months. Better still was to see and hear the workmen keen to complete the project on time; the enthusiasm of Mrs Preston at the potential the school has to offer; and the delight of the young people.

“The facilities and the opportunities that the school will provide are really beginning to take shape and it is not difficult now to imagine the true wonder of the school – staff and pupils working together to learn, grow in aspiration and achieve their individual best. I look forward to my next visit and more still to the opening of the school and it being alive with the sounds, activity, joy and silence of learning and teaching, sport and recreation, friendship and caring.”

Supporting young people is a priority for the Council under its Corporate Plan and so far more than £90 million has been invested in Denbighshire’s schools which has seen more than 3,500 pupils benefit from improved facilities.

Mrs Preston said:

“I was delighted to be able to welcome Bishop Brignall to the school and share the vision and the outstanding facilities.

“He was pleased to see how well the construction was going and to have the chance to talk to pupils about how excited they are to start at their new school.

“I’d like to thank the whole school community for their support, already there is a great understanding and everyone is working together to ensure the children’s education is of the highest possible quality.”