EDUCATION minister Huw Lewis has praised the new learning zone facilities at Abertillery Comprehensive in Blaenau Gwent.

Mr Lewis visited the school on Monday this week to see how a Welsh Government education programme is contributing towards the school’s improving performance.

It comes after the school saw a 12 per cent increase in the number of pupils achieving five GCSEs grade A* to C, including English and Mathematics, earlier this year.

The minister was shown the refurbished community learning zone (library), complete with new books and the latest technology, and met with pupils who have had some of their short stories published.

He also visited the Abertillery Engage project at the school, a new scheme which works with pupils who are at risk of becoming disengaged with education or even exclusion. These pupils have their own bespoke curriculum and timetable, together with additional teacher support.

Both these projects have been made possible through additional funding from the Schools Challenge Cymru programme.

Huw Lewis AM said: “It was extremely pleasing to visit Abertillery Comprehensive and see at first hand how Schools Challenge Cymru is making a tangible, positive difference to the life chances of young people and helping to narrow the gap between learners from more and less advantaged backgrounds.

“This is evidenced by this summer’s GCSE results which showed impressive improvements in the performance of the majority of Pathways to Success schools after just one year of additional support. As we move in to the second year of the programme, I want to maintain the momentum and the rapid improvement journey seen in schools like Abertillery Comprehensive during the first year.”

Head teacher at Abertillery Comprehensive Nathan Jenkins said: “Abertillery Comprehensive is a different school, the whole atmosphere and ethos here has changed.

"Our young people believe in themselves and believe they can achieve, and our teaching staff are dedicated to bringing out the best in them, evidenced by the recent increase in performance at GCSE. "

He added: "We have enjoyed welcoming the minister to our school today and showing him around, giving him the opportunity to look at some of the ways we have been taking advantage of the Schools Challenge programme and its support to bring about swift improvements.

"We are pleased to be one of the most improved schools taking part in the programme.”