Marc Tierney, local Welsh Labour candidate, visited Pembroke Dock Community School this week to meet with teachers and pupils as standards at the school soar.

The visit coincides with an announcement by Welsh Labour leader Carwyn Jones of an election pledge to invest a minimum of £100 million to further improve school standards should labour form the next government after the election in May.

Mr. Tierney toured the whole school site whilst receiving a presentation from headteacher Michele Thomas about the strategies and focus of the school, ensuring all pupils excel at every level of their learning pathway.

Marc Tierney said: “So often, we’re lead to believe that education in Wales is at the bottom of the pile. Understandably this has a negative impact on teachers and the learning and aspiration of our young people.”

“Pembroke Dock Community School is a brilliant example of a school that has consistently raised standards, by putting in place extra help for local families who need it with Welsh Government support, so that pupils are able to achieve their best.

“The whole staff team, led by Michele Thomas, deserves a great deal of credit. The school is a beacon for others right across Wales because pupils are fully engaged in the way they learn, in a really interactive learning environment.”

In the most recent school banding, Pembroke Dock Community School was categorised green with a 1A for standards and leadership and is also a New Deal Pioneer School.

The school has used the research work of John Hattie to implement strategies that are known to have the biggest impact on outcome for pupils. In particular, Visible Learning, which is when teachers see the learning through the eyes of the pupil and pupils see themselves as their own teacher.

Marc Tierney concluded: “Building on the success of Pembroke Dock Community School and others locally is so important. I am pleased that the experience of the school is being shared to benefit other schools. I want to see the quality of teaching and learning in the classroom to be the best it can be, so that all pupils reach their full potential. The rate of attainment of our poorest pupils is now rising faster than ever before and we must continue this momentum.”