WITH its calming coloured walls, spacious classrooms and natural light - this is the first look inside Rhyl’s new £23million Catholic School.

Christ the Word will open to pupils in September. The school will be led by headteacher Amanda Preston.

On arrival, pupils will be greeted with an impressive atrium entrance. The Journal enjoyed a tour of the classrooms, as well as the huge theatre, assembly hall and the domestic science room.

There is a four-court sports hall, a chapel, small hall and an external dining area. When landscaping is completed in Spring 2020, there will also be a sports pitch and all weather pitch.

Christ the Word Catholic School will cater for 420 full time pupils aged three to 11 and 500 pupils aged 11-16.

The school offers a childcare setting which will cater for up to 69 children, from the age of two to 12.

Mrs Preston said: “It is fantastic and I am thrilled to be involved. I have met staff and discussed the timetable.

“I have been on this journey since Easter and been in and out the building since then. It is really exciting. We have a shared learning facilities such as the chapel, gym, theatre and music room.

“The rooms are big and airy. It is open and we want as much natural light as possible. The walls are painted in calming colours.

“One of my main visions is to show we are one school. There is an upper and a lower school, but we are one.”

Mrs Preston was previously deputy headteacher of Elfed High School in Buckley. She has been teaching for more than 20 years in total. She has held a number of senior leaderships posts, including acting headteacher, deputy headteacher, assistant headteacher and head of Mathematics.

Christ the Word is replacing Ysgol Mair and Blessed Edward Jones Catholic High School.

Cllr Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Denbighshire County Council’s lead member for Education, Children’s Services and Public Engagement, said: “I’m delighted to see the completion of this brand new school.

“Christ the Word will provide a fantastic learning environment for pupils and, along with staff at the school, this modern facility will further enhance pupils’ learning.

“Supporting young people is a priority for the Council and this school is part of the £90million that has been invested in the county’s schools so far, including the £25million new school building for Rhyl High School and Ysgol Tir Morfa.”