A WIRRAL high school has been praised by Education Secretary Michael Gove for its sense of dedication and community spirit.

Woodchurch High School was one of four schools across the north west visited by the Education Secretary on Friday after being invited by Wirral West MP, Esther McVey.

Mr Gove toured the school with staff and governors before meeting with students who grilled him on a number of issues, including the academy’s plans to add a sixth form to its offering.

He said he was amazed by the school’s sense of community spirit and said he agreed that Woodchurch was in need of a sixth form.

“There are some great sixth form colleges in the area but I do agree that when there’s such a good school here with a real sense of community spirit, it seems a shame that people have to leave the school at 16.”

Mr Gove said he was particularly impressed with the school’s farm and allotments and even left the school with half a dozen eggs.

After the visit, headteacher Rebekah Phillips told the Globe: “It is a huge compliment to our staff, our governors and to the school community and to our students that Mr Gove should have chosen to come here.”

Ms Phillips added: “Our next step at the school is to become a Church of England Academy and then we can focus on providing a sixth form.”