Meet the woman who holds the key to John Summers High School future

Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Kirsty Williams has been appointed education secretary in a new-look Labour-led government.

Ms Williams is the only Lib Dem in the assembly after her party lost four seats in the recent election.

She was branded a ‘political concubine’ this week by Ukip’s political dinosaur Neil Hamilton for her part in the ‘dodgy deal’ which saw Labour and Plaid come to the ‘agreement’ paving the way for Carwyn Jones reappointment as first minster.

One key decision which will have a major impact on Deeside is the threatened closure of John Summers High School, it now rests with Ms Williams to either go ahead with Flintshire County Councils recommendations and close the school or stand up for pupils in Deeside and throw the plans out.

Victoria Kirstyn Williams CBE has been an Assembly Member since 1999.

She was the leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats between December 2008 and May 2016.

Williams was born in Taunton, Somerset to Welsh parents, whilst her librarian father was working there.

After moving to Liverpool,in 1974 the family moved to the village of Bynea, Carmarthenshire, where she grew up.

Educated at the independent St Michael’s School, Llanelli, she then graduated from the Victoria University of Manchester with an honours degree in American studies, including a period studying at the University of Missouri.

She then returned to work for the learning resources department of Carmarthenshire College in Llanelli, before taking up a post as a marketing and public relations executive for a small business in Cardiff.

She is married to a farmer; the couple have three daughters and live on the family farm outside Brecon.

In the elections to the Welsh Assembly on 5 May 2016 Williams retained her Brecon and Radnorshire seat with an increased majority. However, as the sole Liberal Democrat representative in the new Assembly government, she stood down as leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats the day after the election.

Pupils from closure threatened John Summers have made a 5 minute video presentation showcasing the school, the pupils and staff, set to Rachel Platten’s Fight Song the video will be great starting point for MKirsty Williams to find out more about the High School.