An MP has hailed an independent girls’ school as the backbone of the economy in Denbigh.
According to Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane, Howell’s School also has a fine academic record of achievement.
Mr Ruane was given a guided tour of the historic school by one of the charity’s Trustees, Robbie Locke.
In addition to the day pupils and boarding girls, almost 5,000 children from across Europe come to Howell’s on short courses every year, mainly during the school holidays.
The school pumps an estimated £5 million into the local economy every year and is believed to be the biggest private sector employer in Denbigh.
There has been enormous investment in the school over recent years
The school has a top class equestrian centre, opened by Princess Anne in 2006.
It has a state-of-the-art recording studio, a newly-opened dance studio, and last year the school purchased the 170-year-old school chapel St David’s Church which is used for weekly assemblies.
Mr Ruane said: “This is an excellent school and the investment put into the area has benefited the school and also the local economy.
“They are bringing thousands of young people for language courses, from the UK and Europe and around the world into my constituency, creating jobs and doing a lot for international relations at the same time.
“I must confess that I had not appreciated the scale of the contribution that Howell’s makes to the economy in the Vale of Clwyd.
“Before becoming an MP, I was a teacher for 14 years and I was the deputy head in a school I went to when I was three.
“Howell’s is a first class educational establishment with a fine educational reputation, locally, nationally and internationally.
“There are some great facilities here which is a testament to the rolling programme of investment by the Trustees.
“It’s also important that they are encouraging a partnership with Llandrillo College so that their students can also benefit from the investment in this school.
“Private schools have charitable status because they’re supposed to be embedded in their local community and Howells is proving that. They are an important part of the fabric of the town.”
Mr Locke was delighted to have the opportunity to show the MP around the school, and update him on the latest developments.
He said: “Through the operation of our all-girls boarding school, and our external programme that mainly takes place out-of-term, we contribute an estimated £5 million each year to the local economy.
“There is a trickle down effect as the money paid to our employees and local contractors is recycled and spent within the community to create and support the jobs in many local businesses.
“I am certain that one of the reasons why there are many nice quality shops in Denbigh is because our girls, their parents and the many visitors to the school all spend their money in town.
“We are a truly international business, creating a major inward investment in Wales and most especially in Denbigh town.
“We have a very large campus, almost a village in itself, yet are just a few minutes’ walk from the town centre. The town of Denbigh and our school have a shared history of over 150 years.
“The income from our external and international programme has enabled us to invest on a scale that would be impossible for a typical independent school.
“We have boarding houses that are approaching hotel quality, with facilities from cafeterias to fitness suites, and our standard of care is second to none.
“We are very pleased to take up the mantle of Thomas Howell, who died in 1589 and left us such a wonderful legacy in Howell’s School.
“He was an international merchant, and we have a large international aspect to our school. Both his heart, and ours, is very much for the girls of Wales.
“We aim to give them every opportunity to realise their potential academically and to create a confidence that will ensure success in their chosen career or profession.”
