SCHOOLS Minister Lord Andrew Adonis visited a local secondary schools on a fact-finding mission.

The Under Secretary of State for Schools will tour St Mary's Catholic High School in Astley, where he opened a brand new state-of-the-art maths block.

Accompanied by Leader of Wigan Council, Lord Peter Smith, and the borough's Director of Children's Services, Ged Rowney, Lord Adonis moved on to Hindley Community High School and the Rose Bridge High School in Ince.

The minister, whose specific areas of responsibility include special educational needs and disability, will see at first hand how the council is working with schools on the inclusion agenda at Hindley and Rose Bridge.

Lord Adonis has been personally invited to Wigan by Lord Smith, who said: ""Wigan has a proven track record of innovation when it comes to providing the best education for our children and we were proud to show the minister this at first hand."