A LEIGH super master was one of the country's top 14 head teachers called to Downing Street.

Mr John Jones, 48, of Pennington, head of Ruffwood Community High School, Kirkby, and fellow principals met Prime Minister Tony Blair, Education Secretary David Blunkett and Chris Woodhead, the chief inspector of schools, to discuss their achievements.

Some of the heads had their school named in the Ofsted report as among the fastest improving in England.

The call to No 10 came for Mr Jones on the day Mr Woodhead published his annual report on the state of schools in England.

Mr Jones, who is married to Lowton St Luke's Primary School head, Mrs Karen Jones, moved to Kirkby after positions as deputy head at Park High, and head at Rivington High, St Helens.

The couple have two children, Alex, 8, and Ben, 6.

Mrs Jones said: "It is great that his success has been recognised at the highest level. It can only be put down to really hard work."

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