Rishi saw how more than £1.2m in Government grant funding is helping to improve sports and sixth form facilities at Stokesley School and Sixth Form College.
The school received the money last year to re-roof and refurbish the sports hall and changing rooms.
The money will also help fund improvements to the sixth form building, It will be re-roofed, re-clad and new windows and boiler installed.
This work, which is expected to be completed in August in time for the new academic year, will also include a refurbished school library, sixth form classrooms and bistro for students.
Hambleton District Council contributed £210,000 to the sports hall upgrade in recognition of its extensive use by the local community.
Rishi was shown the improvements by headteacher Hannah Millett during his visit to the school.
He said: “In recent years the school has accessed more than £5m to improve its buildings and much of that has come from the Condition Improvement Fund.
“The money has been well spent and the sports hall and changing facilities are now superb.”
In a Q&A session with a group of students from across the school years, Rishi talked about his experiences over the past year including taking part in the Downing Street coronavirus briefings where he said thorough preparation was vital.
Asked about his time studying abroad, Rishi spoke about his time at Stanford University in California and said if students had the opportunity to experience studying overseas he thoroughly recommended it.
Rishi said he very much enjoyed the session with the students and praised the variety and intelligence of their questions.
Hannah Millett, headteacher, said: “After a long and challenging Spring term for us all, Rishi's visit was a welcome injection of excitement.
“It was a great opportunity to show him the difference government funding can make in an old school building such as ours.
“We were also extremely grateful for the time Rishi gave to our students, answering their questions with good humour and an open nature.
“Our students leaders and future A-Level politics students were delighted to be able to come up with their own questions and put them to such a prominent figure in British politics.
She added: “We also look forward to some of our students visiting the House of Commons when restrictions allow, thanks to the generous offer from Rishi to enrich their politics study next academic year.”
- Other local schools to benefit from the Condition Improvement Fund in 2020/21 were Hawes Primary (roof and stone works), Kirkby Fleetham Primary (new windows), Leyburn Primary (roof and boiler upgrade), Barton CE Primary (new roofs) and Ravensworth CE Primary (new boiler).
