The Department of Education and Children is pleased to announce that Carol Walsh has been appointed Headteacher of Ballacottier Primary School. Mrs Walsh, who is currently Headteacher of Marown Primary School, will succeed John Rhodes in September 2011 and become only the second head of the school, which opened in 1998. Mrs Walsh, who was educated at Murrays Road Primary School and Douglas High School, graduated with a Bachelors degree from Lancaster University in 1986. She then went on to teach in Oldham and Leyland, before embarking on a 10-year spell in senior management within industry. She returned to the Island and education in 2001 and taught firstly at Laxey School, then Arbory School as Deputy Headteacher, before taking up the headship of Marown School in January 2006. She was awarded her National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) in 2006, followed by a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Manchester University in 2009. Asked about her September career move, Mrs Walsh said: ‘I am very excited to be joining Ballacottier School and look forward to continuing the excellent work of Mr Rhodes and his team. The school is larger than Marown so an early challenge will be to learn the children’s names and get to know my new colleagues, governors and parents. ‘I am, of course, sad to be leaving the wonderful children, staff, parents and community of Marown and would like to thank everyone for all the support they have given me during my time there as Headteacher.’ Mrs Walsh lives with her husband in the south of the Island and enjoys skiing, sailing, walking and reading. Ballacottier School has 303 pupils on its register. Mr Rhodes is retiring this summer after 33 years in teaching, 13 as head of Ballacottier. The Marown headship will be advertised shortly. Ends