The Department of Education and Children is pleased to announce that Rachel Ashley has been appointed headteacher of Andreas Primary School with effect from January 2013.
 
Mrs Ashley will move from Victoria Road Primary School in Castletown, where she is deputy headteacher.
 
Mrs Ashley was born on the Isle of Man and was educated at Willaston Primary School and St Ninian’s High School before completing a BA honours degree in education and geography at Durham University, graduating in 1995.
 
She taught at Norton Primary School in Stockton-on-Tees before returning to the Isle of Man in 1999 to take up a teaching post at Onchan Primary School, moving on to Manor Park Primary in 2006. She became deputy headteacher at Victoria Road in 2007.
 
She holds the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) and supports assessment of literacy in primary schools for the Department of Education and Children.
 
Mrs Ashley lives in Douglas with her husband and their two sons, Matthew, seven, who attends Ballacottier Primary School, and James, two.
 
‘I am delighted to be taking over as headteacher at Andreas School and am looking forward to continuing the good work of the existing staff team. The school community has already made me feel very welcome and I am looking forward to working with the children, staff, governors and parents,’ Mrs Ashley said.
 
‘I am also sad to be leaving Victoria Road School, a fantastic school with great children, super colleagues and supportive parents and governors. I have enjoyed working there and will miss everyone very much.’
 
Mrs Ashley will replace Andreas headteacher of five years Bronwen Udy, who leaves the post at Christmas after an entire career in education, 12 years of which have been spent in the Isle of Man.
 
Mrs Udy will stay on as a supply teacher and will help to deliver the Department’s training for school leaders of the future. She has also just been appointed an associate tutor to Edge Hill University.
 
Andreas School has 126 pupils on the register.