A RETIRED headteacher of St Ninian’s High School is to lay the foundation stone for the new school at Bemahague, Onchan on Friday.
George Quayle, who retired last summer after 39 years in teaching, has been invited by Minister for Education and Children Eddie Teare MHK to carry out the honour at the new St Ninian’s Lower School.
The ?33.8 million school, which will accommodate the whole of Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) from the current St Ninian’s High School, is rising rapidly from the ground and is set to open in September 2012. It will accommodate 800 students, with capacity for 300 more as rolls grow, and will boast extensive community sports facilities.
Among those invited to the stone-laying ceremony are Chief Minister Tony Brown MHK, Treasury Minister Anne Craine MHK (who, as Education Minister, gained Tynwald’s support for the project) and MHKs for Onchan and Douglas, as well as the current headteacher, governors and head boy and head girl of St Ninian’s and representatives of the design consultants and contractors.
Mr Quayle, who was headteacher at St Ninian’s for 15 years, said: ‘I was very pleased to be asked to lay the foundation stone for the new school at Bemahague. For me, it will be the realisation of many years of discussion and planning meetings during my time as headteacher of St Ninian’s High School.
‘It was always my passionate hope that one day soon the youngest students in the school would have modern facilities in which to learn. This has now been made possible and the occasion will see that dream coming closer to reality.’
Minister Teare commented: ‘I felt it was appropriate to recognise everything that Mr Quayle has done for secondary education and especially for St Ninian’s High School.
‘A substantial amount of work has been undertaken since work began last year and the project is on time and within budget. This stone-laying ceremony represents a significant milestone in the delivery of high quality facilities for the Island’s schoolchildren.’
Meanwhile, Estates Director Richard Collister gave an update on how the school, being built on an 18-acre site just off the TT course, was taking shape. He said: ‘Work on site continues to progress well. The main steel frame is now almost complete, with the remaining steelwork erection, to the enlarged sports hall/changing room block, to follow on once ongoing foundation works are complete.
‘Work continues to the building envelope, with roofing and the external facing block walling progressing steadily. Externally, the slinky pipe installation, part of the ground source heat pump system, continues to the all-weather pitch area.’
Photo: George Quayle, retired
former head teacher at St Ninian's
