The Department of Education has announced the appointment of Tracy Willoughby as Headteacher of Kewaigue Primary School.
Mrs Willoughy will take up the position in April, succeeding Mark Stevens, one of the Department’s longest serving heads, who is retiring after a 34-year teaching career.
Mrs Willoughy was educated at Murray’s Road, Ballakermeen and St Ninian’s High School. She completed a BA Hons. degree in Geography at Sheffield City Polytechnic followed by a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at Hull University.
Tracy started teaching on the Wirral in 1986 and returned to the Island in 1989. She has worked at Manor Park, Rushen Primary and Cronk y Berry schools before being appointed as Deputy Head at Marown Primary School in September 2001.
Mrs Willoughby says, "I am delighted to have been appointed as Kewaigue’s new Headteacher and I am looking forward to the challenge of this new role. Although I will be sad to leave Marown School, my connection will continue as a parent. I hope to build and develop the same supportive relationships with the children and parents at Kewaigue as I have at Marown School."
Mrs Willoughby is married and has three children aged 15, 13 and 5. She enjoys reading in her spare time and she is actively involved in community activities in Marown, including Marown Youth and Community Players.
Mr Stevens is looking forward to retirement after more than 18 years in charge at Kewaigue, which has 131 pupils on the register. He plans to spend all his time working through a ‘jobs’ list prepared by his wife!
He recalled that one of his first duties, on his promotion to the headship from the deputy headteacher’s job at Ballasalla Primary School, was to oversee the school’s centenary celebrations.
"This gave me an insight into the history and standing of the school, as we had a stream of past pupils from all over the world who were making a pilgrimage to relive their primary education and reacquaint themselves with Kewaigue School.
"The school has undergone many changes in my time and has grown to almost three times the size it was in 1992. A great deal has been achieved, particularly in respect of the infrastructure of the school. The level of support we received when we raised the money for the recent addition of the astropitch facility highlights the position the school holds in the community.
"I leave Kewaigue School on a sound footing, with fantastic children, brilliantly supportive parents and strong, committed staff."
Senior Adviser Martin Barrow said, "Mr Stevens has been a popular, enthusiastic and energetic headteacher who has committed over half his professional life to leading and developing Kewaigue School and making it what it is today.
"I know that he will be greatly missed by everyone connected with the school and I am sure they would join with the Department in wishing him a long, happy and healthy retirement."
