The Department of Education is pleased to announce that Andrew Cole has been appointed Headteacher of Castle Rushen High School.

Mr Cole will be spending time in the school from the start of the autumn term and hopes to be able to take up the post fully in November.

During the autumn term, he will work closely with the acting headteacher, John Binns, to ensure a smooth transition into post.

Mr Cole will move from being Deputy Head Teacher at Ramsey Grammar School, a post he has held for seven years. He succeeds Maria Tomaszewska, who resigned recently.

He trained at the University of Sheffield, gaining a joint Honours degree in Botany and Geography, followed by a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at Sheffield City College. 

Mr Cole held a number of posts in a large South Yorkshire comprehensive school including Head of Biology, Careers tutor and Head of Guidance before moving to be Assistant Head at Ramsey Grammar School.

He has also worked closely with Education Partnerships, work-related learning providers and the National College for School Leadership. As such he has gained a rich experience working with learners of all ages.

He said ‘It is a great privilege to have been offered this key post. I would like to thank the many people who have helped and supported my application and who have put their trust in me to take Castle Rushen through the next phase of its learning journey.

'I am very excited by the prospect of working closely with the whole Castle Rushen team for the benefit of our future citizens.’

Mr Cole’s wife, Christine, is Manx and works as a Senior Physiotherapist. The family moved to the Island in 1999 and their two children were educated at Ballaugh School and Ramsey Grammar School.

Alice has just completed her first year reading Pharmacy at the University of Newcastle and younger brother Thomas has applied to study Geology in Manchester next year.

Mr Cole is a prominent musician, playing principal oboe with the Isle of Man Symphony Orchestra and with the Mill Ensemble.

He is an enthusiast for all things outdoors and has long held a particular interest in the English narrow canal system, on which he and Christine spend their leisure time.

The Department of Education offers its thanks to John Binns and Peter Teare, who have been acting Headteachers at Castle Rushen High School since September 2008.

Pictured: Andrew Cole