The Department of Education and Children is pleased to announce that Tracy Willoughby has been appointed headteacher of St John’s Primary School with effect from September.
 
Mrs Willoughby currently heads Kewaigue Primary School.
 
She will replace Nigel Bennett, the Island’s longest serving primary headteacher, who has led the school since 1991 and who is retiring after 37 years in education – see here.
 
Mrs Willoughby was born in the Isle of Man and was educated at Murray’s Road School, Ballakermeen and St Ninian’s High School. After graduating from Sheffield City Polytechnic with a degree in geography, she completed a Post Graduate Certificate in Education at Hull University.
 
Mrs Willoughby taught on The Wirral for three years before returning to the Island in 1989. She has taught at Manor Park, Rushen and Cronk-y-Berry primaries and, in 2001, became deputy headteacher at Marown Primary. In April 2010 she moved to Kewaigue as the headteacher.
 
‘I am delighted to be taking over the headship at St John’s School and I am looking forward to getting to know the staff, parents and children,’ Mrs Willoughby said. ‘I will, of course, miss Kewaigue School tremendously as I’ve had four very happy years with the staff and children. It has been a pleasure to be associated with such a great school.’
 
Mrs Willoughby is married to Andrew and has three children – one at primary school, one at Queen Elizabeth II High School and one at university. In her spare time she is a keen reader, enjoys theatre and cinema visits and is a member of Marown Youth and Community Players.
 
St John’s Primary School has 187 pupils on the register.
 
The headship of Kewaigue School will be advertised shortly.