Funding of £30m sought for new school

Thu, 02 Jul 2009

Education Minister Anne Craine

The Department of Education will seek Tynwald approval to borrow £30m to begin work on building a new secondary school in Onchan.

The facility at Bemahague will replace St Ninian's Lower School at Park Road, and take in year nine pupils, who are currently educated at the Upper School.

It would have capacity for 800 students, with room for future expansion.

If approval is granted at this month's sitting, the school will open in September 2012.

However, the all-weather pitch and tennis courts on the site will be ready for use by school and community groups by spring 2011.

Park Road was built around 111 years ago and is no longer seen as fit for purpose.