St Ninian’s Lower School’s new site at Bemahague ‘has exceeded all expectations’.
That’s according to St Ninian’s deputy head teacher Rob Cowley, speaking to the Manx Independent as the end of its first year in operation approaches.
‘It’s been a great start to the long-awaited opening of the lower school site,’ he said.
‘All indications are it’s going to continue to grow successfully.’
He admitted to being very nervous on the first day and wondering whether it would work, when he was stood at the front door with Education Minister Tim Crookall welcoming the arrival of 660 students.
There was great deal of interest in the lower school, which accommodates students in years seven to nine (ages 11 to 14), from the community. Over three weeks, more than 1,500 people – parents, neighbouring residents and old staff – were given a tour of the facilities, which replaced the Park Road site.
‘Since then we have been allowed to settle down and get on with our primary function of education,’ Mr Cowley said.
‘The building has really proved itself. Staff, students and parents all seem to enjoy coming to school. It’s a pleasant place to be.
‘Attendance has improved, overall behaviour has improved.
‘Partly that’s down to the fact the Park Road site was so congested and a little bit claustrophobic. Here there’s space, and when they want to go outside and play, there’s grass.’
He said great credit should be given to the architects, builders, Department of Education and Children and school staff who played a part in shaping the rooms.
And in particular, Trevor Denning, project manager with Dalrymple Associates, who has been involved with the development for a number of years, and is still involved, making sure the building is functioning properly.
Some areas where it was thought there might be problems had turned out not to be the case: ‘I thought the dining room was going to be a headache on a daily basis.’
But other areas where they had expected problems had proved to be the case.
Speaking of the daily traffic congestion when students are dropped off and picked up, he said: ‘I would dearly love the Department of Infrastructure to resequence the traffic lights at Signpost Corner at 8.30am and 3.15pm.’
Meanwhile, the snowfall in March caused difficulties for traffic due to the steepness of the road into the school.
School buses didn’t attempt to enter the site, while some cars that did had to be pushed back up the hill.
Unexpected issues included the level of noise inside the building, which Mr Cowley described as being like ‘a washing machine of noise’.
This was fixed by installing acoustic panels.
Both Mr Cowley and head teacher Andy Fox are delighted the school is being used by the community.
A range of sports organisations make use of its indoor and outdoor sports facilities, Isle of Man College run courses there, and a range of community fairs, meetings, and shows have all taken place.
Mr Cowley said, for him, the best bit of the new site was the relationship being built up with the feeder primary schools, which are all within walking distance.
To help ease the transition from primary school, pupils have been spending time at the lower school, for example, taking part in critical writing workshops, modern foreign language days and history talks with Second World War veteran Hector Duff.
The feeder schools are given a list of free rooms which they can book.
Mr Cowley said there were significant plans for developing the upper school site, but that no work would be carried out until DEC’s island-wide review of sixth form provision was completed.
He said St Ninian’s was always looking for friends of the school to contribute to school life, for example, to help build the community garden.