Education
£90,000 Spent but Still no Firm Plans
The school was once tipped to open in 2024
There have been three feasibility/masterplan studies carried out on the proposed new Castle Rushen High School development.
Despite former minister Graham Cregeen said in 2018 that the school should be ready by 2024, movement has been incredibly slow since then, with Julie Edge inheriting the fiasco in 2021.
Following a question by Juan Watterson SHK (Rushen) into how many studies have been carried out and how much they cost, Education Minister Julie Edge revealed that the department has spent over £90,000 on plans so far.
These included a 2019 strategic brief, which cost £62,495 and a feasibility study in 2021, which cost £34,595.
Ms Edge said: ‘The department is not currently in a position to publish the cost of producing the Masterplan Report for 2023. This information is commercially sensitive and therefore confidential at this time whilst it is still being used to formulate a live policy decision.
‘The strategic approach for Castle Rushen High School is currently being finalised and once the necessary approvals have been received the department will be in a position to provide a further update which is anticipated to be in the coming weeks.’
She added: ‘No feasibility studies will be published until final costings and plans are agreed and approved.’
