Education
Appointment is Not About Cost Cutting
The appointment had been questioned by the school’s local MHK
Education Minister Julie Edge has thrown her support behind Willaston’s new headteacher and insisted appointing an executive head is not about cost cutting.
Max Kelly has added to his portfolio as executive headteacher, adding Willaston to his current roles at Laxey and Dhoon schools.
Mr Kelly’s appointment was queried by Douglas North MHK John Wannenburgh, who said he was concerned over the direction the DESC was taking. This comes after Mr Wannenbugh and his constituency colleague David Ashford raised concerns that Willaston has been neglected by the department.
The MHK said: ‘I look forward to hearing the rationale behind this decision – but – I cannot hide behind political compromise, and if this is a simple cost cutting exercise that is expected to be borne by these children, that is unjust, and I will have to resist in any and all ways that I can.’
However, speaking to Gef, Ms Edge denied the move is about saving money and said that any budget not spent would be retained by the school.
She said: ‘That is put back into the school budget for the headteacher to ensure that he utilises that in a way to help support the leadership of that school.
‘It is not new, we already have this working with Manor Park and Anagh Coar, we’ve got a headteacher who works between the two there, the same in Ramsey and Sulby and of course Max has already been successful in his role at Laxey and Dhoon.’
Ms Edge also rejected the claim of Mr Wannenbugh and Mr Ashford that Willaston is not given the same priority as other schools, saying: ‘It is my old school, I have very happy memories of the school and I am very aware of the school and some of the concerns the local MHKs have brought up in regards of buildings etc, but the headteacher will be able to strengthen and help to support that and collaboration and support between the schools I think will provide a new opportunity for the schools.’
