The headteacher of Castle Rushen High School is to retire at the end of August.
Andrew Cole, who will be 60 this year, has led the 840-student secondary school for five years.
He has worked for the Department of Education and Children for 15 years and, before his appointment to the southern secondary school, was a member of the leadership team at Ramsey Grammar School, including seven years as deputy headteacher.
Mr Cole has worked in education for 38 years. For 12 years he taught science at a large comprehensive school in South Yorkshire, ending this period as head of biology. He then trained in careers education and guidance with a view to making a positive impact in an area where there was almost 50% unemployment following the 1984 miners’ strike.
As well as continuing to teach science, he served as head of guidance for the next nine years and was motivated by seeing positive results for both students and colleagues who were determined to succeed against all odds.
This aspect of learning has continued to drive his efforts ever since and he is always delighted to see someone move successfully forward to their next phase of life.
As a result, he has also worked closely with education partnerships, work-related learning providers and the National College for School Leadership. Recently, he has been a member of the Employability Working Group that is heading the Isle of Man Government’s effort to further support students to make the school/work transition.
At Castle Rushen High School, Mr Cole was challenged with defending traditional high standards and maintaining community values while achieving a more workable, affordable and effective curriculum, along with developing the right staffing structure.
He said:
‘There is never a good time to leave the teaching profession because you cannot see all students through to the end of their time at school, but this is as good a time as any. I have always thoroughly enjoyed my job, so I will be sad to leave but I have achieved my main objectives for the school and I have other aspirations for the next stage of my life.
‘We are fortunate to have a school with an outstanding group of teaching and non-teaching staff who are loyal to their students and their community. Parental and student feedback is overwhelmingly positive and student achievement continues to be very good. We were especially pleased with our excellent GCSE results for English and maths last summer. We continue to enjoy extremely high levels of cross-age community support and excellent music and sporting involvements.
‘I am impressed by both the high standards of behaviour and learning and teaching and by the core intent of staff to always support the wellbeing and progress of our young people. I believe that we have reason to be proud of the work that has been done during the past few years, including that of my predecessors in leadership, teaching and support areas.’
Mr Cole and his wife Christine live in Ballaugh. They have two children, a daughter studying medicine at Bristol University and a son who works in Surrey after completing his Masters in quaternary science at Royal Holloway University.
Mr Cole has a long wish list for his retirement and his new, more relaxed, timetable will ‘almost certainly include voluntary work here at home, plenty of practical activities, good music-making and further exploration of the English canal system’.
Martin Barrow, Director of Education, said:
‘Mr Cole’s leadership over the last five years has provided Castle Rushen High School with a clear vision and sense of purpose. He is passionate about education and about its powerful role in supporting young people to achieve their aspirations and, under his leadership, the school has continued to strive for improvement so that it is able to offer the young people of the south of the Island the best secondary education possible.
‘Mr Cole will be greatly missed by everyone at the school as well as by the wider education community and I am sure everyone who knows him would want to join with the Department in wishing him a long, healthy and happy retirement.’
The post will be advertised shortly.
