Castle Rushen High School replacement could be open in 2029

The new high school is expected to take 30 months to build

The replacement of a high school in the south of the Isle of Man will not open until March 2029, the education minister has confirmed.

Julie Edge has outlined a draft timeline for the project, which originally had funds set aside for designs in 2018.

But she said key milestones could change when a design team was in place.

A 2021 report found Castle Rushen High School, built in 1961, was a "below par" environment for students.

In August 2023 the Treasury committed a further £3.3m for design work for the project.

The draft timeline sees work set to commence in February 2024 on the designs, and continue for about two years, with architects and engineers appointed in the early stages of the scheme.

Those designs would then be brought to Tynwald in February 2026 for approval.

If the project was then signed off, two-and-a-half years of construction work would begin in November that year, following a tender process.

Sustainable school

Under the plans, the Department of Infrastructure's project delivery team would also provide project management support to the education department.

The timeline for the project was revealed after Ms Edge committed to circulate plans for the rebuild at a sitting of the House of Keys last month.

The education minister told MHKs the design team would put together a project team, which would include UK educational advisors with experience of building sustainable schools.

The department did "not want to build something at Castle Rushen that is not going to be fit for purpose for the next 50-odd years", she said.

The design team would also put together a design report, which would include an estimated cost for the rebuild, she added.

Previously, the minister said £44m had been budgeted for the project.

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