Douglas primary schools to merge

Ballacloan and Fairfield schools are to merge ahead of the new academic year in September.

It marks the final stage of the government’s restructuring of primary schools which started last year.

The current head of Fairfield, Ian Walmsley, will head the new combined school that has not yet been named.

It’s hoped the school will move to new buildings the Department of Education is planning to create at the old Noble’s Hospital site.

The news follows the combining of Murray’s Road and Ballaqualye schools, and Auldyn and Scoill Ree Gorree from this September.