St Ninian's High School, Douglas

The Lower School opened in 2012 and is located at Bemahague in Onchan. The lower school caters for years seven to nine. Previously the lower school was located in Park Road, Central Douglas (opened in 1894) and catered for students in years seven and eight with year nine students being taught at the upper school until 2012. The Upper School, originally known as Douglas High School for Boys, was built in 1927 at Ballaquayle.[1] It was officially renamed to St Ninian's High School in 1985.[2] Alumni of the high school formed the football club Douglas High School Old Boys A.F.C. in 1926. The Upper School is based on the older students in years ten to eleven; as well as containing the school's Sixth Form centre. St Ninian's High School was formed in the early eighties after a review took place of secondary education in Douglas. The reasons for the construction of the new school in Onchan were because the Park Road site was falling into disrepair and space for further expansion was limited. The upper school had also become crowded and had several mobile classrooms which forced the construction of a new school which could take Park Road's former students as well as one year group from the upper school.

The Upper School campus has received many renovations over its period of existence. It is now much larger than the original construction of the 1920s. Most recently a new Sixth form Centre was built in 2000. Named the Barbra Cottier Centre, it formed a purpose built centre for Sixth Form studies. In 2006 a new dining area and Special Needs centre was built on the site of a central courtyard. Finally providing the school with a purpose built area for the Learning Support Department.

The new lower school in Onchan features several tennis courts, spacious playing fields, modern football pitches and a large gymnasium.

New lower school of St Ninian's High School in Onchan, shortly before the school opened in 2012

One of the benefits of St Ninian's, compared with other secondary schools on the Isle of Man, is said to be that it is set over two sites, thus splitting the student population by age, allowing for an easier and more personal transition into secondary school life.

• Samantha Barks – Actress[3]
• Prof. Martin Bridson, FRS – Whitehead Professor of Pure Mathematics, University of Oxford[4]
• Christine Collister – Award winning folk, blues and jazz singer-songwriter
• Peter Craine - Member of the House of Keys[5]
• Peter Kennaugh – Cyclist and Olympic gold medalist.[6]
• Frank Kermode – literary critic and professor of English literature[7]
• Charles Kerruish – First President of Tynwald
• Nigel Kneale – Best known for the creation of the character Professor Bernard Quatermass[8]

• School website