Major changes are planned to the way the island’s Manx language school is run.

Parents of students at the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh are being consulted on proposals that mean it will no longer be operated by the charity Mooinjer Veggey on behalf of the education department.

Instead, it will be brought more under the direct control of the Department of Education, Sport and Culture.

Its staff will be employed by the DESC rather than Mooinjer Veggey, and the school will be able to access all the other department services, such as special educational needs provision.

Parents will see very little difference with the day-to-day operation of the school remaining largely unchanged.

Mooinjer Veggey will still play a significant part in the life of the school, by promoting Manx language and culture, developing new learning resources, staff training, parental support and continued involvement with the school’s governing body of the school.

Mooinjer Veggey director Phil Gawne said: ’We’ve been negotiating with the department for around 18 months now over a range of options and ideas to cement the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh’s position as a centre of excellence and we have agreed that this is the best option.

’This new relationship gives the school the department’s stamp of approval by bringing it under its more direct control.

’The change will have little direct impact on the children’s education and frees up Mooinjer Veggey to provide greater support to parents.’

Under the existing arrangement, Mooinjer Veggey receives a grant for providing the school which covers its costs. The new arrangement makes it easier for the school to access some of the DESC’s general support such as special educational needs.

The DESC is expected to issue a public notice of the proposal this week, allowing three months for any objections to be lodged. After the three months, the department will lay an order before Tynwald for the change to take place from September 1.