The decision to ’federate’ Laxey and Dhoon primary schools under one head teacher has been hailed a ’master-stroke’ by Garff MHK Daphne Caine.

Under the new arrangement, announced by the Department of Education and Children this week, the two primary schools will share a head teacher and governing body from the start of the new academic year in September.

It will ease concerns of some parents that Dhoon School was under threat due to falling pupil numbers. It was revealed last month only one child had been signed up, so far, for reception in September. There will still be a reception intake at Dhoon, it has been confirmed.

The current Dhoon head Maxim Kelly was recently announced as the new head teacher for Laxey School from September, replacing the retiring Jean Jones. He will now oversee both schools.

Mrs Caine said: ’Taking the opportunity to federate Dhoon and Laxey Primary Schools at this time is a master-stroke by the department.

’It means Dhoon retains a popular and effective head teacher and Laxey gains an experienced and dedicated leader. It’s a win-win solution that will provide benefits for pupils and staff, along with a small financial saving.’

Although the DEC says it has no plans at present to federate other schools, Mrs Caine described the move as a ’positive new strategy that perhaps may be applied in other areas of the island’.

Education Minister Graham Cregeen said: ’Dhoon and Laxey schools have long and successful traditions, impressive results and serve their communities well. This won’t change.

’The schools will retain their buildings, names, uniforms, policies and ethos and pupils and parents will experience little difference in that respect.’

He added: ’It will, in time, lead to a broader curriculum, increased opportunities for innovation, better benchmarking of results across a wider number of pupils, the sharing of resources and training and even stronger governance.

’While at present the schools have catchment areas, there may, in future, be flexibility over which school children attend.’

The department has no current plans to federate other schools but may consider it in other areas ’if appropriate’, Mr Cregeen said.

Dhoon School has 83 pupils on the register and Laxey 205. A DEC spokesman confirmed it did not plan to divide the federated schools along the lines of infants (reception to year two) on one site and juniors (years three-six) on the other.

Martyn Perkins, the other Garff MHK, also welcomed the move and paid tribute to retiring Laxey School head Jean Jones.

’She has left the school in a good place,’ he said.