It will be a wrench for Andy Fox when he retires as head of St Ninian’s school in August.

He’s worked at the school for 32 years - well over half his life - starting out as a history teacher before becoming deputy head then head in 2009.

In fact the family association with the school goes back even further because his Manx wife, Jan, also a teacher, was actually a pupil at the school.

But as the school approaches its 90th anniversary in September, he doesn’t expect to sever his links with it entirely.

’We have a group called the Friends of St Ninian’s School, of which I am a founder member, and they will be organising some events to mark the 90th anniversary of this main building. I’m hoping I’ll be welcome to have a part in that. I can’t really see myself ever not being involved with St Ninian’s in some shape or form,’ he said.

’But of course it’s important to take a step back so the new team in charge don’t feel I’m looking over their shoulders.’

The new head, Chris Coole, was assistant head at St Ninian’s before leaving in 2015 to take up a new post as deputy head at Ballakermeen. He officially takes up his new post at St Ninian’s on September 1.

’He’s returning to the fold,’ Mr Fox said.

But back in 1985, when the Fox family moved to the Isle of Man, they could just as easily have ended up in North Wales.

’We were living in a flat in Birkenhead and I was teaching at Deeside High School in North Wales. We decided we should move to one of the family bases. For my wife, that was the Isle of Man, but for me it would have been Colwyn Bay,’ he said.

’Then I got the position at St Ninian’s, which at the time was The Douglas High School. About the same time, they set up two schools - one of them was St Ninian’s and the other Ballakermeen.’

The school has seen major changes over the past 32 years. The old Park Road lower school site was abandoned and subsequently demolished, replaced by a new purpose-built Bemahague lower school, near Onchan.

’That’s a major difference,’ he said.

’For example there’s a multi media projector in every classroom. I remember the days when we had just 14 computers in the entire school - and we thought that was special. It’s a different world now, with all the technology that the students have at their fingertips.’

While teaching itself hasn’t changed much as a profession, he praised the expertise of new teachers starting their careers.

’I think some of our young teachers now are far more understanding of the learning process than perhaps they were 20 to 30 years ago. What they are learning on teaching courses now is very good. Certainly the young teachers we have taken on have been very impressive.’

As for the pupils, he doesn’t accept the commonly voiced view that behaviour is on a downward spiral.

’Behaviour is no worse in my opinion than it was 30 or 40 years ago. My view is that in every stage of life, there will be young people who make mistakes and our role is to make them realise that: that’s no different from when I became a head of year in 1986.

’What you have to remember is if a child misbehaves, it’s not usually personal. We do have their best interests at heart, but they might only see that much later when they are 25, 35 or even 45.

’In recent years, society has changed so there are issues we deal with now that we didn’t have to deal with in the past, for example the impact of social media and instant access to information,’ he said.

What in the past might have been an incident between two people can now be escalated through social media.

’If people are aggrieved, things get put up on social media. It’s a complex issue with no simple answer,’ he said.

Parents, too, have changed over the years he said.

’People know their rights more now and that’s a good thing because public servants have to be accountable - but of course you should never be abused for doing your job. The vast majority of students and parents are lovely, supportive and helpful.’

The most positive aspect of his 32 years at the school is trying to ensure every child benefits from their school experience.

’Every child who leaves having had a positive experience is a highlight for me. It could be the child who gets into Oxford, but equally, it could be the child who came to us with seemingly little potential but then became a useful and rounded member of society.

’It’s not just about exam results. Every year is a good year because every year children surprise you with what they have achieved and what they are going to do.

’There’s no better job in the world than working with young people in education. If we, as teachers, can make a difference in a positive way, I can’t think of many better jobs to be involved in.

’If a child is not doing well, you persevere and persevere and that’s our big weapon.’

He’s keen to emphasise the great achievements of his pupils, not just academically but socially in the wider community as well. Pupils are involved in a range of extra-curricular activities including charitable work, helping with the Live at Home schemes.

’So many people write and tell me how polite and positive and helpful our children are and that needs to be emphasised: it’s just too easy to be negative.’

Mr Fox said his wife was also retiring but they were not expecting to be idle during their new-found free time.

’We have grandchildren in the UK who we will be visiting. We want to make the most of that while we are still young enough and fit enough to enjoy them, so that’s a big part of the decision.

’We will be able to spend a bit more time together rather than being ships that pass in the night,’ he said.

He’s going to continue his involvement with sport and athletics coaching and perhaps do some other voluntary work.

’It’s very similar to what I’m doing now: working with young (and older) people and helping them to get better,’ he said.

’It won’t really be retirement, but simply doing something a bit different.’

They have no plans to move away from the Isle of Man: ’The island has been good to me and a great place to work and bring up my family. There’s a lot to love about the Isle of Man,’ he said.

’It might have its issues, but that’s no different from other place. We have something very special here to be nurtured, looked after and celebrated. There’s a lot that’s pretty good here and we must never forget that.’