Work to build a replacement for Castle Rushen High School is not expected to start until the summer of 2021.

Although Tynwald approved the principle of a new school for Castletown - expected to cost at least £30 million - in February, it is not expected to welcome its first pupils until 2024.

Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew) asked for an update on plans for the school in the House of Keys.

Education Minister Graham Cregeen said a review of the strategic briefing would happen in January before talks would be held with Treasury to secure the money.

He added: ’The current target programme for the new school build, subject to early and successful funding agreement, is to appoint the main design team early 2019-20, design, planning, tendering over two years, with the anticipated start on site in summer 2021 and completion and operation from 2024.’

Mr Cregeen said it was hoped to have sports pitches established by 2021.

It is thought the new school will be built on the fields next to the current building, with the sports pitches being put on land behind Witches’ Mill.

The current intake for Castle Rushen High School is about 800, but Mr Cregeen said that up to 700 new houses were projected for Castletown and Malew.

’We have got to be really careful that we do not build the school too small and then we have all these houses,’ he said. ’Likewise we have got to be very careful that we do not anticipate all these houses and they do not come to fruition and we have a school that is too big.’