A veteran British educator has been named as the next Principal for St. Ignatius Catholic School.
Martin Nugent is set to arrive in the Cayman Islands in mid-March and take up the leadership post at the private school after following mandatory COVID-19 quarantine protocols, according to a letter sent by Parish Administrator Naveen D’Souza.
Issues with school leadership and governance compelled Office of Education Standards inspectors to assess St. Ignatius as ‘Satisfactory’ in December despite the school receiving ‘Good’ or ‘Excellent’ marks in almost all other areas of assessment.
In the report, inspectors noted the resignation of the Head of School, the replacement of the School Advisory Board with a more-limited School Advisory Committee, and concerns raised publicly by parents and teachers. (The Cayman Current has reported extensively on these topics.)
According to the new letter from D’Souza, who is the priest in charge of the St. Ignatius parish and school, Nugent was selected from a pool of 25 candidates and has the support of the School Advisory Committee.
Nugent has 30 years of experience in education, including at Catholic schools, in the UK and overseas.
*Disclosure: Cayman Current editor Patrick Brendel has three children attending St. Ignatius Catholic School.*
Citing ‘Weak’ leadership, inspectors give St. Ignatius a ‘Satisfactory’ rating