St Ambrose College in Hale Barns has appointed a sports fan, choral singer and pilgrim as its new Vice Principal.
Irishman Dermot Rainey will be the new second in command at the top Catholic grammar school in Hale Barns, which produced its best ever A level results this summer.
The 37-year-old father of two was educated at St Columb’s College in Derry City, before going up to St Mary’s University College Belfast to study a B.Ed in Religious Studies and History.
He crossed the water to England 15 years ago, teaching RE and History at All Saints in Dukinfield over two stints starting as an NQT and finishing as Assistant Headteacher, with further roles as Head of RE, Chaplain and Director of Sixth Form.
From September 2005 to June 2006 he taught in Rice College in Westport, County Mayo and after leaving All Saints in 2015 he spent two years at Cardinal Langley RC High School in Middleton as Assistant Headteacher.
Dermot said: “St Ambrose has an international reputation for excellence. I was aware of the history and uniqueness of Edmund Rice schools from my time in Mayo. Having led the All Saints pilgrimage to Lourdes on eight occasions and attended numerous Heads of RE conferences in the Shrewsbury Diocese I was well aware of the school and its dedication to educating the whole person.”
Passionate about golf, cricket and football, Dermot supports his home town team of Derry City as well as Oldham Athletic and follows Middlesex. He still sings in a chamber choir in Derry called Codetta having been a chorister at St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry from the age of six. He has also been a member of a few Manchester-based choirs as well since arriving on these shores including most notably The Halle.
St Ambrose College Principal James Keulemans said: “We are delighted to welcome Dermot to our senior management team and know his enthusiasm and expertise will add much to the boys’ lives.”
