Whitehouse Primary School

Whitehouse Primary School
Address
2 Doagh Road, Newtownabbey, Antrim
Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, BT37 9NZ
United Kingdom
Information
Opened 1938[1]
LEA NEELB

Whitehouse Primary School is a primary school in Newtownabbey. It was destroyed in an arson attack on 18 July 2009.[2][3] After the school was destroyed, all its students were admitted into the Newtownabby High School. On 14 May 2010, the Education Minister Caitríona Ruane approved an amount of £3.6m for rebuilding the school.[4]

In the arson attack, the entire building except the front half was burnt down. The front half included the canteen, the Primary (Grade) 1 Classrooms and the Nursery Unit.

Principal David McConkey wanted the school to be rebuilt, but the Priminister of the school was against this. After the Education Minister Caitríona Ruane decided to shelve the plans for rebuilding the school, McConkey and others led a campaign to get the school rebuilt. The ensuing debate received significant media coverage. The pupils protested with signs saying "We Love Whitehouse" and "We need a school to learn in", "Why No school?", "WPS Betrayed by Ruane" and "New School Now".[5] On 14 May 2010, Education Minister approved the £3.6m for rebuilding the school.[4] In 2011, David McConkey was awarded the MBE for his services to education.[6]

There is also a new logo for the school, which reads "Whitehouse Primary School Learning to live". The old one just said "Whitehouse P.S."

References

Coordinates: 54°39′39″N 5°54′33″W / 54.6607°N 5.9093°W / 54.6607; -5.9093

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