Whitehouse Primary School
| Whitehouse Primary School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
2 Doagh Road , , , BT37 9NZ United Kingdom | |
| Information | |
| School type | Primary (Controlled)[1] |
| Motto | Learning to Live |
| Opened | 1938[2] |
Local authority | Education Authority |
Principal | Miss D Blain [3] |
Vice principal | Mr O Dowds[3] |
| Staff | 61 |
Teaching staff | 18 |
| Gender | Mixed[1] |
| Age range | 4-11[1] |
| Enrollment |
|
Average class size | 25-30 |
| Colours | Red, Green and White |
Whitehouse Primary School is a controlled primary school in Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland.[1][5] It was destroyed in an arson attack on 18 July 2009.[6][7] After the school was destroyed, its students were temporarily housed in nearby Newtownabby High School. On 14 May 2010, Education Minister Caitríona Ruane approved an amount of £3.6m for rebuilding the school.[8][9]
The school colours are Red, Green and White. There is also a new logo for the school, which reads "Whitehouse Primary School Learning to live". The old one simply said "Whitehouse P.S."[citation needed] In 2025, 382 were enrolled in the primary school, with another 52 enrolled full-time with the nursery unit.[4]
History
[edit]Arson attack
[edit]The school was the target of an arson attack on 18 July 2009.[6][7] In the attack, the majority building was burned down, with only the Nursery Unit remaining. It was the third school in the Greater Belfast area to have been targeted within a few days. Following the arson attack, pupils were temporarily moved to surplus classrooms at Newtownabbey Community High School.[10]
Rebuilding
[edit]Plans for rebuilding the school were shelved in April 2010 pending a review of capital projects by the government. After Ruane decided to shelve the plans for rebuilding the school, McConkey and others led a campaign to get the school rebuilt.[9][11] On 14 May 2010, the Education Minister approved £3.6m for rebuilding the school.[8] In June 2011, McConkey was mentioned and awarded an MBE in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours for his services to education in Northern Ireland.[12][13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Whitehouse PS [Newtownabbey]". Education Authority. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "Whitehouse Primary School – History". Retrieved 30 June 2012.
- ^ a b "Staff". Whitehouse PS. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
- ^ a b Report of a Primary Inspection: Whitehouse Primary School and Nursery Unit (PDF) (Report). Education and Training Inspectorate. June 2025. p. 1. DE Ref No 301-0827. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ Nicholas Scott, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (29 January 1985). "Primary Schools". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 72. Parliament of the United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 136–137.
- ^ a b "Protest as Newtownabbey school rebuild shelved". UTV. 21 April 2010. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
- ^ a b "Primary school fire 'was arson'". BBC News. 18 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ a b Torney, Kathryn (15 May 2010). "Victory for pupils as arson-hit primary to be rebuilt". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ a b Madden, Anne (2 September 2011). "School's back ... two years after arsonists struck". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "New site for 'burned out' school". BBC News. 20 July 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "Whitehouse protesters demand 'new school now'". Newtownabbey Times. 28 April 2010. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ Rutherford, Adrian; McKinley, Ursula; Madden, Anne. "Ulster's honours list led by academic and coachworks founder". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
Samuel David McConkey - Principal, Whitehouse Primary School. For services to Education in Northern Ireland. (Newtownabbey, Co Antrim)
- ^ "Queen's honours for Newtownabbey trio". Newtownabbey Times. 16 June 2011. Archived from the original on 5 January 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2025.