Whitehouse Primary School
Encyclopedia
The Whitehouse Primary School is a primary school in Newtownabbey
. It was destroyed in an arson
attack on 18 July 2009. 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.
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 rebuit, 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". On 14 May 2010, Education Minister approved the £3.6m for rebuilding the school. In 2011, David McConkey was awarded the MBE for his services to education.
As of June 2011, the process of rebuilding the school is progressing slowly, with just a few timber boards to support the school building from collapsing. There is also a brand new logo for the school, which reads "WhiteHouse Primary School Learning to live". The old one just said "WhiteHouse P.S."
Newtownabbey
Newtownabbey is a large town north of Belfast in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Sometimes considered to be a suburb of Belfast, it is separated from the rest of the city by Cavehill and Fortwilliam golf course...
. It was destroyed in an arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
attack on 18 July 2009. 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.
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 rebuit, 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". On 14 May 2010, Education Minister approved the £3.6m for rebuilding the school. In 2011, David McConkey was awarded the MBE for his services to education.
As of June 2011, the process of rebuilding the school is progressing slowly, with just a few timber boards to support the school building from collapsing. There is also a brand new logo for the school, which reads "WhiteHouse Primary School Learning to live". The old one just said "WhiteHouse P.S."