Whitehouse Primary School
| Whitehouse Primary School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
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 |
| Language | English |
| Colour(s) | Red, Green and White |
| Website | School website |
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." In 2025, 382 were enrolled in the primary school, with another 52 enrolled full-time with the nursery unit.[4]
History
Arson attack
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
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
- ^ a b c d "Whitehouse PS [Newtownabbey]". Education Authority. 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 - Princpal, 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.