Education Minister has officially opened the new
Deanby Centre Special School in Belfast.
The school was established in September 2024 on the site of the
former Our Lady's Primary School in North Belfast. During July
and August 2024, a total of nine classrooms were refurbished at a
cost of nearly £1million to accommodate 72 pupils with severe
learning difficulties ranging in age from nursery to Key Stage
2.
Speaking at the official opening of the new facilities, Education
Minister said: “It was great to
be able to be here today to see what has been achieved in a
relatively short period of time. It could have only been
accomplished as a result of the clear vision, leadership
and dynamic thinking of all involved.
“The challenges in providing sufficient and appropriate
special education provision are well recognised.
To be able to re-purpose a recently vacated school
premises and so swifty into a special school has
essentially provided a road map for the future.”
The Minister continued: “I would like to commend the work
of all those involved to ensure the Centre was in a position to
open in September and the Diocese of Down and
Conor for making the premises available for the
school. I have very much
enjoyed seeing the pupils and staff in action and I wish you
every success for the future.”
The Education Authority undertook a programme of works to
refurbish nine classrooms, corridors and create sensory, therapy
and hygiene rooms along with external safeguarding works to
repurpose the former mainstream school building to meet the
requirements of Special Educational Needs pupils.
EA Chief Executive Richard Pengelly said: “I am delighted to be
here to see the children thriving in their new school. This is a
testament to the commitment of my colleagues across EA to
ensuring that the needs of all children and young people with
Special Educational Needs are met.
“I would like to record my sincere thanks to Education Minister
, and his officials within DE,
for their unwavering support in continuing to adapt the education
estate to meet the changing needs of pupils. As we can see today,
this enables EA to seek to ensure that, across both Special and
Mainstream Schools, every child is supported to reach their full
potential.”
