Latest news with #RichardPengelly
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Van Morrison's former primary to become a special school
Sir Van Morrison's former primary school in east Belfast is set to become a special school campus. Elmgrove school on the Beersbridge Road closed in 2024, with pupils and staff moving to a new building nearby. The Beersbridge Road site is right beside "the hollow", made famous in Sir Van's song Brown Eyed Girl. The former Elmgrove school building is now set to house pupils from Greenwood House special school in east Belfast from September 2026. Greenwood House has announced plans to expand its pupil numbers by using Elmgrove as a dual campus alongside its existing site close to the Newtownards Road. The Education Authority (EA) has said the school's move "will help the overall position" on school places. Greenwood House currently has about 70 pupils aged between three and six, but its expansion proposal means the school plans to take pupils up to Primary 7. It would mean, in the first instance, that a number of current P2 pupils could continue in Greenwood House rather than having to move school. The school's proposal will help to provide more special school places for children in Belfast. The Chief Executive of the EA, Richard Pengelly, recently called the shortfall of school places for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) a "crisis". Belfast was identified as one of the areas where there was a particular pressure on school places. Mr Pengelly said that some mainstream schools could be instructed to enrol more SEN pupils. The chair of Greenwood House's governors Gary Forbes said the special school's move would help parents and pupils. "This will mean that we can offer a place to children up to Primary 7, which gives parents a degree of comfort and assurance about their children's education and development," he told BBC News NI. "It'll really help families, and we're also looking forward to expanding to use the old Elmgrove site." "We want to thank officials from the Education Authority for their support," he added. "The Board of Governors also want to pay tribute to our principal, Lorriane Thompson, and wonderful staff for all their hard work and dedication." In a statement to BBC News NI, a spokesperson for the EA said: "As part of ongoing efforts to increase capacity across the school estate, EA has been working closely with Greenwood House to expand its provision from age 3 to age 11 from September 2026, utilising the old Elmgrove site which will be refurbished as part of the plans." "The transition process will start this year and will help the overall position," they continued. As well as Sir Van Morrison, other former pupils of Elmgrove Primary include the late Northern Ireland footballer and manager Billy Bingham and unionist politician David Ervine. Meanwhile, the EA has confirmed plans to create a new special school at the site of the former Orangefield High School in Belfast. BBC News NI understands that could mean a number of existing special schools being relocated to the site of the former high school in east Belfast. The first integrated Irish language primary school in east Belfast, Naíscoil na Seolta, has previously said it is also interested in a long-term move to the Orangefield site.
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Van Morrison's former primary to become a special school
Sir Van Morrison's former primary school in east Belfast is set to become a special school school on the Beersbridge Road closed in 2024, with pupils and staff moving to a new building Beersbridge Road site is right beside "the hollow", made famous in Sir Van's song Brown Eyed former Elmgrove school building is now set to house pupils from Greenwood House special school in east Belfast from September 2026. Greenwood House has announced plans to expand its pupil numbers by using Elmgrove as a dual campus alongside its existing site close to the Newtownards Education Authority (EA) has said the school's move "will help the overall position" on school House currently has about 70 pupils aged between three and six, but its expansion proposal means the school plans to take pupils up to Primary would mean, in the first instance, that a number of current P2 pupils could continue in Greenwood House rather than having to move school's proposal will help to provide more special school places for children in Belfast. The Chief Executive of the EA, Richard Pengelly, recently called the shortfall of school places for children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) a "crisis".Belfast was identified as one of the areas where there was a particular pressure on school places. Mr Pengelly said that some mainstream schools could be instructed to enrol more SEN pupils. The chair of Greenwood House's governors Gary Forbes said the special school's move would help parents and pupils."This will mean that we can offer a place to children up to Primary 7, which gives parents a degree of comfort and assurance about their children's education and development," he told BBC News NI."It'll really help families, and we're also looking forward to expanding to use the old Elmgrove site.""We want to thank officials from the Education Authority for their support," he added."The Board of Governors also want to pay tribute to our principal, Lorriane Thompson, and wonderful staff for all their hard work and dedication." In a statement to BBC News NI, a spokesperson for the EA said: "As part of ongoing efforts to increase capacity across the school estate, EA has been working closely with Greenwood House to expand its provision from age 3 to age 11 from September 2026, utilising the old Elmgrove site which will be refurbished as part of the plans.""The transition process will start this year and will help the overall position," they well as Sir Van Morrison, other former pupils of Elmgrove Primary include the late Northern Ireland footballer and manager Billy Bingham and unionist politician David the EA has confirmed plans to create a new special school at the site of the former Orangefield High School in News NI understands that could mean a number of existing special schools being relocated to the site of the former high school in east first integrated Irish language primary school in east Belfast, Naíscoil na Seolta, has previously said it is also interested in a long-term move to the Orangefield site.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
SEN education: Some schools may be formally instructed to enrol SEN pupils
The Education Authority is considering an unprecedented move to instruct some schools to enrol special educational needs (SEN) children. Chief Executive Richard Pengelly said the shortfall of SEN places for September 2025 constitutes a "crisis". In a letter to principals, seen by the BBC, Mr Pengelly said he estimates 164 children will not have a place in school in Pengelly said 27 specialist provision classes would need to be created to deal with the enrolment crisis. He said this is an unacceptable position for those children and their parents or carers, and has asked the Department of Education to consider a process to formally instruct specific schools with available capacity to establish provisions. The EA identified 58 schools in locations facing pressure for schools spaces that would be able to enrol SEN pupils. The Education Minister and the EA wrote to these schools requesting support. "Despite numerous engagements by EA colleagues, and the Minister taking the unusual step of writing directly requesting their support, unfortunately only one school has responded with a firm offer to progress work for September 2025," Mr Pengelly EA Chief Executive has appealed again for more schools to come forward, stating the EA "fully acknowledge the pressures schools are facing" but in order to deal with the lack of spaces for SEN children before September 2025, he "urgently appeal to those schools to whom we have written to work collaboratively with us". He went on to say that the EA and the department "cannot afford to fail" and "we must continue to strive ensure that every child receives the high-quality education and support they deserve".
Belfast Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Potential conflict of interest' after education chief is asked if ‘happy' with FoI response related to himself
An expert on Freedom of Information law has said it is a 'potential conflict of interest' for Education Authority chief executive Richard Pengelly to be involved in decision-making about the release of material relating to himself.
