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Van Morrison's former primary to become a special school

Robbie Meredith
BBC News NI Arts & Education correspondent
BBC Picture is taken from behind a white gate. Behind the gate is a red sign which says 'Elmgrove Primary School', to the right of the sign is a green tree. Behind the sign is a red brick building with white window panes. BBC
Elmgrove school on the Beersbridge Road closed in 2024, with pupils and staff moving to a new building nearby

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.

Rusted green and white railings have a laminated piece of paper attached. The piece of paper says 'Elmgrove Primary School, New School Site, Avoniel Road, Belfast BT5 4SF

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.

Getty Images A black and white image of a long haired man playing the guitar. The image is taken to depict his side profile. He has headphones on and there is a microphone in front of him. Getty Images
Van Morrison recording at Wally Heider Recording Studio on September 28, 1971 in San Francisco, California

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.

Gary Forbes A man with grey hair, wearing a green jacket and black polo shirt underneath is stood at what seems to be a bar or restaurant. He is smiling and looking directly at the cameraGary Forbes
Gary Forbes said the move will "really help families"

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."

A tall beige upright sign which has the words 'The Hollow' at the top. There are small images of Van Morrison, one from the cover of his album Astral Weeks, and the other taken from a live performance. Behind the sign are lush green trees.
The Beersbridge Road site is right beside 'the hollow,' made famous in Sir Van's song 'Brown Eyed Girl'

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.