An East Belfast MLA has called for the creation of a new special education school in order to help the wellbeing and education of over 1,000 students.
DUP MLA Robin Newton has said that East Belfast has a list of potential locations for a state-of-the-art special school, saying the former Orangefield High School grounds would be an ideal and accessible spot.
He said that while he welcomed that the former Castle High School has again been brought back as a facility for special education, with work yet to start he feels that there are opportunities to set up a campus elsewhere.
He said: "As per the desired outcome of the Children and Young People’s strategy, the construction of a special educational school within East Belfast will ensure the children receive 'an improvement on their wellbeing so they can achieve positive, long-lasting outcomes'.
"The construction of a special education school within East Belfast can provide placement for the growing number of students (1,200) over the past 5 years. The result of which would greatly reduce the stress encumbered by both children and parents.
"East Belfast has potential locations alongside a growing need for the construction of a state-of-the-art special educational school.
"The former Orangefield High School grounds within East Belfast offer an accessible location together with sufficient grounds for the recreation of students, providing a benefit to each child’s physical and mental wellbeing.
"The construction of a new facility on these grounds will allow a building to be designed specifically for the purpose of providing these children with all the necessary long-term educational, recreational opportunities required to receive the highest quality of education."
For the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter here.
