Whitehouse protesters demand 'new school now'

Construction of a new school to replace the one destroyed in an arson attack last summer had been expected to get under way several months ago. However, earlier this month the Times revealed that the Department of Education has put the project on hold while a review of all its capital projects across Northern Ireland is carried out.

A group of around 300 people, including staff, parents and pupils, turned up at the former school site on the Doagh Road on Wednesday afternoon (April 21) carrying placards calling on the Education Minister to sign off on the rebuilding project as a matter of urgency.

Children held banners carrying slogans such as 'Why No school?', 'WPS Betrayed by Ruane' and 'New School Now'.

Two of the organisers of the protest, PTA members Jill Hamilton and Kerri Wright, said that the turnout from parents, staff and the local community had been "fantastic."

Read the full story, and the Minister's response, in this week's Times...