Northern Ireland Education Minister, Paul Givan, has officially opened the new Deanby Centre Special School in Belfast.

The development of the school was completed 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 £1m 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, Givan 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 and to be able to repurpose a recently-vacated school premises, and so swifty, into a special school, has essentially provided a road map for the future.”

The Education Authority (EA) undertook a programme of works to refurbish nine classrooms and 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 to ensuring that the needs of all children and young people with Special Educational Needs are met.”