ProjectFeature SpoonRugby
GREENWOOD
rather old and tatty climbing
frame and some old swings,” but
either way, there was obvious
potential for improvement. “It
HOUSE
wasn’t something we could have
funded ourselves,” admits Susan.
“We are a small school and we
just couldn’t have done it.”
Two meetings later and the
green light was given to fund a
substantial program of
ANDY COX REPORTS ON A
development. Professor
SPECIAL SCHOOL IN ULSTER
Magowan is generous in his
praise. “I was impressed by the
professionalism of everyone at
Greenwood House Assessment education at the end of their stay. the evaluation stage. They were to tell him that the children
Centre is a Special School The remainder are carefully clearly no mugs and asked very hadn’t had a “baldry notion”
situated in delightful grounds in referred to and placed in schools incisive questions. The decision to who he was but his visit did do
East Belfast. It is a school that is that are able to provide an help us with the funding was not wonders for the morale of the
special not only for the children education appropriate to the taken lightly, but it was all dealt staff!”
who go there but also for child’s needs. The school is with in a very friendly way.” The play equipment is still in
everyone associated with it, be subject to the usual inspections A rubberised soft floor meeting daily use today within an
they parents, staff or governors. required under the current Health and Safety requirements enclosed area that is safe and
The school takes 50-55 pupils education regime and the was put in together with a large supervised. It remains hugely
each year, aged 4-6, all of whom inspectors readily acknowledge wooden train with carriages, a popular and regularly swarms
have been, or are in the process that Greenwood sets a gold large playhouse, with steps and a with children. “It’s not unusual to
of being, assessed. The children see half the school in there
have been identified as those during play time or in a lunch
who would benefit from 1-2 break,” says the vice principal. “It
years at the school in the hope really has made a big
that some of them will then be improvement and has been
able to return to mainstream fantastic for the children.”
education. At an early stage, a But the legacy of the project
child’s particular needs are has not been simply to improve
assessed and then a strategy is the lives of the pupils who pass
devised that targets the areas for through Greenwood House,
development. All of this is done although that would be ample
in the family atmosphere of a reward in itself. According to
large house set within its own Allen Gibson, current chairman of
grounds. the region, the experience gained
There is a very good from the initiative endowed the
staff/student ratio – something in committee with the confidence
the order of 10 pupils to 1 to tackle bigger adventures.
teacher and a classroom Ulster’s first project had been
PUTTING
assistant. The school operates on standard in its field. slide built around another smaller undertaken only two years before
the principle that if a child’s Professor Jim Magowan was playhouse. As well as being an at a cost of £2,900. The
speech and learning difficulties chairman of the board of obvious source of fun and refurbishment of the play area in
YOUR BODY
can be identified promptly and governors from 1989 – 2006 and enjoyment, the equipment meets 1999 cost £27,000. This year, the
then improved, this will not only explains that the school was other needs as Susan explains. region has committed £100,000
save the expense of continued funded to a certain level by “A number of the children have towards the construction of a
ON THE LINE
remedial treatment in later years, Belfast Education and Library gross motor difficulties – playing children and family support
but also greatly improve the Board which, in turn, received its on the facility supports their centre for 165 special needs
quality of life for the child funds from the Department of physical development. It also children at Tor Bank Special
FOR SPOON
involved. Education in Northern Ireland. allows them to play together School in Dundonald.
Disadvantage respects neither Beyond that income, the school which encourages the building of And it has not been just
class nor religion and one of the was left to its own devices to social skills.” Greenwood House that has
defining characteristics of the source any additional sums. He The opening and subsequent benefited. “Ever since the
Wooden Spoon Rugby teams are
school is that it has been inter- remembers that the school’s first Seeing is Believing trips have project, Professor Magowan has taking the rugby world by storm
denominational throughout its contact with Wooden Spoon again seen the support and always taken a table at our
playing tournaments in the UK and
existence. Anyone who can came in 1999 through the involvement of the two Honorary dinner,” Allen reveals. “Uniquely,
Europe, building up a great playing
remember the Northern Ireland secretary of the Ulster region, Presidents of the region, Willie he pays for it a year in advance
of even a few years ago will Jimmy Burns. “We were looking John and Dr Jack Kyle. Not that which is a great show of
reputation as well as promoting the
understand just what a significant to improve the play facilities for they are the only distinguished support.” A case of what comes
Charity, raising funds and having
achievement that has been. the children. At the time, all we guests to have graced the facility. around, going around.
fun in the process.
The success of the school in its really had was just a very basic “Tony Blair came to see us a few
work is to be found in the fact patch of grass.” years ago,” recounts the good Ulster Committee members and
that over half of its graduates are The school’s vice principal, Professor. “And it fell to me to
Honorary President, Willie John
McBride on a visit to the School a
able to return to mainstream Susan Sterling, remembers “a write to him subsequently. I had couple of years ago.
22 Spoonews Summer 2007 Spoonews Summer 2007 23
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