Elmgrove Primary School
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| Elmgrove Primary School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
Avoniel Road , , BT5 4SF Northern Ireland | |
| Information | |
| School type | Primary |
| Motto | Have the courage to do what you know is right |
| Established | 9 January 1933 |
| Status | Open |
| Local authority | Education Authority |
| Principal | Mrs Jayne Jeffers BEd(Hons) PQH(NI) |
| Years offered | 8 |
| Gender | Co-Educational |
| Age | 3 to 11 |
| Houses | Bingham Jones Morrison Ervine |
| Colour | |
| Website | elmgroveprimary |
Elmgrove Primary School (Sometimes referred to as simply Elmgrove and originally known as Elmgrove Elementary School) is a state-controlled Primary School situated in East Belfast, Northern Ireland. It opened on 9 January 1933 as Elmgrove Elementary School.[1][2][3][4][5]
The original Elmgrove building at Beersbridge Road closed in November 2024. A new building at the former Avoniel site will be home to Elmgrove from December 2024.
Elmgrove opened in 1932/1933 as Elmgrove Elementary School. Pupils from nearby schools were all moved into Elmgrove. Several famous/well-known people from Belfast attended the school. In 2008 Peter Robinson visited the school and several P7 pupils got to ask him questions about his childhood and career.[6] In 2009 Henry Winkler (The Fonz) visited the school to talk about reading books and his new book.[7][8][9] During elections, the school is used as a polling station.[10]
In 2008 Elmgrove celebrated its 75th anniversary. Special medals made from Mambco, were given to all the pupils. Special balloons were also present and two students from each year group got a balloon and released it into the air with a note attached saying that, when found, contact the school, to see how far the balloon travelled. The farthest known distance was to Scotland.
Nearby Avoniel Primary closed in 2015 and was merged with Elmgrove. With the school building still used to teach students in.
The school introduced a house system named after four past pupils of the school, Bingham, Morrison, Jones and Ervine.
The original Elmgrove at Beersbridge closed in November 2024, after a final tour for past pupils and staff to see the building one last time. A new site was built on the former Avoniel Primary School site, with Elmgrove at Avoniel due to open in December 2024.
Principals
- John Sullivan 1932–1948[11]
- Arthur Clemitson 1948–1972[12]
- Dr Jim Hunter 1972-1995/1996[13]
- Frazer Thompson 1995/1996-2000[14]
- David Hutchinson 2000–2011 (his death, 11 August 2011)[15][16][17][18]
- Andrea Brown 2011–2013 (Acting)
- Jayne Jeffers April 2013–present
- Pauline Russell April 2024-November 2024 (Acting)
