Ballyholme Primary School

Ballyholme Primary School is a school in the town of Bangor, County Down, a coastal resort on the East Coast of Northern Ireland. The school was founded on 31 August 1953. For over 20 years prior to this, there had been a debate on whether a new school should be built in the small area of Ballyholme, the population of which had increased considerably since those years. The initial thinking was to accommodate the children residing in the Ballyholme area as, prior to the new school, children had to travel some distance into the centre of Bangor for their primary education.
Discussions continued in the 1930s without a decision and the outbreak of World War II meant that the topic was closed. Bangor Central School, where Ballyholme children were being educated, was turned into a hospital for injured soldiers but education continued in a small hall behind St. Columba's Church on the Groomsport Road. At this school, there was a young teacher, Miss Martin, and she would eventually become the first headmistress of Ballyholme Primary School.
After the war, the campaign for the new school was continued and the government finally agreed to build the school that had been asked for, so many years before. The budget was £845,000 and construction began in 1950 and the new school was formally opened on 31st August 1953. There were facilities for 450 pupils.
The school has more recently undergone a programme of refurbishment and extension to accommodate the ever increasing pupil numbers and the school was re-opened on 28 May 2008. An adventure playground was also constructed within the grounds. The school sells a newspaper called the 'Ballyholme Bugle'.
The current principal is Mrs.Rothwell and the vice-principal is Dr.Henry.
Alumni
Eddie Izzard
Caroline Wyatt

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