Cabin Hill
Encyclopedia
Cabin Hill was a private
primary
school in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
, which closed in 2006. Its pupils transferred to the new preparatory department at Campbell College
.
Cabin Hill was acquired as the junior school of Campbell College
in 1924, and was situated in the Knock area of east Belfast, close to Stormont. The main administrative part of the school dates from 1850 and has been a listed building since 2002. It served as the residence of the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
, James Craig
, from 1920 to 1922 and also contained the Cabinet Room.
In 2001 plans to sell Cabin Hill's site to property developers were initially put on hold after protests from local residents and the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society. However, the site was sold for £4m and the prep department moved to a new purpose built facility within the grounds of Campbell.
In the early 1990s the school educated pupils (only boys) from the ages of 4-13. The vast majority of pupils went on to the senior school, Campbell College, however the school was officially a preparatory school
and some school leavers attended other public schools
. In its final years the school shrunk in size considerably as many pupils and teachers transferred to the new junior department of Campbell.
Following complaints made by past pupils, an inquiry was launched into alleged sexual abuse
at Cabin Hill. The allegations stated that a 13 year old boarding pupil abused younger boys in the 1990s. The boy, who was a prefect at the time, was formally cautioned by the Police Service of Northern Ireland
in 2002. A 2005 report into the abuse heavily criticized the school, as it was found that the headmaster at the time was aware of the abuse, but failed to take proper action. The boarding department of Cabin Hill closed in 2004.
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
primary
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
school in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, which closed in 2006. Its pupils transferred to the new preparatory department at Campbell College
Campbell College
Campbell College is a Voluntary Grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The College educates boys from ages 11–18. It is one of the eight Northern Irish schools represented on the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and is a member of the Independent Schools Council.The school occupies...
.
Cabin Hill was acquired as the junior school of Campbell College
Campbell College
Campbell College is a Voluntary Grammar school in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The College educates boys from ages 11–18. It is one of the eight Northern Irish schools represented on the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and is a member of the Independent Schools Council.The school occupies...
in 1924, and was situated in the Knock area of east Belfast, close to Stormont. The main administrative part of the school dates from 1850 and has been a listed building since 2002. It served as the residence of the first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
Prime Minister of Northern Ireland
The Prime Minister of Northern Ireland was the de facto head of the Government of Northern Ireland. No such office was provided for in the Government of Ireland Act 1920. However the Lord Lieutenant, as with Governors-General in other Westminster Systems such as in Canada, chose to appoint someone...
, James Craig
James Craig
-Public officials:*James Henry Craig , British soldier and colonial administrator*James Craig , British politician*James Craig , Canadian politician...
, from 1920 to 1922 and also contained the Cabinet Room.
In 2001 plans to sell Cabin Hill's site to property developers were initially put on hold after protests from local residents and the Ulster Architectural Heritage Society. However, the site was sold for £4m and the prep department moved to a new purpose built facility within the grounds of Campbell.
In the early 1990s the school educated pupils (only boys) from the ages of 4-13. The vast majority of pupils went on to the senior school, Campbell College, however the school was officially a preparatory school
Preparatory school (UK)
In English language usage in the former British Empire, the present-day Commonwealth, a preparatory school is an independent school preparing children up to the age of eleven or thirteen for entry into fee-paying, secondary independent schools, some of which are known as public schools...
and some school leavers attended other public schools
Public School (UK)
A public school, in common British usage, is a school that is neither administered nor financed by the state or from taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of endowments, tuition fees and charitable contributions, usually existing as a non profit-making charitable trust...
. In its final years the school shrunk in size considerably as many pupils and teachers transferred to the new junior department of Campbell.
Following complaints made by past pupils, an inquiry was launched into alleged sexual abuse
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
at Cabin Hill. The allegations stated that a 13 year old boarding pupil abused younger boys in the 1990s. The boy, who was a prefect at the time, was formally cautioned by the Police Service of Northern Ireland
Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the police force that serves Northern Ireland. It is the successor to the Royal Ulster Constabulary which, in turn, was the successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary in Northern Ireland....
in 2002. A 2005 report into the abuse heavily criticized the school, as it was found that the headmaster at the time was aware of the abuse, but failed to take proper action. The boarding department of Cabin Hill closed in 2004.