Four schools express 'deep disappointment' that Education Minister Paul Givan turned them down for integrated status
Four schools have expressed "deep disappointment" after learning on the first day of the new academic year that the Minister of Education has refused their applications to transform to Integrated status.
Last week Education Minister Paul Givan said that it is hard to avoid the conclusion that campaigners for integrated education have "lost their way" and failed to deliver schools which meet the legal requirements for Protestant to Catholic ratios - often making "implausible claims" about the likelihood of doing so.
The schools which he turned down for integrated status are Ballyhenry PS in Newtownabbey, Downshire PS in Hillsborough, Killowen PS in Coleraine and Larne and Inver PS.
Each made their applications after a democratic parental ballot.
The IEF said the minister’s decision was based on his interpretation of "reasonable numbers" of Protestants and Catholics required, which it said was introduced in 2026 - after the schools submitted their applications.
Paul Caskey, Chief Executive of the Integrated Education Fund (IEF), said it was "extremely disappointed" for the four schools.
"The Minister is relying on his own interpretation of the requirement for ‘reasonable numbers’ of Catholic and Protestant pupils, a criterion contained within the legal definition of an Integrated school, as grounds for refusing proposals for Integrated status," he said.
"The legislation also, of course, makes clear that Integrated Education is about much more than just pupil numbers. Integrated Education is about fostering respect, inclusion and meaningful interaction between children from different faiths, cultures, identities and backgrounds. It is reflected not only in pupil enrolment but also in a school's ethos, governance and daily life.
"We are immensely proud of these schools and the parents, staff, governors and communities who have worked so hard throughout the Transformation process. We will continue to support them on their integration journeys.”
Lisa Scott, Principal of Downshire PS, said the minister's decision does not alter the school's identity.
"Downshire Primary has always sought to be a place where difference is welcomed, where every child belongs, and where families from all faith traditions and none are valued equally," she said.
"That commitment was not created by an application, and it will not be diminished by its refusal.”
Last week the minister said the law on seeking integrated status is that schools are likely to have “reasonable numbers” of Protestant and Roman Catholic children, adding that this requirement “cannot simply be disregarded”.
Integrated schools aim to mix pupils from Protestant, Catholic and other backgrounds, however critics say that this already happens in state controlled schools.
Last year Mr Givan turned down applications by two schools in Bangor to transform to integrated status.
A legal challenge against his decision brought by parents failed when the High Court judge found there was not enough evidence that the schools could increase Catholic pupils to reasonable numbers.
In June, the Court of Appeal upheld that ruling.
Mr Givan said: “While there is a mandatory requirement for ‘reasonable numbers’, the data demonstrates that often this has not been achieved even for schools which transformed many years ago.”
He also said that to date the “overwhelming majority” of transformations to integrated status have come from schools in the controlled sector, “very few” Catholic maintained schools have entered the process and “only one has completed it”.
The Department of Education was invited to comment.