Clear Demand for Integrated Education

The Integrated Education Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 requires the Department of Education to identify, assess and monitor demand for Integrated Education.

The Integrated Education Fund (IEF) welcomes all efforts to measure demand for Integrated Education fairly and accurately.

Having reviewed the ‘demand paper’ issued by the Department of Education, the IEF would contend that the two significant Department-sponsored surveys, as well as the views of parents expressed through Transformation ballots on Integrated status, and oversubscription at a number of Integrated schools, provides clear evidence of unmet demand at both a societal and behavioural level.

Firstly, the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (2025) asked “If you were deciding where to send your child/ children to school, would you prefer an Integrated school?” 55% of respondents said they would prefer an Integrated school, compared to just 17% who said they would not.  76% of respondents who expressed a preference for type of school, opted for Integrated.  This result reflects societal demand as the question was asked to every respondent, irrespective of them having a school-aged child.

Secondly, there is behavioural evidence as expressed in the parental school admission survey carried out by the Education Authority.  Despite concerns over the methodology of this survey, which are addressed solely in Appendix C of the Report, 31.2% of parents said they would prefer their child to be educated at an Integrated school.

Currently only 8.4% of children are educated together in Integrated schools. The gap between current provision and demand is clear.

Further evidence of parental demand is apparent in the Transformation process.  Transformation is the legal process by which an existing school formally changes its status to become an Integrated school.  It is governed by legislation and overseen by the Department of Education.  Currently there are five schools who have submitted Development Proposals that are waiting on decisions from the Education Minister.  These five schools have all carried out democratic ballots where the majority of parents have voted in favour of their school becoming Integrated.  These schools are geographically dispersed and include schools in Council areas where the Department of Education report infers limited demand.

Furthermore, four schools have recently been refused the opportunity to become Integrated, despite overwhelmingly support from their parent body to do so – St Eugene’s Primary School (Victoria Bridge), Culmore PS (Derry/ Londonderry), Rathmore PS (Bangor) and Bangor Academy and Sixth Form (Bangor).  The parents at each of these schools democratically voted for the schools to become Integrated, but the schools were refused Integrated status by the Minister.  Regardless of the rationale for refusal, it is still clear undeniable evidence of demand from parents.

Using mainly first preference applications data to measure demand has limitations. As the report itself recognises, oversubscription “may also suppress applications because some families may choose not to apply because they believe a place is unlikely to be available”. Moreover, there are areas of Northern Ireland where an Integrated school is not a realistic choice for parents, due to travel distances or lack of choice, therefore you cannot expect those parents to make such a first preference.  It is worth noting that the ‘demand report’ also states that some 17% of parents, who did not choose an Integrated school as their first preference, would still support that school becoming Integrated and 37% would not mind. Non-integrated schools represent over 90% of the education system, such data indicates that a considerable number of parents, outside of Integrated schools, are supportive of Integrated Education.

The report looks at undersubscription and oversubscription rates at Integrated schools. Such data is available year on year for all schools.  Schools of all types are undersubscribed. All schools, particularly at primary level, are experiencing demographic challenges and birthrate decline.  The general population trend is highlighted in the initial key data, stating that the school age population is “projected to fall by 8.2% between 2023/24 and 2030/31.”   Currently around 250 schools in Northern Ireland are currently deemed to be below the threshold of sustainability according to the Department of Education, that number is sure to grow in the coming years.  The IEF would contend more Integrated schools, together with other innovative cross-sectoral/community solutions, could potentially bring significant societal, educational and financial benefits over time.

Additional evidence for support for Integrated Education can be found in the recent LucidTalk Northern Ireland-wide attitudinal survey, where 61% of respondents agree that “Integrated schools, which intentionally educate together children every day in the same classrooms, inclusive of different religions, and backgrounds, should be the main model for our education system.”  

The Report reinforces what has been clear for many years, parental demand for Integrated Education remains high.  The legal duty on the Department and Educational Authority extends beyond measuring to aim to meet demand, so we look forward to seeing what action is taken to do that and how they will implement their duty to “encourage, facilitate and support” the development of Integrated Education.

The IEF, a charity, will continue to do all it can to support parents, schools and local communities who wish their children and young people of all religious and cultural traditions to be educated together in schools are encourage effective action is taken to expand provision and meet the demand for Integrated Education.