The IEF and NICIE are honoured and delighted that the organisations have been jointly nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize 2019.

The nomination, from eminent politicians and academics shows an international appreciation of the work of parents, campaigners and schools to develop integrated education in Northern Ireland. It also recognises the daily work within integrated schools to actively and intentionally celebrate religious and cultural integration in our divided society. (more…)

On Friday (28 June) the results of a parental vote at Seaview Primary School in Glenarm showed 95% support for the school to go through the process termed “transformation” and so become officially integrated. Seaview PS could become the first Catholic Maintained school to be transformed to integrated status.

Barry Corr, principal of Seaview Primary School commented
“These are very exciting times for the parents and everyone connected with Seaview PS, Glenarm. A 95% vote gives the governors the support to proceed with a Development Proposal to transform us to controlled integrated status. Parents in the area have already responded to our plans and we will see over 50% more pupils starting Seaview in September.

I want to thank the parents, staff, governors and the local community for all their support along our journey. The Community Conversation organised by the University of Ulster, the www.integratemyschool.com website and The Electoral Reform Service all helped with our success to date. IEF, NICIE, EA and the Department of Education have all given us guidance to ensure we have reached this juncture successfully. Thank you” (more…)

Integrated education took centre stage when The Ireland Funds held their Worldwide Conference in Belfast this month.

Chairman John Fitzpatrick addressed leading political, community and business leaders at the conference gala in St Anne’s Cathedral on Friday (21 June) and spoke of his desire to see more children and young people learning together in NI schools. The audience, including DUP leader Arlene Foster, heard John Fitzpatrick say:
“I want to see integrated education included in any future Programme for Government in Northern Ireland.” (more…)

Harding Memorial Primary School in the Cregagh area of east Belfast has taken a major step towards becoming the first integrated school in the area. Parents have voted overwhelmingly to take the school on the path to becoming officially integrated, through the process termed “transformation”.

The school’s principal and board wanted to ballot parents after they found evident interest in integration among the school community. The vote (run by the Electoral Reform Services between 04 and 25 June 2019) showed 87% support for integration in the responses. (more…)

The Department of Education today launched a public consultation seeking views on the current Supporting Newcomer Pupils’ policy.

A ‘Newcomer pupil’ is a pupil who speaks a different language at home than the one used in their school, and who needs extra help to understand the language used in their school. In the region of 16,000 pupils are currently classed as Newcomer pupils which is 4.4% of the school population here. (more…)

Parents at Bangor Central Nursery School have voted overwhelmingly to take the pre-school facility on the path to becoming officially integrated.

The school’s principal and board took the step of balloting parents after they found evident interest in integration among the school community. The vote (run by Electoral Reform Services between 24 May and 07 June 2019) showed 97% support for integration through the process known as “transformation”. (more…)