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What is Integrated Education?

Integration In Practice

The integrated school seeks to add value to the education process by inviting Protestants and Catholics to come together with other traditions in order to improve their understanding of one another, their own cultures, religions and values. The aim of the schools is to ensure that personal convictions are not diluted but rather enriched by the sharing of experiences amongst the entire school community.

The management structure of integrated schools allows for more places for parents on the Board of Governors than within the Controlled or Catholic Maintained sectors, this reflects the integrated movement´s commitment to parental involvement at all levels. In addition the staffing of integrated schools and the staff recruitment policies are designed to reflect a reasonable balance between the two main communities.

The NICIE ‘Statement of Principles’ requires that integrated schools seek to achieve a 40:40 balance in pupil admissions between Catholics and Protestants in order to ensure that no ethnic religious group can become dominant, all member schools of NICIE aspire to this principle. The Department of Education accepts a balance of 70:30 (with 30% coming from whichever is the smaller religious group in the area) as the minimum required for a new school to be recognised as integrated.

Key Questions

What is Integrated Education?
Integrated Education brings together in one school, children, parents, teachers and governors from both Catholic and Protestant traditions. Pupils experience an education that gives them the opportunity to understand, respect and celeberate all cultural and religious backgrounds.  Parental involvement is a central value of Integrated Education, with a high level of parents on the Board of Governors.

How is religion and sport taught in integrated schools?
Every Integrated School provides a Christian rather than secular approach to education.  Where the school population includes significant numbers of children of a particular religious community, separate provision should be made to prepare such children for sacramental and liturgical participation in that specific religious community, if their parents so desire.  Like any other school in Northern Ireland, integrated schools have an obligation to deliver the Northern Ireland Curriculum, which, in the case of religion, has been agreed upon by the four main Churches.  In integrated primary schools Catholic children are prepared for the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation.  All parents have the right to withdraw their children from religious classes.  Regarding PE, all integrated schools will try to cater for the cultural interests, including games, of both the main traditions of Northern Ireland.  All pupils will have the choice to participate or not.  The quality of coaching of Gaelic games at Integrated Schools is high, with many coaches who have played at County and Inter- Province level.

What curriculum do integrated schools provide?
All schools deliver the statutory Northern Ireland curriculum. In keeping with the integrated ethos, pupils also have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of sports, drama and music. Extracurricular activities are also encouraged.  Irish is offered on the curriculum at most second level schools and as an extra curricular activity in some primary schools. 

Who can attend an integrated school?
Everyone! Integrated schools welcome boys and girls regardless of their academic ability, religious or social background. They aim to cultivate the individual’s self respect for other people and cultures, teaching them to appreciate and understand difference. Combining with a child centred approach; children develop confidence and improve their self-esteem.

What is the difference between an ‘integrated’ and a ‘mixed’ school?
An integrated school actively encourages children to discuss, talk and think about other religions and cultures as well as their own, through classroom discussion, assemblies and citizenship classes. Children are not simply ‘mixed’ in one class but instead guided into talking about each other’s background and faith, which ultimately leads to acceptance and understanding.

Are integrated schools academically successful?
Integrated Education, which is predicated upon the principle of an all-ability approach to teaching, is not incompatible with academic achievement.  Integrated schools aim to develop the potential of all pupils in a holistic manner within which academic development represents only one area of pupils´ abilities.  The majority of the 20 colleges offer 6th form provision with a wide range of A levels. The results of the integrated colleges at GCSE  are substantially above the NI non-grammar average, - a significant achievement given that integrated colleges do not select their pupils on academic ability.

Are Integrated Schools popular?
We currently turn away around 500 pupils a year from integrated schools because of over subscription.  This can sometimes be very difficult for parents and children.  We hope one day Integrated Education can be provided for everyone who wants it.

Why is Integrated Education so important to Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland is a deeply divided and segregated society.  Children from both sides of the religious divide who attend an integrated school develop lifelong friendships by playing and learning together during their most formative years.  Parents and children, by choosing an integrated school, are contributing to the peace and reconciliation process.