Written Ministerial Statement

The content of this written ministerial statement is as received at the time from the Minister. It has not been subject to the official reporting (Hansard) process.

Department of Education - Transforming Together: Understanding the Pathway to Integrated Education

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Published at 12.30pm on Wednesday 25 February 2026

Mr Givan (The Minister of Education): I wish to advise Members that today I have published revised guidance on the Transformation process for Integrated status. The new guidance, titled Transforming Together , reflects significant developments in recent years including the commencement of the Integrated Education Act 2022. It also supports the delivery of the Department of Education’s Vision 2030 strategic framework, which identifies Integrated Education as a key element of a sustainable and high quality education system in Northern Ireland.

The Integrated Education Act 2022 places clear duties on the Department to encourage, facilitate and support Integrated Education. It provides a statutory definition of Integrated Education and sets out the principles that underpin it. The guidance has been updated to reflect this legislation in full and to ensure that schools receive accurate and transparent information on both the statutory requirements and the practical steps involved in Transformation.

The guidance explains clearly how schools must comply with the statutory definition of Integrated Education by demonstrating that they will educate together pupils of different cultures and religious beliefs and of none, including reasonable numbers of both Protestant and Catholic children, as well as pupils from different socio‑economic backgrounds and abilities. It sets out the legislative requirements and the Department’s general principle for evidencing “reasonable numbers”, and requires schools to use their Case for Change and Transformation Plan to show how they will attract and support a diverse intake, revise admissions criteria, and embed an Integrated ethos across curriculum, governance and community engagement.

Alongside these legislative requirements, the guidance explains the steps that schools must follow when considering Transformation. The Transformation pathway offers school communities an established and structured route to becoming an Integrated school. The revised guidance sets out the key stages of that pathway. These include initial exploration, engagement with stakeholders, the statutory ballot, the Development Proposal process and the planning and implementation period that follows approval. The guidance also highlights the importance of self-evaluation, strategic planning and meaningful engagement with pupils, parents and the wider community at each stage.

I would also like to place on record my thanks to the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education and the Education Authority for their engagement and support in drafting the revised material and for their constructive comments during consultation. I am also grateful to the Controlled Schools Support Council and the Integrated Education Fund for the helpful comments they provided throughout the consultation process.

I am confident that Transforming Together will assist schools that wish to explore Transformation and will support informed decision making throughout the process. A wide range of advice and support will continue to be available from the Department of Education and from our education partners.

Transforming Together can be found on the DE website at the following link from 12.30pm on Wednesday 25 February.

Transforming Together - Understanding the Pathway to Integrated Education | Department of Education

Thank you.