The Department of Education (DE) in Northern Ireland is embroiled in legal challenges following Minister Paul Givan's decision to reject bids by two north Down schools, Bangor Academy and Rathmore Primary School, to gain integrated status. The minister's decision has sparked controversy and prompted judicial review pre-action letters from parents at each institution. These developments have stirred significant attention as the schools had garnered substantial parental support for the transformation.
In both cases, school officials had recommended the transition to integrated status. However, Givan cited insufficient evidence of adequate Catholic pupil enrollment as grounds for his rejection. This decision aligns with Stormont legislation, which mandates "reasonable numbers of both Protestant and Roman Catholic children" in integrated schools. An essential criterion for this status is that at least half of eligible parents and guardians must participate in a ballot, voting in favor of integration.
Rathmore Primary School saw about 82% of parents who voted support the move to integration. Similarly, at Bangor Academy, nearly 80% of participating parents and guardians backed the change. Bangor Academy is notably Northern Ireland's largest school, with almost 1,900 pupils.
"Bangor Academy and Sixth Form College and Rathmore Primary School are aware and supportive of potential legal challenges to the minister of education's recent decisions to deny integrated status to both schools," said representatives from both schools.
The intention to pursue legal action reflects the absence of an appeals process, which has left parents with limited options. Both schools' Boards of Governors expressed understanding and support for those initiating these legal actions.
"In the absence of an appeals process, the Board of Governors of both schools feel that in reaching his decisions the minister has left parents no other recourse and therefore understand and support those initiating such action," stated the Boards of Governors from Bangor Academy and Rathmore Primary School.
The Department of Education has acknowledged receiving pre-action letters signaling legal challenges but has refrained from commenting on the matter due to its current legal status.
"The minister's decisions are now subject to legal challenges and it is therefore inappropriate to comment at this time," a statement from the Department of Education read.
